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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>83740</law_id><section_number>54.1-3410</section_number><catch_line>When pharmacist may sell and dispense drugs</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>32.1-127.1:01</reference><reference>32.1-127.1:03</reference><reference>54.1-2403.2</reference><reference>54.1-3301</reference><reference>54.1-3401</reference><reference>54.1-3409</reference><reference>8.01-413</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="34">Drug Control Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A pharmacist, acting in good faith, may sell and <span class="dictionary">dispense</span> <span class="dictionary">drugs</span> and <span class="dictionary">devices</span> to any <span class="dictionary">person</span> pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> of a <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span> as follows: <a id="paragraph-300160" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A <span class="dictionary">drug</span> listed in Schedule II shall be dispensed only upon receipt of a written <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> that is properly executed, dated and signed by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> prescribing on the day when issued and bearing the full name and address of the patient for whom, or of the owner of the <span class="dictionary">animal</span> for which, the <span class="dictionary">drug</span> is dispensed, and the full name, address, and registry number under the federal <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> prescribing, if he is required by those <span class="dictionary">laws</span> to be so registered. If the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> is for an <span class="dictionary">animal</span>, it shall state the species of <span class="dictionary">animal</span> for which the <span class="dictionary">drug</span> is prescribed; <a id="paragraph-300161" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> In emergency situations, Schedule II <span class="dictionary">drugs</span> may be dispensed pursuant to an oral <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> in accordance with the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x2019;s regulations; <a id="paragraph-300162" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Whenever a pharmacist <span class="dictionary">dispenses</span> any <span class="dictionary">drug</span> listed within Schedule II on a <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> issued by a <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span>, he shall affix to the container in which such <span class="dictionary">drug</span> is dispensed, a <span class="dictionary">label</span> showing the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> serial number or name of the <span class="dictionary">drug</span>; the date of initial filling; his name and address, or the name and address of the pharmacy; the name of the patient or, if the patient is an <span class="dictionary">animal</span>, the name of the owner of the <span class="dictionary">animal</span> and the species of the <span class="dictionary">animal</span>; the name of the <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span> by whom the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> was written, except for those <span class="dictionary">drugs</span> dispensed to a patient in a hospital pursuant to a chart <span class="dictionary">order</span>; and such directions as may be stated on the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span>. <a id="paragraph-300163" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">drug</span> controlled by <span class="dictionary">Schedules</span> III through VI or a <span class="dictionary">device</span> controlled by Schedule VI shall be dispensed upon receipt of a written or oral <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> as follows: <a id="paragraph-300164" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> is written, it shall be properly executed, dated and signed by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> prescribing on the day when issued and bear the full name and address of the patient for whom, or of the owner of the <span class="dictionary">animal</span> for which, the <span class="dictionary">drug</span> is dispensed, and the full name and address of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> prescribing. If the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> is for an <span class="dictionary">animal</span>, it shall state the species of <span class="dictionary">animal</span> for which the <span class="dictionary">drug</span> is prescribed. If the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> is for expedited partner therapy pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Prescriptions to be issued and drugs to be dispensed for medical or therapeutic purposes only" href="/54.1-3303/">54.1-3303</a> and the contact patient&#x2019;s name and address are unavailable, the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> shall state &#x201C;Expedited Partner Therapy&#x201D; or &#x201C;EPT&#x201D; in lieu of the full name and address of the contact patient. <a id="paragraph-300165" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> is oral, the <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span> shall furnish the pharmacist with the same information as is required by <span class="dictionary">law</span> in the case of a written <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> for <span class="dictionary">drugs</span> and <span class="dictionary">devices</span>, except for the signature of the <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span>.
				A pharmacist who <span class="dictionary">dispenses</span> a Schedule III through VI <span class="dictionary">drug</span> or <span class="dictionary">device</span> shall <span class="dictionary">label</span> the <span class="dictionary">drug</span> or <span class="dictionary">device</span> as required in subdivision A 3 of this section. However, if the pharmacist <span class="dictionary">dispenses</span> a Schedule III through VI <span class="dictionary">drug</span> or <span class="dictionary">device</span> for expedited partner therapy pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Prescriptions to be issued and drugs to be dispensed for medical or therapeutic purposes only" href="/54.1-3303/">54.1-3303</a> and the contact patient&#x2019;s name and address are unavailable, the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> shall state &#x201C;Expedited Partner Therapy&#x201D; or &#x201C;EPT&#x201D; in lieu of the full name and address of the contact patient. <a id="paragraph-300166" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">drug</span> controlled by Schedule VI may be refilled without authorization from the <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span> if, after reasonable effort has been made to contact him, the pharmacist ascertains that he is not available and the patient&#x2019;s health would be in imminent danger without the benefits of the <span class="dictionary">drug</span>. The refill shall be made in compliance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When prescriptions may be refilled" href="/54.1-3411/">54.1-3411</a>.
			If the written or oral <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> is for a Schedule VI <span class="dictionary">drug</span> or <span class="dictionary">device</span> and does not contain the address or registry number of the <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span>, or the address of the patient, the pharmacist need not reduce such information to writing if such information is readily retrievable within the pharmacy. If the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> is for a Schedule VI <span class="dictionary">drug</span> or <span class="dictionary">device</span> for expedited partner therapy pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Prescriptions to be issued and drugs to be dispensed for medical or therapeutic purposes only" href="/54.1-3303/">54.1-3303</a> and the contact patient&#x2019;s name and address are unavailable, then <span class="dictionary">labeling</span> the name and address of the contact patient is not required. <a id="paragraph-300167" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Pursuant to authorization of the <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span>, an <span class="dictionary">agent</span> of the <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span> on his behalf may orally transmit a <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> for a <span class="dictionary">drug</span> classified in <span class="dictionary">Schedules</span> III through VI if, in such cases, the written record of the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span> required by this subsection specifies the full name of the <span class="dictionary">agent</span> of the <span class="dictionary">prescriber</span> transmitting the <span class="dictionary">prescription</span>. <a id="paragraph-300168" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A <span class="dictionary">dispenser</span> who receives a non-<span class="dictionary">electronic prescription</span> for a <span class="dictionary">controlled substance</span> containing an opioid is not required to verify that one of the exceptions set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Transmission of prescriptions" href="/54.1-3408.02/">54.1-3408.02</a> applies and may <span class="dictionary">dispense</span> such <span class="dictionary">controlled substance</span> pursuant to such prescription and applicable <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-300169" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3410/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1970, c. 650, &#xA7; 54-524.67; 1972, c. 798; 1976, c. 614; 1977, c. 302; 1983, cc. 395, 612; 1988, c. 765; 1996, c. 408; 2003, c. 511; 2017, cc. 115, 429; 2019, c. 664; 2020, c. 464.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
