

Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Community
Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts
Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users
Free resources
Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors
Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the prescribing of controlled drugs in new zealand, including information on classes, prescription requirements, monitoring, and pharmacy regulations.
What you will learn
Typology: Slides
1 / 2
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
This information is provided in full in the schedules to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1985 (“the Act”), accessible via the New Zealand legislation website (www.legislation.govt.nz).
If intended for human use: Class A and Class B controlled drugs; and Controlled drugs specified by Regulation 29(1)(a)(ii) of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977 (“the Regulations”).
Regulation 29(1)(a) of the Regulations requires that these controlled drugs must be written in the authorised prescriber’s handwriting on a form provided by the Director-General of Health.
Monitoring of all Class A & B controlled drug prescription information is carried out by the Ministry of Health. The third copy of the H572 and H572M prescription forms provides monitoring information. This information is also collected electronically.
Once potential misuse has been identified, the Medical Officer of Health (Medicines Control) may request prescription histories from pharmacies or request controlled drug information from prescribers who must respond within one month to the written request.
Requirements include: Prescriptions for Class B controlled drugs must be in the prescriber’s own handwriting, except in the case of printed methadone prescriptions on quadruplicate H572M forms supplied by the Ministry of Health or Alcohol & Drug (A&D) clinic prescriptions where an approval to print onto triplicate H572 forms has been provided by the Director-General of Health. Details required on each prescription include the date, the name and address of the patient, name of the medication, the dose and frequency, the prescriber’s name and address and signature. Prescriptions for children under 12 years require the age in years and months to be written on the prescription form. Prescriptions for controlled drugs must be dispensed within seven days of the prescribing date. Amendments to controlled drug prescriptions may only be made by the prescriber who must sign the changes. Some controlled drugs require additional approval for prescribing, in accordance with Regulation 22 of the Regulations, for example methylphenidate and dexamphetamine.
Many other medicines are classified as controlled drugs. Frequently prescribed medication such as anorectics like Duromine®, pain relief medication (including codeine, and dihydrocodeine), benzodiazepines (including diazepam and clonazepam) and pseudoephedrine products are all controlled drugs.
Frequently Asked Questions: Controlled Drug Prescribing v1.0 (22 July 2011) Medicines Control, Provider Regulation Page 1 of 2
Frequently Asked Questions: Controlled Drug Prescribing v1.0 (22 July 2011) Medicines Control, Provider Regulation Page 2 of 2
Section 24 of the Act prohibits prescribing to a person whom the prescriber believes to be dependent on that or any controlled drug, unless that prescriber: is a gazetted practitioner; or is working in a gazetted agency; or has an authority to prescribe for a particular patient.
In accordance with Regulation 31 of the Regulations, the maximum period of supply is no greater than a quantity sufficient for use for a period of: one month for Class A & Class B controlled drugs; three months for Class C controlled drugs.
Pharmacists are required to verify prescriptions where signatures of prescribers are unknown to them, as per Regulation 33 of the Regulations. If a prescription for controlled drugs is suspected of being changed or not being genuine in some respect the prescription should be retained while the prescriber, the police and the Medical Officer of Health (Medicines Control) are contacted.
Phoned or faxed prescriptions for controlled drugs must have the hard copy supplied by the prescriber to the pharmacy within two working days, in accordance with Regulation 34 of the Regulations.
Faxed prescriptions for controlled drugs must be faxes of the original signed prescription, not an unsigned temporary copy.
Pharmacies are required to retain on the licensed premises the pharmacy copy of dispensed controlled drug prescriptions for 4 years, and Controlled Drugs Registers for 4 years after the date of last entry, as required by Regulation 42 of the Regulations.