Question

when picking up a prescription for zolpidem (ambien), a patient asks a pharmacy technician why the prescription has only 5 refills when all of their other prescriptions have refills for 1 year. which of the following statements should the technician make?

\due to its potential for abuse, the dispensing pharmacist can exercise professional judgment and limit the number of refills.\

\due to federal law, only a maximum of five refills are allowed because zolpidem is a schedule iv controlled substance.\

\due to the potential for diversion, individual pharmacy policy can limit the number of allowable refills.\

\due to state board of pharmacy regulations, zolpidem has a maximum of five refills.\

Explanation:

Identify drug classification

The medication in question is zolpidem (Ambien). Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, zolpidem is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Apply federal refill regulations

Using the Controlled Substance Schedules knowledge point, federal law dictates specific refill limits for controlled substances. For Schedule III and IV controlled substances, prescriptions may be refilled up to a maximum of 5 times within 6 months from the date the prescription was written, whichever comes first.

Evaluate the options

• Option 1 suggests the limit is based solely on the dispensing pharmacist's professional judgment. While pharmacists have professional judgment, the 5-refill limit is a strict legal ceiling.
• Option 2 correctly states that federal law limits refills to a maximum of five because zolpidem is a Schedule IV controlled substance.
• Option 3 attributes the limit to individual pharmacy policy.
• Option 4 attributes the limit to state board of pharmacy regulations, but the primary and universal baseline limit is established by federal law.

Select the correct statement

Option 2 is the most accurate and legally precise statement for the pharmacy technician to make to the patient.

Answer:

• "Due to its potential for abuse, the dispensing pharmacist can exercise professional judgment and limit the number of refills."
• "Due to federal law, only a maximum of five refills are allowed because zolpidem is a Schedule IV controlled substance." (Correct answer)
• "Due to the potential for diversion, individual pharmacy policy can limit the number of allowable refills."
• "Due to state board of pharmacy regulations, zolpidem has a maximum of five refills."