R156-37-604. Prescribing of Controlled Substances for Weight Reduction or Control

(1) A practitioner shall not prescribe, dispense or administer a Schedule II or Schedule III controlled substance for purposes of weight reduction or control.

(2) A prescribing practitioner may prescribe or administer a Schedule IV controlled substance in treating excessive weight leading to increased health risks only when all the following conditions are met:

(a) medication is used only as an adjunct to a comprehensive weight loss program based on supplemental weight loss activities including, but not limited to, changing lifestyle counseling, nutritional education, and a regular, individualized exercise regimen;

(b) prior to initiating treatment the prescribing practitioner shall:

(i) determine through thorough review of past medical records that the patient has made a substantial good-faith effort to lose weight in a comprehensive weight loss program without the use of controlled substances, and the previous regimen has not been effective;

(ii) obtain a complete history, perform a complete physical examination of the patient, and rule out the existence of any recognized contraindications to the use of the medication(s);

(iii) determine and document this assessment in the patient's medical record, that the health benefit to the patient greatly outweighs the possible risks of the medications prescribed; and

(iv) discuss with the patient the possible risks associated with the medication and have on record an informed consent which clearly documents that the long term effects of using controlled substances for weight loss or weight control are not known;

(c) throughout the prescribing period, the prescribing practitioner shall:

(i) supervise, oversee, and regularly monitor the patient, including his participation in supplemental weight loss activities, efficacy of the medication, and advisability of continuing to prescribe the weight loss or weight control medication; and

(ii) maintain a central medical record, containing at least, the goal of treatment or target weight, the ongoing progress toward that goal or maintenance of the weight loss, the patient's supplemental weight loss activities with documentation of compliance with the comprehensive weight loss program; and

(d) the prescribing practitioner shall immediately discontinue the weight loss medication in any of the following situations:

(i) the practitioner knows or should know that the patient is pregnant;

(ii) the patient has consumed or disposed of any controlled substance other than in compliance with the prescribing practitioner's directions;

(iii) the patient is abusing the controlled substance being prescribed for weight loss;

(iv) the patient develops a contraindication during the course of therapy; or

(v) the medication is not effective or that the patient is not abiding with and following through with the agreed upon comprehensive weight loss program.