Article
Prescriptions for Weight Reduction
Indiana Code 35-48-3-11 states that only a physician licensed under IC 25-22.5, a physician assistant licensed under IC 25-27.5, or an advanced practice nurse licensed under IC 25-23 with prescriptive authority may treat a patient with a Schedule III or Schedule IV controlled substance for the purpose of weight reduction or to control obesity.
A physician licensed under IC 25-22.5, a physician assistant licensed under IC 25-27.5, or an advanced practice nurse licensed under IC 25-23 with prescriptive authority may not prescribe, dispense, administer, supply, sell, or give any amphetamine, sympathomimetic amine drug, or compound designated as a Schedule III or Schedule IV controlled substance under IC 35-48-2-8 and IC 35-48-2-10 for a patient for purposes of weight reduction or to control obesity, unless the physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse does the following:
- Determines through review of the physician's records of prior treatment of the patient or the records of prior treatment of the patient provided by a previous treating physician or weight loss program, that the physician's patient has made a reasonable effort to lose weight in a treatment program using a regimen of weight reduction based on caloric restriction, nutritional counseling, behavior modification, and exercise without using controlled substances and that the previous treatment has been ineffective for the physician's patient.
- Obtains a thorough history and performs a thorough physical examination of the physician's patient before initiating a treatment plan using a Schedule III or Schedule IV controlled substance for purposes of weight reduction or to control obesity.