# Can you buy individual (or low quantity) prescription bottles? Especially really small ones? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746 "2011-12-10T16:23:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/21 "2011-12-11T11:55:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’ve seen several pill carriers sold at the CVS. Some have multiple compartments. You could also just ask a pharmacist if he has a little bottle like you could have. I suggest you carry the label or paperwork from the pharmacy with you when you go out. **You can be arrested for carrying pills without accompanying proof of a prescription** (you wouldn’t be convicted if there was a valid prescription somewhere, but why go through the hassle because of some idiot cop). (Boldface added) Do you have a cite or other additional information about this? I use pill organizers, and carry the with me regularly when I go anywhere for more than a day. So I have to carry some kind of stack of documentation with me at all times, for all the kinds of pills I take? What kind of paperwork might I have anyway? Prescriptions are all sent from doctor to pharmacy electronically now (at least where I go). At best, I get some kind of sales receipt from the pharmacy. I never pictured that mere _posession_ of a small quantity of some pills was an arrestable offense. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/22 "2011-12-11T12:32:42Z")
35mm film used to come in a plastic container about that size. Black plastic, with a snap off lid. I have not bought film in years, but I doubt things have changed much. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/23 "2011-12-11T14:02:43Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > (Boldface added) > Do you have a cite or other additional information about this? > I use pill organizers, and carry the with me regularly when I go anywhere for more than a day. > So I have to carry some kind of stack of documentation with me at all times, for all the kinds of pills I take? What kind of paperwork might I have anyway? Prescriptions are all sent from doctor to pharmacy electronically now (at least where I go). At best, I get some kind of sales receipt from the pharmacy. > > I never pictured that mere _posession_ of a small quantity of some pills was an arrestable offense. I had a friend in college get in trouble for having two Vicodins in the bottom of a ringbox. The Vicodins were hers from having back surgery and she didn’t want to bring the prescription bottle so she just tossed them in the ringbox. She did receive a ticket for either having them in an illegal container or having them without a prescription. Of course, her room was also in the process of being raided by three Sheriffs who had already found a lot of marijuana, several pipes and bongs and I don’t even remember what else. This was just another controlled substance in a college dorm. I have to imagine if you where stopped for, say, speeding and you had a pill box on your passenger seat, it might be a different story. I doubt anyone would even bat an eye at it. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/24 "2011-12-11T14:44:42Z")
I’ve never seen a pharmacy that doesn’t sell the little zip seal plastic bags for pills, which are very handy for traveling. I find these things to be very useful both as pill containers and as craft supply containers, and they generally won’t open in your purse. If you are still worried about them opening, though, you can put them in a larger zip seal bag, or in some other container. [American Science & Surplus](http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/subsection/7) has a variety of Useful Bottles and Other Containers, but the selection will vary. AS&S is always fun to browse. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/25 "2011-12-11T15:24:31Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I have to imagine if you where stopped for, say, speeding and you had a pill box on your passenger seat, it might be a different story. I doubt anyone would even bat an eye at it. Not only that, it’s going to matter what type of pills they are- antibiotics, blood pressure meds, etc , are not controlled substances like Vicodin. If I was carrying Vicodin or some other controlled substance, I’d keep it in the original pharmacy bottle, as that’s documentation of the prescription. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/26 "2011-12-11T15:26:46Z")
