Does a partial fill on a CIII-V medication constitute a refill?

A partial fill of a Schedule III-V medication does not count as a refill. In the context of pharmacy practice, a refill typically refers to the dispensing of a medication in its entirety again after the original quantity has been dispensed. However, a partial fill is simply a situation where a patient receives less than the prescribed quantity of a medication but still remains within the limits of what can be dispensed.

For controlled substances in these schedules, regulations specify that partial fills are allowed, but they do not constitute a refill. A partial fill must be completed within a specific time frame (generally six months from the date of the original prescription), but it is treated differently from a full refill in terms of record-keeping and the limits on dispensing. Therefore, while both practices involve dispensing medication, they are distinct processes under the law, and partial fills do not add to the count of allowable refills as stipulated by pharmacy regulations.