4725-16-03. Prescribing controlled substances  


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  • A licensed optometrist, who holds a therapeutic pharmaceutical agents certificate and a valid DEA license number is authorized to employ, apply, administer and prescribe controlled substances that are determined to be appropriate for use in the practice of optometry pursuant to the following:

    (A) A

    preparation used for the treatment of pain that contains not more than sixty mg of codeine per dosage unit and also contains other active nonnarcotic ingredients (e.g. acetaminophen or aspirin) in a recognized therapeutic amount;

    (B) A preparation used for the treatment of pain that contains not more than 7.5 mg of hydrocodone per dosage unit and also contains other active nonnarcotic ingredients (e.g. acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen) in a recognized therapeutic amount;

    (C) The total quantity prescribed shall not exceed a single four-day supply of controlled substances per episode of illness, injury and/or treatment; and

    (D) The product contains or consists of a drug or dangerous drug that was an analgesic included in the practice of optometry under a therapeutic pharmaceutical agents certificate immediately prior to the effective date of this amendment, was not a controlled substance at that time, and subsequently becomes a schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substance. Controlled substances may only be prescribed by an optometrist if the product's FDA approved labeling contains an indication for pain.

    The failure to comply with all or part of this rule constitutes a violation of divisions (B)(3), (B)(9), and/or (B)(13) of section 4725.19 of the Revised Code.


Effective: 8/30/2019
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 6/13/2019 and 08/30/2024
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4725.09
Rule Amplifies: 4725.01, 4725.091
Prior Effective Dates: 07/28/2008, 07/01/2014, 12/01/2015