In what situation can a patient request a refill of a CIII prescription after it has already been filled the maximum times?

A patient can request a refill of a CIII prescription after it has already been filled the maximum times by obtaining a new prescription from their healthcare provider. CIII (Schedule III) controlled substances have specific regulations regarding refills due to their potential for abuse. The law allows these prescriptions to be filled a maximum of five times within six months from the date of issuance. Once this limit is reached, the patient cannot continue to refill the prescription. Therefore, the only way to obtain additional medication is to have a new prescription issued by a qualified prescriber, which would be a new order reflecting the patient's current needs and treatment plan.

While it may be beneficial for the pharmacist to know the patient personally, and familiarity might aid in providing medication safely, it does not change the legal requirement surrounding the number of permissible refills. There is no mechanism for simply extending the refill period for a controlled substance that has reached its refill limit, and refills beyond what is authorized are not allowed. Thus, obtaining a new prescription is the only legitimate pathway for a patient in this situation.