Narcotic and Controlled Drugs

When a pharmacist receives a verbal prescription for a drug in the Controlled Prescription Program (CPP), must the pharmacist wait to receive a faxed or hard copy of the CPP duplicate prescription form before dispensing the drug?

A pharmacist may dispense the CPP drug after receiving a verbal prescription. The pharmacy must receive the original prescription form, or a copy of the completed form transmitted by facsimile, from the practitioner as soon as reasonably possible after dispensing the drug. 

Can a community pharmacist accept a faxed prescription for a drug in the Controlled Prescription Program (CPP) that is not written on a CPP duplicate prescription form?

The CPP aims to reduce inappropriate prescribing of selected controlled drugs and to prevent forgeries. Prescriptions for the controlled drugs specified in the program must be written on the duplicate prescription pad specially developed for this purpose. 

Verbal and faxed prescriptions for Schedule 1A drugs may not be accepted by a pharmacist in a community pharmacy; however, temporary amendments to the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act Bylaws and Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice are currently in place that allow the following: 

A patient brought in a prescription for two drugs. The patient only wants me to dispense one of these drugs and wants another pharmacy to dispense the other drug. What do I need to do?

The process you need to follow is different, depending upon which drug you dispense.

Amoxil® dispensing (non-narcotic) - you need to return the original prescription to the patient:

Can a pharmacist accept a prescription for a Schedule 1A drug (Controlled Prescription Program) written by an out-of-province physician?

In certain exceptional circumstances, a pharmacist can dispense a prescription for a Controlled Prescription Program (CPP) drug from an out-of-province physician or Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) physician practitioner that's not on the Controlled Prescription Program form. In these situations, as with any exceptional cases, the pharmacist must use their professional judgment in their decision to dispense. The pharmacist can base their decision on the medical condition of their patient and surrounding circumstances.

A deceased patient's wife recently brought the patient's unused narcotic medications to my pharmacy. Do I have to obtain authorization from Health Canada before I can destroy these narcotics?

Although the pharmacist accepts legal responsibility for the drug and its destruction, Health Canada no longer requires pharmacies to request and receive pre-authorization for local destruction of unserviceable narcotics and controlled drugs. This means that pharmacists may proceed with destruction without notifying and receiving acknowledgment from Health Canada in advance. All other requirements, including documentation, remain in place.