November 14, 2008 - 11:49pm
someone please explain this one to me...I picked up my monthly script of zolpidem tartrate (generic ambien 10s) well on top of the bottle it says "this is the same medication you have been getting color shape or size may be different" well that's fine but on the bottle it says this is a white round shaped tablet imprinted with a 93 on the front and 74 on the back .... but inside the bottle it is oblong pills with apo on one side and 10 on the other.... can this be legal having different pills in a bottle than description says? had I not had this place as a resource I probably wouldn't have taken these as it seems pharmacy made a mistake and put wrong pills in my bottle!!.. If this is legal I can carry any brand hydrocodone pills in any bottle ..eg. 7.5 blue spec ... in a bottle that says white oblong 7.5 500... right or wrong??
November 15, 2008 - 10:46am
#2
I have had this happen to me
I have had this happen to me before except the pharmacist took me aside and explained that they got a new shipment of Generics in and it is the same medication I have always been taking but it just looks different (just like the sticker on the lid says.) They should of changed the description on the label as well. I guess they figured they were covering all bases when they put the sticker on the lid. If you are worried about the pills looking different then what the Label says, I would take it back and ask for a label that has the right description. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it.
KK
November 15, 2008 - 1:11pm
#3
true KK
my pharmacist or pharm tech always tells me when a different looking pill is substituted...but since the op is lucky to know of Pharmer.org...no problems
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
November 15, 2008 - 3:30pm
#4
Yep!!! Isn't he lucky to
Yep!!! Isn't he lucky to have us??!! 
KK
November 15, 2008 - 11:06pm
#5
my point was
regardles if it is the same medication or not ... carying pills around in a bottle with wrong descriptopn, theoreticaly could get you into trouble... i think..
have a great day
Johnny
opiate ABUSE free since 6-9-08
November 16, 2008 - 1:20am
#6
If they were a different med
If they were a different med or different dose then yeah you could theoretically get into trouble but if it is just a different generic of the same med/dose then you can have them in any bottle because you can just say it was some left over from a past prescription that you threw in a newer bottle. It is still the same prescribed dose so they cant really do anything just if the manufacturer does not match up because it can be from a month earlier and different pharmacy yet still a valid script.
November 16, 2008 - 1:39am
#7
Rx looks different than the discription on bottle
What you probably CAN do is switch ALL the pills from one generic brand to another generic brand as that way they are not mixed and all the pills are still what the label says.
Here's the deal...
When a pharmacy gets in a new brand or shape/color/version of a drug and they only have that ONE type in stock, they will just fill the Rx with whatever drug is called for and either mention it to you or put the "different color/imprint" sticker on it. Sometimes it just arrived and there wasn't time to change the description in the computer system or often its a temporary substituation from the usual generic brand.
For years there was no description on the bottle of what the pill looked like. They do that to be helpfull, not because they have to.
Just for reference--- The law says (and the prescription bottles say the same thing)---A prescription drug MAY NOT BE TRANSFERED TO ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE PERSON TO WHOM IT WAS PRESCRIBED.
This ALSO means it is illegal to transfer YOUR OWN prescription pills from the original bottle OR to add other pills to your own Rx bottle. If you have a script filled for "Oxycodone/Acetominophen Tablets" there better only be the ONE type pill in that bottle. Having 2-3 Percocet in a bottle labled for GENERIC Oxy/Apap is illegal and considered "diversion" (even if you're only "diverting" it to yourself!)
November 16, 2008 - 3:50am
#8
I think there is a very fine
I think there is a very fine line here on what the bottom line law is and what could be prosecutable. Having brand name percocet in a generic bottle would be diversion because you didnt have a prescription for the brand name if you filled it generically but I dont see any technical problem with having different generics as they are generic "xx" tablets which you have a prescription to and thus it cant possibley be diversion. If I have a valid prescription to ambien and fill it generically and have a different generic in the bottle I still have a valid prescription to generic ambien either way. Also i dont understand your interpretation of "may not be transfered to any person other than whom it to be prescribed" meaning you cant put a past months prescription in a newer bottle for the same thing. How does that mean you cant take a different generic from a month earlier (prescriptions are valid for a year not just a month). It means you cant transfer the pills to any one else it says nothing about having different generics in the same bottle. Also even if you did have a couple pills left over it is still a valid prescription and the prescription is for a generic tablet not a specific manufacturer so that cant possibley be illegal. Also technically having brand name pills in a generic bottle shouldnt be alright(if always filled generic) but having two different generics should be(if you normally fill generic) when overall they are still the same med so this is kind of a toss up on what could actually be prosecutable and what is the law. Also by the way your saying that you cant transfer the pills at all out of the bottle what about the people who have daily pill cases. they still have valid prescriptions and although they could technically get a posession charge for a controlled substance it would end up getting thrown out in court once you show a prescription so it is all about context and the exact situation. Also even the whole thing about transfering botles of controlled substances can be vague at times. A friend of mine was pulled over and arrested on possesion for driving his girlsfriends car that had her xanax bottle in it and he had to go to court and show signed statements by her doctors and stuff to get out of it my point being he did get out of it even though he was technically in possession of someone elses controlled substance.
