FDA elaborates
The modification includes important changes for doctors, pharmacists, and patients alike, according to the FDA.
Health care providers must assign and confirm their currently enrolled patient’s risk category when they first log in to the IPLEDGE REMS website on or after Dec. 13, the effective date. They should be sure any patient whose prescription RMA (iPLEDGE authorization) expires on Dec. 11-12 is told to obtain their prescription before midnight, Eastern time, Dec. 10.
Pharmacists will be affected, too, since the iPLEDGE REMS changed to a new platform vendor and the current “switch” pharmacy management system will be removed as a method to verify authorization to dispense isotretinoin. With these changes, as of Dec. 13, pharmacists can’t use the switch system to obtain a predispense authorization, or RMA (risk management authorization). They will need to obtain an RMA online by accessing the iPLEDGE REMS website or via telephone to the PLEDGE REMS center, 866-495-0654, before dispensing the prescription.
Patients, beginning Dec. 13, will have the option of presenting a unique QR code at the pharmacy on their smartphone rather than providing the iPLEDGE identification number. The code can be accessed by logging into their account on the iPLEDGE REMS website.
Patients with an isotretinoin prescription RMA that expires Dec. 11-12, must obtain the prescription before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Dec. 10. If the RMA expires before the prescription is picked up, the patient must begin the authorization process all over again.
Dr. Safer, Dr. Yeung, and Dr. Peebles have no relevant disclosures.
More information on the update and the isotretinoin REMS program is available on the FDA website.