South Carolina Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) Practice Exam

Under what condition can a pharmacist refill an OTC medication without prescriber authorization?

1. The dose is greater than the recommended amount

2. The drug is a schedule II substance

3. Refills are limited by the prescriber

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: Refills are limited by the prescriber

A pharmacist can refill an over-the-counter (OTC) medication without prescriber authorization under specific circumstances, particularly when considering the limitations placed on refills by the prescriber. In the context of OTC medications, the prescriber may indicate certain limitations for how often the medication can be obtained. If the prescriber has set a specific limit on refills, and if that limit has not yet been reached, a pharmacist is allowed to provide a refill even in the absence of direct authorization from the prescriber at that moment. It is essential to note that the other conditions presented would not allow for refills without prescriber authorization. For instance, if the dose of the medication is greater than the recommended amount, this typically indicates a deviation from the standard use and may require prescriber involvement. Similarly, Schedule II substances are highly regulated and cannot be refilled without explicit authorization due to the potential for abuse and dependence. Thus, option C is the only scenario that allows for a refill of an OTC medication without additional prescriber consultation provided the prescriber has not restricted access through their directives.