Virginia Law

A. A prescription for a Schedule II drug shall be dispensed in good faith but in no case shall it be dispensed more than six months after the date on which the prescription was issued.

B. A prescription for a Schedule II drug shall not be refilled except as authorized under the conditions for partial dispensing as set forth in 18VAC110-20-310.

C. In case of an emergency situation, a pharmacist may dispense a drug listed in Schedule II upon receiving oral authorization of a prescribing practitioner provided that:

1. The quantity prescribed and dispensed is limited to the amount adequate to treat the patient during the emergency period;

2. The prescription shall be immediately reduced to writing by the pharmacist and shall contain all information required in § 54.1-3410 of the Drug Control Act, except for the signature of the prescribing practitioner;

3. If the pharmacist does not know the practitioner, the pharmacist shall make a reasonable effort to determine that the oral authorization came from a practitioner using the practitioner's phone number as listed in the telephone directory or other good-faith efforts to ensure the practitioner's identity; and

4. Within seven days after authorizing an emergency oral prescription, the prescribing practitioner shall cause a written prescription for the emergency quantity prescribed to be delivered to the dispensing pharmacist. In addition to conforming to the requirements of § 54.1-3410 of the Drug Control Act, the prescription shall have written on its face "Authorization for Emergency Dispensing" and the date of the oral order. The written prescription may be delivered to the pharmacist in person or by mail postmarked within the seven-day period or transmitted as an electronic prescription in accordance with federal law and regulation to include annotation of the electronic prescription with the original authorization and date of the oral order. Upon receipt, the dispensing pharmacist shall attach the paper prescription to the oral emergency prescription, which had earlier been reduced to writing. The pharmacist shall notify the nearest office of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the board if the prescribing practitioner fails to deliver a written prescription to the pharmacist. Failure of the pharmacist to do so shall void the authority conferred by this subdivision to dispense without a written prescription of a prescribing practitioner.

D. When presented a prescription written for a Schedule II controlled substance, a pharmacist may add or correct the patient's address upon verification, correct the patient's name upon verification, or add the prescriber's DEA registration number to the prescription. The pharmacist may add or change the dosage form, drug strength, directions for use, drug quantity, or issue date only after oral consultation directly with and agreement of the prescriber. Such consultations and corresponding changes shall be noted by the pharmacist on the prescription. The pharmacist shall not add or change the prescriber's signature or make changes to the controlled substance prescribed, except for dispensing therapeutically equivalent drugs as permitted by law.