November 16, 2008 - 4:13am
#9
where did you get?
your info sherm? i would like to read this law...I have been carrying my pills like i described for years...i get stopped every time i fly..no problems.....as long as i carry my receipts i have zero worries of being a law breaker...ever see the little vials for nitroglycerin pills? no labels..pill counter containers/ no label...its simply impossible to carry 9 different pill bottles in my pockets at once..and a very good way to look like a dealer carrying bottles brimming with all sought after stuff/ i could drop a bottle and then what?....millions of older people who use the pill counters are lawbreakers? stay out of trouble and you wont get in trouble i say.
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
November 16, 2008 - 6:40am
#10
I've had medications filled
I've had medications filled before with two different generics in the bottle from them running out of the usual generics they normally carry. I know people for whom carry daily dispensers. I do as well. I have heard from news of the weird that a man was sentenced to prison for four years I believe it was. For having hydrocodone pills that were prescribed to him in his pocket w/o a bottle. He was charged with distribution. And he had his Dr. testify along with his pharmacist and he still wasn't released and this was in Florida. I don't know everything about it. If someone comes across it please post it. I'll look for it myself. I doubt the police would bother someone if they had the right bottle for which the medication is prescribed for. It's not like many people are going places with their meds in bottles for which they weren't prescribed. For example having Halcion in an Ambien bottle. That wouldn't be right of course. I agree to disagree with you Sherman. It is very possible though if the police officer in question decided to take you in and book you for this. Just to have you bond out and have the issue dismissed. Somewhat like you said right Goat? But you said stay out of trouble and you won't get in trouble I say.
November 16, 2008 - 8:11am
#11
hey, that just happened to
hey, that just happened to me last night. i got a prescription for percocets and it's the usual white, round watson imprint w/the #'s on them but the bottle said these are small blue. i was like, huh! wonder why that's different. then i saw this. what are the odd's? and also, i carry most of my pills in an unmarked bottle too, because i take so much stuff, but also i take my 8 vicodin to work w/me in an unmarked bottle because the original bottle it comes in is humungous, and i figure if i ever get pulled over or whatever, they can verify my presicription w/rite aid or my doctor if they're that worried about it. i'm just sayin i never worry cuz it can be verified. just my 2 cents! (i usually have no sense, but i have 2 cents!) :0) everyone have a great day.
November 16, 2008 - 9:07am
#12
About 10 years ago I got
About 10 years ago I got pulled over for speeding and I had my bottle of Lortab in my purse. Well, in the bottle I had 1 tiny little Phenergan pill and the cop asked what it was and I told him it was for nausea and he didn't believe me. So he took me and that 1 tiny little pill into the Pharmacy across the street to verify it. Can you believe that? They told him it was Phenergan and he still charged me with medication not in it's original Rx bottle. That was the LAST time I ever mixed pills in a bottle. This whole rambling that I am doing is probably irrelevant to the OP but just had to share.
KK
November 16, 2008 - 12:31pm
#13
They sell pill cadies and
They sell pill cadies and pill containers at stores such as rite aid and cvs. It is not illegal at all unless the pills contained within are not yours. On another note phenergan isn't even controlled.
Check with a licensed MD before you take any suggestions!
November 17, 2008 - 4:58pm
#14
It may depend on the State
I live in Texas and I know for a fact that if you have a pill bottle for any controlled substance and the contents are mixed or don't match the lable then you are going to jail. It has happened to my Wifes cousin. When I get my RX's the Doc always makes me sign a paper that says I understand that I can be arrested if I carry these drugs in any other container than the original RX bottle. Florida is the same way. You may beat the rap but you will take the ride if they catch you in Texas. And, yes I carry all of my RX bottles with me everywhere I go. I have a backpack and it has nine RX bottles in it. It x*#&s but I am NOT taking the ride!
November 17, 2008 - 5:06pm
#15
florida resident here
when you get your bag of scripts you also get a receipt with all the info the label has/i carry these and have never taken a ride or anything because of how i carry my meds...keep the monthly labels in your wallet and if stopped all you need to do is show your receipts....but hey we can disagree
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
November 17, 2008 - 5:13pm
#16
also
thinking back to when i was a long haired teen who was arrested for pot i was searched and they found some chewable mylanta tablets that they were awfully worked up over....my step mother had to confirm that they were mylanta....anything can happen in America....circumstances will get you in trouble.
