DEA guidelines for telephone prescription when the prescription has not arrived within a certain amount of time, what should be done?

• A. Ignore, wait
• B. Notify the patient
• C. Contact the pharmacist
• D. Notify the DEA if the prescription has not arrived in a certain amount of time

Answer: (D)

When a telephone prescription for a controlled substance isn’t received within the allotted time, the action described is to notify the DEA. This step aligns with regulatory requirements to keep tight oversight on the transmission and fulfillment of controlled substances. Reporting helps establish an official record, supports accountability, and aids in preventing diversion or noncompliance by ensuring that delays are flagged and investigated as needed. While checking with the pharmacist or prescriber is a sensible immediate step in practice, the formal action tied to the delay in this context is to alert the DEA so the situation can be reviewed and documented properly. Ignoring the delay or simply informing the patient doesn’t address the regulatory process, and while contacting the pharmacist is important, it does not satisfy the specific regulatory action intended when a timely delivery isn’t achieved.