UPDATED 4/14/2020 by State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy (SOBP)
On March 22, Governor Mike DeWine authorized the SOBP to file emergency rule 4729-5-30.2 of the Administrative Code that places limits on dispensing chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: The rule only applies to prescriptions that are dispensed for outpatient use.
On April 14, the SOBP’s executive director, in consultation with the SOBP president, authorized or updated the following as it relates to the dispensing of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for presumptive positive COVID-19 patients:
For the continuation of inpatient treatment for COVID-19 using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for patients discharged from a hospital.
The prescriber shall be required to notate on the prescription that the patient has been discharged from the hospital and the prescription shall be for no more than a seven-day supply (no refills authorized).
(Originally Authorized 3/26/2020, Updated 4/14/2020)
For patients discharged from an emergency department (ED), for a probable COVID-19 diagnosis based upon case classifications established by the Ohio Department of Health.
The prescriber shall be required to notate on the prescription that the patient has been discharged from the ED with a probable COVID-19 diagnosis and the prescription shall be for no more than a seven-day supply (no refills authorized).
(Authorized 4/14/2020)
To assist licensees in complying with this rule, the SOBP has developed frequently asked questions document, which was recently updated.
Excessive prescribing of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine has resulted in shortages of these drugs for approved uses. Although anecdotal reports of improvement after taking these meds for COVID-19 have been made, no randomized trials have demonstrated this. In fact, a recent small study in France did not demonstrate improvement with using hydroxychloroquine. In the meantime, patients with a legitimate need for these medications have faced difficulty getting their prescriptions filled. Consequently, it is good to see that strict rules for the use of these medications have been established.