How long is a prescription good for before it can't be filled anymore?

[sweethome]

I've read quite a few pharmacy-related questions in this thread so I'm posting it here. However, mods: If this can be handled better elsewhere, please shift.

This is actually a hypothetical (it really is) question that I've been wondering for quite awhile now.

Let's say I see my doc today and get a hand-written prescription. What if I forget to fill the prescription because I already have enough of that medication from the last time I visited the doc.
If I stumble across the written prescription in six months, can I take it to the drug store and have it filled still? What about a year down the road?
When is a script too old to be filled?

Does this change when the medications are scheduled? Does it even matter?

 

[Mr Blonde]

Prescription related questions don't go in OD; this should go either in your regional forum or legal discussion. I'll try this in North & South American Drug Discussion first, mods do as you see best.

OD===>N&SADD

 

[SL0DR0]

i dunno about having a written a rx for something,
but i had a prescription ambien cr at cvs with 5 refills, and it had been about 4 months since i filled it and i called the other day and the pharamacist said the prescriptiojn had expired. i asked why sincei had 4 or 5 refills on it!!?
he said they expire after 4 months of inactivity.
fuckers!

 

[~*geNeRaTiOn E*~]

they are usually voided after 4-6 mos

 

[schneidly76]

I was told at wallgreens that they are good for one year from the date the script was written. But maybe that is not for controlled class scripts. IDK