Due to a medical or health complication, you have to take medication prescribed by your Colorado physician. You finished your required dosage to put yourself on the mend, and you have some pills left over. Your friend has a similar health complication. Is it illegal to hand over the rest of your meds?
Before you unintentionally end up on the wrong side of the law, see what Pharmacy Times has to say about the matter. Do not let your good deed result in an avoidable punishment.
Negative reaction
While your friend may experience symptoms similar to yours, neither of you has a licensed doctor’s experience and education. Upon taking some of your leftover pills, your friend could have a negative reaction to the medication. This is especially true if the other person mixes medications, even something as seemingly harmless as over-the-counter medicine.
The legality of sharing prescription medication
In Colorado, you cannot legally share prescription medication, even if it is only a single pill. It makes no difference if you obtained the meds legally, sharing them can result in criminal charges.
Additional charges
Say that you not only break the law by sharing your prescription, but that your family member or friend also has an extremely adverse reaction to the medication and ends up in the hospital. Should that happen, you open yourself up to a lawsuit from your friend or family member’s spouse, dependent or relative if the medical situation takes a turn for the worst.
This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.