Understanding Pharmacy Policies: What is the Opioid Limit at Walmart?

October 5, 2025 •

4 min read

As part of its Opioid Stewardship Initiative, Walmart restricts initial acute opioid prescriptions to a seven-day supply, with a daily maximum of 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) [1.2.1, 1.3.5]. This article details what the opioid limit at Walmart is and the regulations behind it.

Quick Summary

Walmart's opioid limit includes a 7-day supply for initial acute pain prescriptions and a 50 MME daily dosage cap, aligning with CDC guidelines and state laws. This policy is part of a broader effort to ensure patient safety.

Key Points

7-Day Limit: Walmart restricts initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain to a seven-day supply. [1.2.1]
Dosage Cap: There is a daily dosage limit of 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) for these initial prescriptions. [1.3.1]
State Law Precedence: If a state's law is stricter than Walmart's policy (e.g., a 5-day limit), the pharmacy will follow the state law. [1.2.1]
E-Prescribing Mandate: Since 2020, Walmart has required all controlled substance prescriptions to be electronic. [1.2.7]
CDC Alignment: These policies are aligned with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promote safer prescribing. [1.2.1]
Pharmacist Verification: Pharmacists use tools like NarxCare and extensive training to verify the appropriateness of opioid prescriptions. [1.2.1]
Patient Safety Tools: Walmart provides free opioid disposal packets (DisposeRx) and makes the overdose reversal drug naloxone available. [1.2.6, 1.2.1]

The National Context: Why Opioid Limits Exist

In response to the nationwide opioid crisis, federal and state governments, along with pharmacies, have implemented stricter regulations on dispensing opioid medications [1.2.1, 1.7.1]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued clinical practice guidelines that serve as a foundation for many of these policies [1.6.1]. The guidelines recommend using the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration, suggesting that a three-day supply is often sufficient for acute pain and more than seven days is rarely necessary [1.6.2, 1.6.4]. Following this, numerous states have enacted their own laws limiting opioid prescriptions, with a 7-day limit being the most common for initial prescriptions [1.7.1, 1.7.2]. These measures aim to curb the overprescribing that can lead to misuse, addiction, and diversion.

What is the Opioid Limit at Walmart?

As a major pharmacy chain, Walmart has established its own policies in alignment with federal and state guidelines to promote safe opioid dispensing [1.2.3, 1.3.1]. The core components of Walmart's opioid policy include:

7-Day Supply Limit for Acute Pain: For patients receiving an initial opioid prescription for acute pain (pain expected to last a short time), Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies restrict the supply to a maximum of seven days [1.2.1, 1.2.7]. If a state has a stricter law (e.g., a 5-day limit), the pharmacy will adhere to the state's requirement [1.2.1].
Dosage Strength Cap: The policy also includes a dosage limit of up to 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day for these initial acute prescriptions [1.3.1, 1.3.5]. MME is a standardized measure used to compare the potencies of different opioids [1.8.6].
Mandatory E-Prescriptions: As of January 1, 2020, Walmart requires all prescriptions for controlled substances to be submitted electronically [1.2.1, 1.2.7]. E-prescriptions are less susceptible to forgery, alteration, and errors compared to paper prescriptions [1.3.1].
Pharmacist Tools and Training: Walmart pharmacists are trained in pain management and use tools like NarxCare, a controlled substance tracking program, to help them make informed dispensing decisions and identify potential safety risks [1.2.1, 1.3.7].

These policies apply to Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies across the United States and Puerto Rico [1.2.1]. It is important to note these specific limits generally apply to 'acute pain' and may not apply to patients receiving treatment for chronic pain, cancer, or palliative care, who are managed based on different clinical guidelines [1.6.4, 1.4.5].

Understanding Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME)

MME is a critical concept in opioid prescribing. It converts the dosage of different opioids into a standard value equivalent to milligrams of morphine, allowing healthcare providers to assess the total opioid load a patient is receiving, regardless of the specific drug [1.8.6]. For example, prescribing guidelines often recommend caution when a patient's total daily dose exceeds 50 MME/day and to avoid or carefully justify doses exceeding 90 MME/day for chronic pain [1.6.4]. The formula to calculate MME for a prescription is: (Strength per Unit) x (Quantity) x (MME Conversion Factor) = Total MME [1.8.1, 1.8.2]. Each opioid has a unique conversion factor based on its potency relative to morphine.

