For a bottle of opened Lunesta tablets (C-IV), do I need to do an exact count for my controlled substance inventory?

In Ohio, the regulations for conducting an inventory of controlled substances distinguish between opened and unopened containers. For opened bottles of controlled substances such as Lunesta, which is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance, an exact count is not required. Instead, an estimated count is sufficient as long as the total number of dosages (tablets, in this case) can be verified. This practice aims to streamline the inventory process while maintaining accountability for controlled substances.

This regulatory approach balances the need for precise management of controlled substances with practical considerations for pharmacies. Unopened bottles do require exact counts, which helps ensure proper accounting for inventory and detection of discrepancies. However, the rationale behind allowing estimated counts for opened bottles relates to the understanding that these quantities can be more variable and that estimates can still provide an adequate system of monitoring as long as the medications are securely managed and records are well maintained.