Arghh! Frustrated with faxes back from pharmacists asking for a specific refill interval on certain medications?
When prescribing refills for targeted, controlled, or narcotic medications, a specific frequency/interval is required that clarifies the minimum number of days at which the refills can be provided.
Example: “Clonazepam 0.5mg 1 tablet once daily for 30 days with 2 refills, may refill no earlier than 28 days apart.” Or “Dispense 30 tablets every 28 days for 30-day use”.
It’s good to think about how many days the patient will need to pick up the new Rx before they run out: How easy is it for them to get to the pharmacy? How organized are they in picking up their meds? How high is the risk of overuse?
TIP:
Don’t forget intervals for these commonly missed meds: stimulants for ADHD, testosterone replacement therapy, benzodiazepines, and liquid codeine formulations.
TIP:
In case you missed it, triplicate prescriptions now only need to be faxed and scanned into the chart. The original paper copy no longer needs to be mailed to the pharmacy.
Stay tuned for the next tip in the Victoria Division’s new Pharmacy Tips & Tricks series, created with input from pharmacists and physician leads.
