(a) A pharmacist shall inform a patient orally or in writing of the harmful effects of a drug dispensed by prescription if both of the following apply:

(1) The drug poses substantial risk to the person consuming the drug when taken in combination with alcohol or the drug may impair a person’s ability to drive a motor vehicle, whichever is applicable.

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 4074

  • board: means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Department of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession. See California Business and Professions Code 31
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15

(2) The drug is determined by the board pursuant to subdivision (c) to be a drug or drug type for which this warning shall be given.

(b) In addition to the requirement described in subdivision (a), on and after July 1, 2014, if a pharmacist exercising his or her professional judgment determines that a drug may impair a person’s ability to operate a vehicle or vessel, the pharmacist shall include a written label on the drug container indicating that the drug may impair a person’s ability to operate a vehicle or vessel. The label required by this subdivision may be printed on an auxiliary label that is affixed to the prescription container.

(c) The board may by regulation require additional information or labeling.

(d) This section shall not apply to a drug furnished to a patient in conjunction with treatment or emergency services provided in a health facility or, except as provided in subdivision (e), to a drug furnished to a patient pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4056.

(e) A health facility shall establish and implement a written policy to ensure that each patient shall receive information regarding each drug given at the time of discharge and each drug given pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4056. This information shall include the use and storage of each drug, the precautions and relevant warnings, and the importance of compliance with directions. This information shall be given by a pharmacist or registered nurse, unless already provided by a patient’s prescriber, and the written policy shall be developed in collaboration with a physician, a pharmacist, and a registered nurse. The written policy shall be approved by the medical staff. Nothing in this subdivision or any other law shall be construed to require that only a pharmacist provide this consultation.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 304, Sec. 1. (AB 1136) Effective January 1, 2014.)

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