Can an NP prescribe Phentermine in North Carolina?

Yes, a North Carolina NP may prescribe phentermine when it is within the NP's population focus, education, national certification, scope, and competence, and covered by a collaborative practice agreement that identifies Schedule IV and applicable weight-management prescribing authority. Phentermine is a Schedule IV controlled substance.³

An NP must have active North Carolina NP approval with prescriptive authority, which includes authority to prescribe controlled substances in Schedules II–V when consistent with the NP's education, national certification, and scope.¹ For Schedule IV prescribing, the collaborative practice agreement must establish the authority, and the NP must have DEA registration, and the primary supervising physician must have controlled-substance schedule authority equal to or greater than the NP's DEA registration.²

Controlled-substance prescriptions must include the NP's DEA number and be documented in the patient record.

North Carolina NPs may not prescribe controlled substances for themselves, their supervising physician, immediate family members, household members, or intimate partners.

The STOP Act Schedule II/III targeted opioid rules are not a general Schedule IV phentermine limit.