When must a prescription for a controlled substance be marked as "transferred"?

A prescription for a controlled substance must be marked as "transferred" when it is sent to another pharmacy. This designation is essential because it helps maintain an accurate and comprehensive record of the prescription's dispensing history. When a patient requests that their prescription be filled at a different pharmacy, the original pharmacy must indicate that the prescription has been transferred to prevent duplication, ensuring that the controlled substance is not filled at both locations, which could lead to misuse or over-dispensing.

Marking a prescription as "transferred" is critical for tracking a controlled substance's status and maintaining compliance with legal requirements. The transfer process also involves providing necessary information about the prescription, such as the prescription number, the original pharmacy's name, and the request date to the receiving pharmacy, allowing seamless continuity of care for the patient.

In other scenarios, such as when a prescription is filled for the first time, authorized for refills, or prescribed for a new patient, the transaction does not require a "transferred" designation, as these activities fall within the standard dispensing and refilling processes rather than involving the transfer of an active prescription record from one pharmacy to another.