Unlimited Practice Guide · PTCE · ptce.md

Schedule III–IV refill floor (5 / 6 months)

ptce/federal/c3-5-refills · integrity: practice_only

Claim

Under 21 CFR 1306.22(a), a Schedule III or IV controlled-substance prescription may not be filled or refilled more than six months after the issue date, and may not be refilled more than five times. States may be stricter. Schedule V is not covered by that same 5/6 sentence — do not collapse V into this card.

Plain

Federal exam floor for C-III and C-IV: max 5 refills, max 6 months from issue. Always check state board. Do not treat C-V as automatic 5/6 under this pin.

Citations

  1. 21 CFR 1306.22 (1306.22(a)) — source
    No prescription for a controlled substance listed in Schedule III or IV shall be filled or refilled more than six months after the date on which such prescription was issued. No prescription for a controlled substance listed in Schedule III or IV authorized to be refilled may be refilled more than five times.
    retrieved 2026-09-07