The Alabama Legislative Council voted this morning to disapprove the Board of Health's proposed rule that would have rescheduled Xanax (Alprazolam) to a Schedule II. The Directors of both the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and of the Alabama Department of Public Health plus physician members offered reasons that the Board of Health had voted for the change. The Secretary of the Pharmacy Board and a representative for the Alabama Pharmacy Association outlined potential challenges for patients, the complications facing pharmacists and increased costs to pharmacy business associated with dispensing, wholesaling and tracking alprazolam.
Thank you to all pharmacists who phoned, met, emailed and wrote their legislators. It was wonderful seeing pharmacists stand up and act together.