What must be included on a prescription for controlled substances beyond just the medication?

A prescription for controlled substances must include several key components to ensure its validity and compliance with regulatory requirements. One of these critical components is the provider's DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) number. This number is essential because it uniquely identifies the healthcare provider who is authorized to prescribe controlled substances, and it serves to prevent misuse and unauthorized prescribing within the pharmaceutical system.

The inclusion of the DEA number helps pharmacists and pharmacies verify the legitimacy of the prescription and the prescriber, which is particularly important for controlled substances that have a higher potential for abuse or dependence. Without this number, a prescription for a controlled substance may be deemed invalid.

Other components required on the prescription generally include the patient's information, the medication prescribed, dosage, and instructions for use, among others. However, details like the patient's insurance information, prescribing history, or the total cost of medication are not mandatory elements of the prescription itself for controlled substances. Their inclusion may vary based on medical practice or the policies of the pharmacy, but they do not affect the legal validity of the prescription as the DEA number does.