Beginning December 1, 2016, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy requires pharmacies, prescribers, and wholesalers to report the dispensing, personal furnishing, and wholesale sale of all products containing gabapentin (brand names: Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) to the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS). Gabapentin has not been reclassified as a controlled substance, but it is being added to the Board’s list of drugs reportable to OARRS following increased reports of misuse, abuse, and concomitant abuse of gabapentin nationwide.¹

No new requirement to review an OARRS report prior to dispensing gabapentin

Unlike the rules requiring pharmacists and prescribers to request and review an OARRS report prior to dispensing, prescribing, or personally furnishing controlled substances, there is no requirement to request and review an OARRS report prior to dispensing, prescribing, or personally furnishing gabapentin. Pharmacists and prescribers are expected to use professional judgment to determine the need to request an OARRS report prior to dispensing, prescribing or personally furnishing gabapentin.

Changes to prior exemptions to reporting

Pharmacies or prescribers that were previously exempt from OARRS reporting requirements because they did not dispense or personally furnish controlled substances do not need to reapply for a reporting exemption if they do not dispense or personally furnish gabapentin. However, pharmacies and prescribers that were previously exempt from OARRS reporting requirements, but do dispense or personally furnish gabapentin, must begin reporting such dispensing or personal furnishing to OARRS effective December 1, 2016.

More information on reporting to OARRS can be found in the Ohio PMP Handbook, available under the Pharmacies & Prescribers section on the OARRS website.

^{1 DEA Controlled Substance and Legend Drug Diversion; A Law Enforcement and Regulatory Perspective, September, 2015.}