                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

WHEN PRESCRIPTIONS MAY BE REFILLED (§ 54.1-3411)

Prescriptions may be refilled as follows:

1. A prescription for a drug in Schedule II may not be refilled.

2. A prescription for a drug in Schedules III or IV may not be filled or
refilled more than six months after the date on which such prescription was
issued and no such prescription may be authorized to be refilled, nor be
refilled, more than five times, except that any prescription for such a drug
after six months from the date of issue, or after being refilled five times, may
be renewed by the prescriber issuing it either in writing, or orally, if
promptly reduced to writing and filed by the pharmacist filling it.

3. A prescription in Schedule VI may not be refilled unless authorized by the
prescriber either on the face of the original prescription or orally by the
prescriber except as provided in subdivision 4. Oral instructions shall be
reduced promptly to writing by the pharmacist and filed on or with the original
prescription.

4. A prescription for a drug controlled by Schedule VI, including insulin, may
be refilled without authorization from the prescriber if reasonable effort has
been made to communicate with the prescriber, and the pharmacist has determined
that he is not available and the patient&#8217;s health would be in imminent
danger without the benefits of the drug. Authorization to refill under this
subdivision also exists when the pharmacist only has access to the label on a
prescription container. The pharmacist shall inform the patient of the
prescriber&#8217;s unavailability and that the refill is being made without his
authorization. The pharmacist shall promptly inform the prescriber of such
refill. The date and quantity of the refill, the prescriber&#8217;s
unavailability, and the rationale for the refill shall be noted on the reverse
side of the prescription.

HISTORY: 1970, c. 650, § 54-524.68; 1972, c. 798; 1976, c. 614; 1983, c. 395;
1988, c. 765; 1996, c. 408; 2023, c. 341.