Pharmacy Opioid Policy Comparison

Major pharmacies have adopted similar policies in response to the opioid crisis, often based on the same CDC guidelines. However, there can be slight variations in their implementation.


Feature	Walmart	CVS	Walgreens
Acute Prescription Limit	7-day supply for initial prescriptions [1.2.1]	7-day supply for opioid-naïve patients [1.4.1, 1.4.3]	Focuses on a "good faith dispensing policy" where pharmacists verify prescriptions that raise concerns; has faced legal action over its policies [1.5.2, 1.5.5].
Daily Dosage Guideline	Up to 50 MME/day max for initial acute prescriptions [1.3.1]	Limits quantity to 90 MME/day, with prior authorization needed for higher doses [1.4.1]	Policies instruct pharmacists to apply extra scrutiny to high-dose prescriptions [1.5.5].
E-Prescribing	Required for all controlled substances since 2020 [1.2.7]	Supports and encourages e-prescribing [1.4.1].	Does not allow online orders for Schedule II controlled substances; original prescription must be presented in-store [1.5.3].
Patient Resources	Offers free DisposeRx packets for safe medication disposal and Naloxone upon request [1.2.1, 1.2.6]	Provides patient education and has drug disposal kiosks [1.4.2, 1.4.6]	Provides safe medication disposal kiosks and has expanded access to Naloxone [1.5.1].

Navigating Opioid Prescriptions as a Patient

If you are prescribed an opioid, understanding these limits can help you navigate the process. Communication with your doctor and pharmacist is key. Discuss the treatment plan, the expected duration of pain, and the risks of the medication [1.6.1]. Be aware that the pharmacist has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure each prescription is appropriate [1.5.2]. They may contact your prescriber to verify information or discuss the dosage, which is a standard part of their due diligence [1.5.2]. For ongoing pain management, your doctor will need to provide new prescriptions or refills in accordance with these rules. It is also crucial to dispose of any unused medication properly to prevent misuse; both Walmart and CVS provide free disposal solutions [1.2.6, 1.4.6].

Conclusion: A Balance of Access and Safety

The opioid limits at Walmart and other pharmacies are a direct result of a multi-faceted effort to combat the opioid epidemic while ensuring patients have access to legitimate pain management [1.3.6]. These corporate policies, built upon CDC guidelines and state laws, create a system of checks and balances involving prescribers, pharmacists, and patients [1.2.5, 1.6.4]. By restricting initial supplies and dosages, requiring electronic records, and empowering pharmacists with better data, the goal is to reduce the number of excess opioids in communities and prevent the start of long-term use for acute conditions [1.3.1, 1.6.4].

Authoritative Link: For comprehensive federal guidelines, refer to the CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain. [1.6.1]

Frequently Asked Questions

For an initial prescription for acute pain, Walmart's policy limits the supply to no more than seven days. [1.2.1]

Yes, for initial acute pain prescriptions, Walmart's policy includes a limit of up to 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day. [1.3.1]

Generally, these specific limits for acute pain do not apply to patients undergoing active cancer treatment, palliative care, or end-of-life care, who are managed under different guidelines. [1.6.4, 1.4.5]

Walmart mandated e-prescriptions for controlled substances because they are less prone to errors, cannot be easily altered or copied, and are electronically trackable, which helps prevent fraud and diversion. [1.2.1]

The pharmacy will likely dispense a 7-day supply in accordance with its policy. You and your doctor would need to arrange for a new prescription if more medication is clinically necessary after the initial supply. [1.2.1]

MME stands for morphine milligram equivalents. It is a standard value that helps clinicians compare the potencies of different opioids to ensure safe dosage levels. [1.8.6]

Yes, pharmacists at Walmart and other pharmacies have a professional and legal responsibility to ensure a prescription is appropriate and safe. They may refuse to fill a prescription if they have concerns about its legitimacy or potential harm to the patient. [1.2.5, 1.5.2]