A 72-year-old male presents to your community pharmacy requesting a refill for his oxycodone 10 mg tablet prescription, which he is prescribed for chronic back pain. The prescription was issued by a physician in a different province and indicates 60 tablets with 2 refills remaining. The patient states he is visiting family in your province for a few months. As per the Narcotic Control Regulations, what is the appropriate action for the pharmacist to take?

Question: A 72-year-old male presents to your community pharmacy requesting a refill for his oxycodone 10 mg tablet prescription, which he is prescribed for chronic back pain. The prescription was issued by a physician in a different province and indicates 60 tablets with 2 refills remaining. The patient states he is visiting family in your province for a few months. As per the Narcotic Control Regulations, what is the appropriate action for the pharmacist to take?

Answer options:

• Dispense the oxycodone as written, as inter-provincial prescriptions are generally accepted for controlled substances. ✅ Dispense a partial refill for a maximum of a 7-day supply and advise the patient to see a local physician for a new prescription.
• Refuse to dispense the prescription as Schedule I narcotics cannot be filled if originating from an out-of-province prescriber.
• Verify the prescription with the prescribing physician and then dispense the full quantity requested.

Correct answer: Dispense a partial refill for a maximum of a 7-day supply and advise the patient to see a local physician for a new prescription.

Explanation: According to the Narcotic Control Regulations, a pharmacist can dispense a narcotic prescription issued by a practitioner from another province, but only for a 'reasonable quantity' not exceeding a 7-day supply. The patient must then be advised to seek a local practitioner for ongoing care.