According to federal law, in most cases, how must a Percocet prescription be issued?

For a prescription for Percocet, which contains oxycodone, federal law requires it to be issued in a specific manner due to its classification as a Schedule II controlled substance. This designation indicates that the drug has a high potential for abuse and therefore strict regulations govern its prescription.

The correct requirement is that a Percocet prescription must be hand-written or electronically prescribed by the prescriber. Handwritten prescriptions need to meet certain criteria, including the prescriber’s signature and date. Electronic prescriptions are also acceptable, provided they comply with federal standards for electronic prescriptions for controlled substances (EPCS).

These measures help ensure that prescriptions are legitimate and minimize the potential for misuse or illegal activity associated with controlled substances. Other methods, such as oral or verbal orders, are generally not permitted for Schedule II medications due to the increased risk in handling and misuse. While faxing prescriptions can be allowed in specific circumstances (such as prescriptions for nursing home patients), it is not the standard method for issuing prescriptions of this nature. Therefore, only hand-written or electronic prescriptions meet the federal requirements set for Percocet prescriptions.