A patient presents for a Schedule 4 controlled drug (diazepam 5 mg tablets) prescription that was issued 30 days ago but could not be collected. According to current legal requirements, what is the most appropriate course of action?

• A. Refuse to supply and advise the patient to return to their prescriber
• B. Supply a partial quantity now and complete later
• C. Advise the patient to purchase an over-the-counter alternative
• D. Contact the prescriber for authorization again

Answer: (A)

Benzodiazepines fall under Schedule 4, and there is a strict time limit on how long a Schedule 4 prescription remains valid. The prescription must be dispensed within a defined window, typically 28 days from the date of issue. If the patient hasn’t collected the medicine and more than 28 days have passed, the prescription is no longer valid for dispensing.

Because this diazepam prescription was issued 30 days ago, it has exceeded that validity period. The responsible action is to refuse to dispense under that old prescription and guide the patient to obtain a fresh prescription from their prescriber. Diazepam is a controlled drug, so it cannot be supplied over the counter, and trying to supply or partially dispense based on an expired prescription would not be appropriate. If the patient still needs the medication, the prescriber should issue a new prescription, or re-issue in a valid form, before any supply can occur.