9.1 Schedule II Prescriptions: 30-Day Window, One-Month Supply, Multiple Prescriptions & the 7-Day Acute Limit
Key Takeaways
A Utah Schedule II prescription may not be refilled and may not be filled for more than a one-month supply based on the prescribed daily dose (Utah Code § 58-37-304(6)(b)–(c)).
A Utah Schedule II prescription may not be dispensed if it is presented more than 30 days after issuance, or 30 days after a separately written dispensing date (Utah Code § 58-37-304(6)(g)).
A Utah prescriber may issue up to three Schedule II prescriptions for the same drug at once, each for no more than 30 days, with the second and third showing both the issue date and the dispensing date.
Under R156-37-603(3), the dispensing date on a second or third Schedule II prescription must be at least 30 days after the previous dispensing date unless the prescriber documents a valid medical reason.
A CII or CIII opiate prescribed for an acute condition is limited to a 7-day supply unless the medical record documents a complex or chronic condition, and the pharmacist need not verify compliance (Utah Code § 58-37-304(6)(d)).
9.1 Schedule II Prescriptions: 30-Day Window, One-Month Supply, Multiple Prescriptions & the 7-Day Acute Limit
Blueprint item 2.1 covers "requirements for issuing controlled prescriptions" and "authority limitations of practitioners' ability to authorize refills." Since July 1, 2026, Utah's Schedule II rules are in § 58-37-304(6) (formerly § 58-37-6(7)(f)), supplemented by R156-37-603.
The core Utah Schedule II rules
These rules apply except when a licensed practitioner administers a controlled substance directly to an ultimate user (§ 58-37-304(6)(a)):
| Rule | Utah law | Federal comparison |
|---|---|---|
| No refills | A Schedule II prescription may not be refilled (§ 58-37-304(6)(b); R156-37-603(4)(b)) | Same (21 CFR 1306.12(a)) |
| Quantity | No more than a one-month supply, based on the prescribed daily dose (§ 58-37-304(6)(c)) | No federal day-supply cap |
| Presentation window | May not be dispensed if not presented to a pharmacist or intern within 30 days after the issue date, or 30 days after a separately written dispensing date (§ 58-37-304(6)(g)) | No federal expiration |
| Multiple prescriptions | Up to three prescriptions for the same CII drug at once; none over 30 days; the second and third must show both the issue date and the dispensing date (§ 58-37-304(6)(h)) | Up to a 90-day total with "earliest fill" dates, where state law permits (21 CFR 1306.12(b)) |
| Spacing | Dispensing date of the 2nd and 3rd prescriptions must be at least 30 days after the previous dispensing date, unless the prescriber finds a valid medical reason for an earlier date (R156-37-603(3)) | Prescriber sets earliest fill dates |
| Acute opiates | A CII or CIII opiate for an acute condition must be completely or partially filled for no more than a 7-day supply, unless the medical record documents a complex or chronic condition. The pharmacist is not required to verify compliance. (§ 58-37-304(6)(d)) | No federal limit |
How the 30-day window works with multiple prescriptions
Suppose a prescriber writes three methylphenidate prescriptions on March 1. The second says "Do not dispense before March 31," and the third says "Do not dispense before April 30."
- Prescription 1 must be presented by March 31 (30 days after issue).
- Prescription 2 may be dispensed on or after March 31 and must be presented by April 30 (30 days after its dispensing date).
- Prescription 3 may be dispensed on or after April 30 and must be presented by May 30.
Utah's 30-day window runs from the dispensing date when one is written separately. Federal rules separately forbid post-dating: each prescription must bear the actual date it was signed.
Required contents and signatures (§ 58-37-304(4))
A Schedule II prescription must include the prescriber's name, address, and DEA number; the patient's name, address, and age; the date of issuance; and the drug name, quantity, and specific directions. It must be signed in ink, indelible pencil, or with an authorized electronic signature. In Utah it must be electronic unless an EPCS exemption applies (Section 4.3). DOPL's July 2024 clarification lists what a pharmacist may add or change after consulting the prescriber (Section 4.2).
Hospital orders (§ 58-37-304(7))
A controlled substance order for a hospital inpatient or outpatient is exempt from these requirements if:
- it is issued by a prescriber with an unrestricted DEA registration and an active Utah controlled substance license (or an exempt resident);
- the treating prescriber designates the quantity;
- it is entered in the patient's record, with the prescriber signing to affirm the order within 48 hours of filling or administering; and
- it is filled by a pharmacist within the hospital, or taken from hospital supply and administered directly to the patient.
Prescriber duties tied to Schedule II opioids
- CSD check: before the first Schedule II or III opioid prescription to a patient, and periodically during repeated prescribing (§ 58-37f-304(2); Section 9.4).
- High-risk prescriptions: an opiate or benzodiazepine written to continue longer than 30 consecutive days requires checking the CSD for another active high-risk prescription from a different practitioner, and if one exists, consulting that practitioner and documenting the reason (§ 58-37-305).
- Initial opiate prescription: discuss the risks and offer an opiate antagonist at 50 MME/day or more or with a benzodiazepine (§ 58-37-306; Section 7.1).
- Minors: consent of a parent or guardian is required except in an emergency (§ 58-37-304(8)).
Scenarios
- Day 33. A paper-exempt oxycodone prescription dated June 1 is presented July 4. It may not be dispensed, because it is more than 30 days after issuance. The patient needs a new prescription.
- 45-day quantity. A prescription for hydromorphone written for a 45-day supply exceeds the one-month limit. Contact the prescriber, and consider a partial fill (Section 9.2) or a new prescription.
- Post-surgical oxycodone for 10 days. This exceeds the 7-day acute limit unless the prescriber documented a complex or chronic condition. The pharmacist is not required to verify compliance, but may use professional judgment and contact the prescriber.
A Utah prescriber issues three Schedule II methylphenidate prescriptions on March 1, each for 30 days. The second shows a dispensing date of March 31. By what date must the second prescription be presented for dispensing?
There is no deadline, because federal law has no Schedule II expiration
By May 30, because the three prescriptions together cover 90 days
By April 30, because Utah's 30-day window runs from the separately written dispensing date
By March 31, because every Schedule II prescription expires 30 days after issuance
A Utah prescriber writes an oxycodone prescription for a 45-day supply for chronic cancer pain. What limit applies under Utah Code § 58-37-304?
A Schedule II prescription may not be filled for more than a one-month supply, based on the prescribed daily dose
No limit, because cancer pain is exempt from all Schedule II quantity rules
A 90-day limit, because federal law allows 90 days
A 7-day limit, because oxycodone is an opiate
A dentist's e-prescription for hydrocodone/acetaminophen after a tooth extraction is written for a 10-day supply. The prescription does not indicate a complex or chronic condition. What does Utah law say about the pharmacist's duty?
The pharmacist must refuse any opiate over 3 days
The 7-day limit does not apply to Schedule II drugs
The pharmacist must verify the diagnosis with the prescriber and document compliance before dispensing
The acute-opiate limit is 7 days, but the pharmacist is not required to verify that the prescription complies with that limit
Under R156-37-603(3), what is the minimum spacing between dispensing dates on multiple Schedule II prescriptions issued together, absent a valid medical reason?
At least 7 days
At least 30 days from the dispensing date of the previous prescription
At least 60 days
No minimum spacing is required
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