Do prescriptions expire after one year?

Question

I just had an argument at the local pharmacy. They refused to refill a prescription as it was 367 days old. They claimed there was a "Federal Law" that prohibits this refill. I argued that there was no such law, that their policy might be a in response to an FDA guideline or an insurance company standard, but there is no Federal law prohibiting the refill.

Answer 1

No, it's against the law.

Some prescriptions even expire earlier than one year after being written.

You lose.

Answer 2

Prescriptions do expire. They might be mistaken about it being a "law" it is probably an FDA regulation, which has the force of law.  In-other-words if they fail to adhere to the regulation then they could lose their license, so it's the same thing.

Prescriptions for narcotics will expire even faster then one year.

I work under a set of government regulations, and even if the rules aren't written into the law, the law authorizes the government organization to establish regulations that must be followed. These regulations have the force of law and violators could be subject to both civil and criminal penalties. It is common for people to say that "the law says" but don't think that the regulations are any less enforceable.  

Answer 3

As far as I know if you don't refill the prescription before the date of use on it, you can not get another prescription and have to go back to the doctor to get it. Its a law.