74. A pharmacy receives the following prescription: Xanax 5 mg tablets #10 Take 1 tablet PO b.i.d. p.r.n. The prescriber must be contacted for clarification because:
Answer: D
Xanax is not commercially available in 5 mg tablets.
Xanax is available in various dosages, but 5 mg tablets are not among the commercially available options. This discrepancy necessitates contacting the prescriber for clarification regarding the prescribed dosage.
A) Xanax cannot be given b.i.d.
This option is incorrect because Xanax can be prescribed to be taken twice a day (b.i.d.) as needed (p.r.n.) for certain conditions. There are no restrictions preventing the medication from being administered in this manner.
B) no refills have been authorized
While the lack of refills might be a concern in some prescriptions, it does not necessitate contacting the prescriber for clarification regarding the immediate prescription. This option is not relevant to the issue at hand, which focuses on the dosage form.
C) the maximum daily dose has not been specified
Although specifying a maximum daily dose is important in some cases, this does not require immediate clarification on the prescription. The prescriber may have intended for the patient to take the medication as needed, which would make this option less relevant in this context.
D) Xanax is not commercially available in 5 mg tablets
This statement is accurate; Xanax is available in lower doses such as 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg tablets, but not in 5 mg tablets. Therefore, this necessitates contacting the prescriber to clarify the intended dosage.
Conclusion
The requirement to contact the prescriber arises from the fact that the prescribed Xanax dosage of 5 mg is not commercially available. All other options either misinterpret the administration guidelines or do not relate to the immediate issue of the prescription's validity. This highlights the importance of ensuring that prescriptions align with available formulations.