Pharmacy Daily | Beware of fentanyl Rxs

PHARMACISTS are being warned that "all private prescriptions presented for potent opioids should be treated with high suspicion", by indemnity insurer, Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL).

In a Practice Alert issued yesterday, PDL urged pharmacists to be on the lookout for red flags such as patients being unwilling to provide Medicare details or identification, providing elaborate backstories, or scripts for quantities greater than standard Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) amounts.

"Prescriptions for high-dose fentanyl patches and oxycodone tablets make up more than 50% of forgeries reported," PDL said.

"Despite ongoing warnings from the regulators and PDL, reports of pharmacists dispensing multiple supplies for these medicines continue to be received, which is of great concern.

"A 2019 Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission report emphasised the high street value of fentanyl which supports the high incidence of fraudulent prescriptions for this drug.

"On receipt of the script, PDL recommends firstly ascertaining that the script is legitimate."

The alert was issued after the Civil and Administrative Tribunal of NSW cancelled the professional registrations of David Wilson Day Night Chemist Kirrawee, co-owners, Dillan Lal and Priya Patel, who were found to have dispensed Schedule 8 and S4D medicines including oxycodone, fentanyl and benzodiazepines in quantities that did not accord with the recognised therapeutic standard of what was appropriate in the circumstances, to a number of patients over a 20-month period to 15 Mar 2018, with a non-renewal period of three years.

The husband and wife business partners were also found to have failed to exercise appropriate oversight over the pharmacy, with employee pharmacist, Peter Foster, having his registration suspended for six months for his dispensing practices at the Kirrawee pharmacy (PD 31 Jan).