What is the maximum emergency supply duration for an oral C-II prescription?

• A. 72 hours
• B. 24 hours
• C. 168 hours
• D. 48 hours

Answer: (A)

The rule being tested is the limit on emergency quantities for Schedule II meds. In an emergency, a pharmacist may dispense a Schedule II drug based on an oral order, but the amount cannot exceed a 72-hour supply. This protects the patient’s immediate needs while ensuring the prescription is formally documented soon after. The prescriber must furnish a written, signed prescription within seven days of the oral order. If that written prescription isn’t provided within that window, the situation needs to be resolved through proper channels. The other durations would either fall short of meeting urgent patient needs or exceed the allowable emergency limit, which is why 72 hours is the correct maximum.