Question

question 71

a pharmacy technician receives a handwritten prescription for oxycodone, a schedule ii controlled substance. the prescription is dated today. the technician should recognize that in most states, this prescription is valid for how long?

6 months from the date written
1 year from the date written
the validity period varies by state, but federally schedule ii prescriptions are typically valid for 90 days.
90 days from the date written

Explanation:

Identify the core legal question

Using the Schedule II Regulations knowledge point
The question asks for the validity period of a Schedule II (C-II) controlled substance prescription (specifically oxycodone) in most states.

Analyze federal and state regulations

Using the Schedule II Regulations knowledge point
Under federal law (specifically the Controlled Substances Act administered by the DEA), there is no explicit federal expiration date or time limit within which a Schedule II prescription must be filled. However, the DEA expects pharmacists to determine if a prescription is still needed and valid. Because federal law does not set a specific limit, individual state laws govern the expiration of C-II prescriptions. In the majority of states, a Schedule II prescription is valid for up to 90 days from the date it was written, though some states have stricter limits (such as 7, 21, or 30 days).

Evaluate the given options

Using the Schedule II Regulations knowledge point

• 6 months from the date written: This is typically the limit for Schedule III, IV, and V prescriptions, not Schedule II.
• 1 year from the date written: This is the standard limit for non-controlled legend drugs in many states, not Schedule II.
• The validity period varies by state, but federally Schedule II prescriptions are typically valid for 90 days: This statement is incorrect because federal law does not set a 90-day limit; federal law has no explicit expiration limit.
• 90 days from the date written: In most states, the maximum validity period for a Schedule II prescription is 90 days from the date written.

Answer:

• 6 months from the date written
• 1 year from the date written
• The validity period varies by state, but federally Schedule II prescriptions are typically valid for 90 days.
• 90 days from the date written (Correct answer)