Schedule III prescriptions: which statement is correct?

• A. Valid for 180 days or up to five refills, max 30-day supply; can be faxed but not emailed.
• B. Valid for 90 days, no refills.
• C. Can be emailed and faxed; unlimited refills.
• D. Can only be issued verbally.

Answer: (A)

Schedule III prescriptions are allowed to be filled with more flexibility than Schedule II, but still under strict limits on time, refills, and how the prescription is sent. The prescription for a Schedule III drug remains valid for six months from the date written and may be refilled up to five times. If each fill is a 30-day supply, you can reach up to 180 days of medication across those fills. Historically, these prescriptions could be transmitted to the pharmacy by fax, but emailing them was not the standard practice due to security and regulatory concerns. That combination aligns with the statement that Schedule III prescriptions are valid for 180 days or up to five refills, with a 30-day supply per fill, and that they can be faxed but not emailed. The other options don’t fit because they propose either different timeframes, unlimited refills, or issuing prescriptions verbally, which aren’t consistent with federal rules for Schedule III drugs.