Alabama Administrative Code
Title 540 - ALABAMA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
Chapter 540-X-17 - GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS FOR THE UTILIZATION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES FOR WEIGHT REDUCTION
Section 540-X-17-.03 - Schedule III, IV And V Controlled Substances

(1) Only a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy licensed by the Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama may order, prescribe, dispense, supply, administer or otherwise distribute a controlled substance in Schedule III, IV or V to a person for the purpose of weight control, weight loss, weight reduction, or treatment of obesity, except that a Physician Assistant, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner or Certified Nurse Midwife may prescribe non-controlled drugs for such purpose. If a Physician Assistant, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner or Certified Nurse Midwife prescribes non-controlled drugs for weight reduction or the treatment of obesity, the prescriber shall comply with the guidelines and standards of this Chapter which apply to M. D.s and D. O.s.

(2) A written prescription or a written order for any controlled substance for a patient for the purpose of weight reduction or treatment of obesity shall be signed by the prescribing physician on the date the medication is to be dispensed or the prescription is provided to the patient. If an electronic prescription is issued for any controlled substance for a patient for the purpose of weight reduction or treatment of obesity, the prescribing physician must sign and authorize the transmission of the electronic controlled substance prescription in accordance with federal law and must comply with all applicable requirements for Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (See 21 CFR Parts 1300, 1304, 1306 and 1311, as amended effective June 1, 2010). Such prescriptions or orders shall not be called in to a pharmacy by the physician or an agent of the physician.

(3) The prescribing/ordering physician shall be present at the facility when he or she prescribes, orders or dispenses a controlled substance for a patient for the purpose of weight reduction or treatment of obesity.