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
November 17, 2008 - 5:32pm
#17
I agree with you
I agree with you Bad2WD....
It depends on the State. I guess the fact that Phenergan isn't a Controlled Substance doesn't matter here in Georgia b/c I still got charged and the charge didn't get thrown out in Court. I'm still living with that 1 stupid little pill not being in it's original Rx container on my Criminal Background from 10 yrs ago.
KK
November 17, 2008 - 5:35pm
#18
Florida?
I was not trying to say how things are in Florida. I really don't know. However I do know Texas is very strict about this. Also, I have heard and seen alot of news stories about very bad and seemingly unfair things happening to people in Florida when it comes to controlled substances. I was just guessing Florida and Texas were similiar in that reguard.
November 17, 2008 - 5:46pm
#19
the area
and circumstances are the major factors...it just depends....i have seen many things done by law enforcement that are not by the book...letting you off the hook or going for a ride...sorry if i came across wrong
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
November 17, 2008 - 8:33pm
#20
personally I think you could
personally I think you could get into trouble not that it would stick in court or anything but they could lock you up until you could prove that the pharmacy didn't change their labels which the pharmacy would most likely write yoou a statement to take to court but it is still alot of unnecessary bull to go through
November 17, 2008 - 9:12pm
#21
well
you wont catch me ever carrying around a thousand dollars worth of drugs on me just to be following the law...it would be silly to carry 120 oxycodone 120 xanax 90 soma and 180 gabapentin and a bottle of 30 mobic.....you will catch a police officers attention carrying all that..easy to loose it or be robbed....i will pass. my meds are hidden at home/ safe and sound...what if a kid got ahold of a backback full of what i take?...horrible
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
November 18, 2008 - 2:12pm
#22
I disagree.. I don't
I disagree.. I don't necessarily think you WILL get in trouble if you don't carry your pills in the bottle they came in, but I know that you CAN.. it just depends on the situation. I have known people who have been caught with benzos and pain killers who had a prescription, but not the bottle. A couple had to go to court and prove they had a prescription. Also, as far as I know, the prescription has to be current. So if you had a pain pill script from 2005 but still carried the narcotic with you, technically you are breaking the law. I also hear on the news a lot about celebrities having to go to court to prove they have a legitimate script for a narcotic they had on them (with no bottle.) So its very common.
Point is, you are fine, ultimately, as long as you could somehow prove by your court date that you had a valid prescription, but you could have a hassle to go through. If the identification doesn't match whats in the bottle, then you may get some hassle.
"stay out of trouble and you won't get in trouble"? No offense, but we live far outside of that optimistic ideal. I say: Better safe than sorry.
November 18, 2008 - 4:44pm
#23
Sorry Ashville25
You are correct in a way. However, in Texas you will get arrested if the policeman wants to push it and you will do time if the judge decides you will. Even if you have a legit RX. The law in Texas is clear and everybody knows it. If you carry your meds in any other container and get caught then you are at the mercy of the court and you will be in for a miserable hassel.
November 18, 2008 - 4:55pm
#24
I agree with you Goat
Matter of fact I agree with you to the point that I bend the rules a bit. I do keep my scripts with me. They are either locked in my desk or locked in my car. I keep a small qty of each in metal vials in my pocket. So at least if I get hasseled I have the original containers within reach. This is still a risk because even though I have the original bottle if a policeman or judge decides that they want to push it I am in for a big hassel and could get in some major trouble and have to hire a lawyer and post a bond etc......It really x*#&s! I am going to start carrying the tabs from my RX reciepts in my wallet like you do for an added layer of protection. Even if it is only creating a false sence of security. I would hate for some kid to break my window and steal my backpack with all of my RX's in it. To me that would be way worse than carrying them in a smaller container in my pocket. When I travel I do keep them all in the original bottles strapped to my back. So, I am carrying 60 30mg Avinza, 120 Norco, 120 Soma and 60 2mg Xanax bars. The rest are 800mg Ibuprofen and three blood pressure meds. I would be in big bind if I lost this qty of drugs but what else are you going to do?
