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06/13/2019

Circumstances under which pharmacists can dispense naltrexone

 

Source: State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy

 

Senate Bill 119 of the 132nd General Assembly, also known as Daniel’s Law, made changes to Ohio law authorizing a pharmacist, under certain conditions, to dispense naltrexone without a prescription.

Under the new law, a pharmacist may dispense naltrexone without a prescription from a prescriber if all the following conditions are met:
  1. The pharmacist can verify a record of a prescription for the injectable long-acting or extended release form of naltrexone in the name of the patient who is requesting the drug, but the prescription does not provide for a refill or the prescription on file has expired.
  2. The pharmacist is unable to obtain authorization to refill the prescription from the prescriber who issued it or another prescriber responsible for the patient’s care.
  3. In the exercise of the pharmacist’s professional judgement, the naltrexone is necessary to continue the patient’s therapy for substance use disorder. Failure to dispense the drug to the patient could result in harm to the health of the patient.

In providing the emergency refill, the law permits the patient to choose between oral or injectable long-acting/extended-release naltrexone. It is important to note that the patient who normally receives a long-acting or extended release naltrexone injection can obtain up to a five-day emergency supply of oral naltrexone. This is intended to address any possible gaps in care.

The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy created a frequently asked questions document to assist pharmacists in understanding this provision of Daniel’s Law.

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