South Carolina Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) Practice Exam

What should a pharmacist check on a controlled substance prescription before dispensing?

1. Only the prescriber's name

2. Completeness of required information

3. Patient’s medication history

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Completeness of required information

Checking the completeness of required information on a controlled substance prescription is critical for ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards. A valid prescription must contain specific elements such as the patient's name, address, the prescriber’s name, address, and DEA registration number, the medication prescribed, dosage, quantity, directions for use, and the date of issuance. Ensuring all these elements are present helps prevent errors, such as misinterpretations or fraudulent prescriptions, and supports responsible dispensing practices. Additionally, it protects the pharmacist from potential legal issues that could arise from dispensing an incomplete or noncompliant prescription. While checking the prescriber’s name and the patient’s medication history are also important steps in the medication dispensing process, verifying the completeness of a prescription is foundational before any other checks can be meaningfully performed.