November 18, 2008 - 5:06pm
#25
You can ask the Pharmacist
You can ask the Pharmacist for a small bottle with the same label to accompany your medication. I also get huge bottles and began doing this for traveling, etc. so if there was an accident or something I wouldn't lose them all. Plus, even as a woman, I want to carry a purse not a suitcase. I wasn't aware that you could do this until my daughter was diagnosed with one of the types of arthritis that I have and we needed two seperate bottles (one for at school and one for home). Now some pharmacies have requested that the MD put that on the perscription or have called the MD to make sure this was OK but not a huge hassle at all. I just wanted to give you all another option to think about that will help us stay out of trouble. Now with that said, I make sure they give me the smallest bottle because I have 8 that I have to carry with me but for the meds that I take only in the AM or PM, I still carry the pharmacy print out as well as a continually updated written or typed list that has everything I take including vitamins and IV infused drugs. I do this in case I am ever in an accident or unconscous(sp) to avoid any interactions or problems if I have to go to the hospital they will know everything that is in my system. Be safe and take care of yourselves.
November 18, 2008 - 5:38pm
#26
Ok.. if it is in Texas, it
Ok.. if it is in Texas, it is... I've heard from a lawyer that it's kind of like auto insurance... if you get pulled over and cannot show proof of insurance, you are fined, but if you go to court and show proof that you had it, the charge will be dismissed... maybe just an NC law :)
November 22, 2008 - 2:46am
#27
WOW!
I can't believe how many varied comments came from my mention of the Rx container laws, (ie. illegal to transfer Rx from one container to another, one person to another etc).
In a nutshell...
I myself have been stopped by the police w/some loose pills in my pocket (that I had a current Rx for)--They were easy to identify, brand name Ultracet. I believe they may have had the actual name imprinted on the pill itself. Anyhow--the cop asked my what they were, I answered "Ultracet, I have a prescription for them" the cop said "We're gonna learn a new dance today...drop those pills on the pavement. We're gonna learn the Ultracet stomp!" He made me grind them into the ground untill they were just powder and then walk away.
Another time I borrowed a friends car--his Xanax Rx bottle was in the center console. I was pulled over, cop saw bottle when I went to get insurance info and he made me get the Rx holder on the phone to confirm that they were infact HIS pills and that I was borrowing the car, etc. He said having those pills WITH me amounts to "posession" and "transfer" and was more than enough to get taken in (as nuts as that sounds). I like the idea of getting a 2nd, smaller Rx bottle to carry around and then leave the bulk of the Rx safely at home. VERY good idea!
As far as my own practices are concerned, I live just outside of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania and I ALWAYS carry the orig. Rx bottle with the correct pills in that bottle even though its quite inconvenient. It looks like the police are apt to interpret the laws any way the feel like at the time and yea, I know everyone has those little plastic pill cases with the days of the week, am/pm, etc and the metal nitroglycerine cases and such. I think these laws are intended more for controlled substances but if the police think you LOOK like you've done something wrong, the facts only matter AFTER you've been put thru the wringer and often times not even then!
November 22, 2008 - 4:16am
#28
diffrent states have diffrent (boundries)
lots of diversion going on in texas here.... i read every day in paper that so and so were driving and had 2 hydrocodone pills and are being charged with selling... or x got pulled over and had a xannax in his poket and got arested my point cops dont know what every pil looks like and if something isnt what the description says it is there will be troulble the cop can be an a *^!& one day and just not like the looks of you and take you to jell.regardless if it is a genuine script or not if description dont match pill coukd be a trip downtown and alot of hassle possible.. here in texas in some citys driving without insurance they will tow your car away
opiate ABUSE free since 6-9-08
November 22, 2008 - 10:14am
#29
Hmmm...I have heard a lot
Hmmm...
I have heard a lot of different things on this subject as well with different people i know.
I'm from WV. and I knew this guy that lived down in the southern part of the state and was let to slide with that 7 day counter thing without having the original or proof of it, but that was by local law enforcement there. He had Percoset 7.5's, and Somas among other things.
Like what's been said, it seems to vary.
I know someone else who lives a little closer to the central part of the state and had an mixed container with I believe wasd labelled as Lortab 7.5's and had a full script of those, and had 1 or 2 Xanax 2's in it that , and he was pulled over and they searched his car; They took those meds, wrote him a ticket and let him go home without the meds.
When it came to go to court; they dropped the case but they never gave back the medication saying that it was diversion.
You can't stay forever young
November 22, 2008 - 10:16am
#30
The point that I was
The point that I was trying to get at was that a little while back I had a prescription for 90 Percoset 10's and this bottle they gave me was huge. I carried it with me but it was really difficult to keep on my person, but I was afraid of runnning into legal problems otherwise.
You can't stay forever young
I do carry all my "today pills" in a unmarked bottle...5 different types...but in my wallet i carry the slip of paper that comes with each med...it has the price/tablet info/my name/date on it...there is no way i could carry all those large bottles....as for being legal...???
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.