A prescriber writes a valid prescription for a Schedule II opioid. Under federal law, how many refills may the pharmacy authorise and dispense from this written prescription?
- AUp to 5 refills within 6 months of the date written
- BNo refills are permitted; a new prescription is required each time Correct
- CUp to 5 refills within 12 months of the date written
- DOne refill is permitted if the prescriber notes it on the prescription
Why A is wrong: This is the federal limit for Schedule III to V drugs, and a candidate may wrongly apply that familiar rule to all controlled substances; for Schedule II no refills are permitted at all.
Why B is correct: Federal law prohibits refilling a Schedule II prescription, so each fill requires a fresh prescription; this is the defining dispensing rule for CII drugs.
Why C is wrong: Both the 5-refill allowance and the timeframe are wrong for Schedule II; the 12-month window is the general limit for non-controlled legend drugs, which tempts candidates who blur the two systems.
Why D is wrong: No prescriber annotation can authorise a Schedule II refill; this option is tempting because partial fills and prescriber notes do exist, but they never create a refill for CII.