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From: Robert Swotinsky MD
Date: 22 Oct 2005
Time: 05:49:53 -0700
Remote Name: 65.206.105.12
There is no time limit beyond which the owner of a prescription medication is prohibited by law from taking that medication, and medications are not limited to use for the specific diagnosis or condition for which they have been prescribed. My approach when presented with a donor's old prescription has been to corroborate that prescription's validity and, if and when corroborated, report the test as negative. However, I make an exception to this general advice for use of methadone to treat heroin addiction, since methadone maintenance treatment is only appropriate if conducted as part of a program that includes ongoing medical supervision. [Effective Medical Treatment of Opiate Addiction. NIH Consensus Statement Online 1997 Nov 17-19;15(6):1-38.]
The situation presented in this question is one in which methadone is used for pain control. I think this falls in the former category, similar to someone who is using an old Vicodin Rx or an old Percocet Rx for a current, new problem, such as a toothache or a back strain. While I realize many MRO physicians question the wisdom of someone taking a medication for any reason if not under a physician's care, I also believe this kind of use is common, does not violate any particular law, nor is it inconsistent with any professional, consensus statement or other guideline (perhaps with exceptions such as the one I mentioned for methadone).