Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Practice Exam

Which of the following prescription issues would raise suspicion of forgery or alteration?

1. The prescription is handwritten and difficult to read

2. The prescription is written for an unusually high quantity of tablets

3. The directions on the prescription contain abbreviations

4. The prescription is written for one of your regular patients

The correct answer is: The prescription is written for an unusually high quantity of tablets

A prescription being written for an unusually high quantity of tablets can indeed raise suspicion of forgery or alteration. This is because many controlled substances have established dosing regimens with limits on how many can be prescribed at one time to prevent abuse and misuse. If a patient typically receives a smaller quantity, an unusually high quantity may indicate that the prescription is not legitimate or that there is a need for further verification. Factors such as the patient's history, the medication prescribed, and common prescribing practices contribute to this assessment. While other signs, like illegibility or the use of abbreviations, may raise concerns, they are not as clear-cut indicators of potential illegitimacy as an unusually high quantity. Additionally, a prescription for a regular patient, despite being typical, wouldn’t necessarily signal any issues unless accompanied by other red flags.