I found a travel-size package of Advil once. As originally sold it had 10 pills in it & is a tube about 3/4" x 2". At a quick glance you’d mistake it for a tube of Chapstick though it’s a bit shorter & fatter. The end cap is semi-childsafe; it requires a firm push down then 1/4 turn to open. I can’t imagine it coming open accidentally. It makes an ideal purse / pocket pill case for several typically-sized pills / caplets. I haven’t looked for a new one recently since I have the only one I need & after 2 years it’s still working well. But it ought to be easy to find. If a Walgreens or equivalent drug store doesn’t have it, try looking at a well-stocked convenience store / gas station. I’m vaguely remembering that I found it at a convenience store, but I wouldn’t swear to it. As to ordinary larger sized pill bottles, just ask your pharmacy person to give you one. They cost next to nothing & if you’re any kind of regular customer they’ll be happy to oblige. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/27 "2011-12-13T00:28:13Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > 35mm film used to come in a plastic container about that size. Black plastic, with a snap off lid. I have not bought film in years, but I doubt things have changed much. For reference, those 35mm canisters are about twice as big, in both height and diameter, as the pill bottle I got in Curaçao. Actually probably more than twice in diameter, by a bit. I asked at CVS and the smallest pill bottles they stock are the standard size that most prescriptions come in, sadly ☹ I’ve definitely gathered some good links from this thread; I’ll likely buy one of the options I found here. Thanks–sorry it took me a while to get back to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/28 "2011-12-13T01:00:48Z")
This isn’t exactly what you’re describing, but I bought some of the [Indestructo Pill Box](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KL740S/ref=oh_o04_s00_i00_details) for my son. They are relatively small and people seem to like them. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/29 "2011-12-13T01:10:41Z")
p.s. – My link looks like the same thing that **StuffLikeThatThere** recommended. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/30 "2011-12-13T01:44:01Z")
FWIW, I use the small keychain pill container that you have a link to in your OP. It is small, but holds a good amount of medication. I can keep 15 morphine, 10 Adderall, 5 Lipitor and a few Percocets in it. What I like about is that it is waterproof and that it has a screw top on it. That lessens the chance that it will come open in my pocket. I don’t keep keys on it, but I recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Av8trix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@Av8trix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Av8trix)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/31 "2011-12-13T02:16:33Z")
I travel for a living, so I’m very into taking up the least amount of space possible for the gear I want to tote. I like to keep a selection of medicine cabinet type stuff on hand for the “what ifs,” like tylenol, aleve, prescription stuff, etc. I found the little round bead organizers sold at craft stores like JoAnne’s or Michaels to be a great solution. They’re sold in packs of 6 and up. Here’s a link to the same thing on Amazon: [http://www.amazon.com/Storage-Stackable-Containers-Crafts-Findings/dp/B001AS6OLK/ref=pd\_sim\_sbs\_hg\_2](http://www.amazon.com/Storage-Stackable-Containers-Crafts-Findings/dp/B001AS6OLK/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_2) They’re about an inch across, and each one screws in to the base of the next. You can take one with you, or screw another on, and take two, or a whole column, depending on your needs. Mine have survived a few years in an outside luggage pocket, with all the abuse that entails. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/32 "2011-12-13T03:10:05Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Not only that, it’s going to matter what type of pills they are- antibiotics, blood pressure meds, etc , are not controlled substances like Vicodin. If I was carrying Vicodin or some other controlled substance, I’d keep it in the original pharmacy bottle, as that’s documentation of the prescription. So, in general, how does a cop know what kind of pills he’s looking at if they aren’t in their original bottles? I mean, sure, maybe SOME particular pills are [well-known and recognizable](http://buyingtadalafil.com/uploads/20911/viagra-heart-rate.jpg), but most are rather non-descript. Many just have some kind of code-number like KU-118 or TL-384 stamped on them. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/33 "2011-12-13T03:30:44Z")
I’d like a small container to carry pills that can be labeled with the drug name, mg. and dose. Why is that so hard? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/34 "2011-12-13T03:35:27Z")
> [@Av8trix](#): > > I travel for a living, so I’m very into taking up the least amount of space possible for the gear I want to tote. I like to keep a selection of medicine cabinet type stuff on hand for the “what ifs,” like tylenol, aleve, prescription stuff, etc. I found the little round bead organizers sold at craft stores like JoAnne’s or Michaels to be a great solution. They’re sold in packs of 6 and up. Here’s a link to the same thing on Amazon: > > [Amazon.com: Paylak Storage Stackable Clear Containers 6 for Beads Crafts Findings Small Items 2" Round : Arts, Crafts & Sewing](http://www.amazon.com/Storage-Stackable-Containers-Crafts-Findings/dp/B001AS6OLK/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_2) > > They’re about an inch across, and each one screws in to the base of the next. You can take one with you, or screw another on, and take two, or a whole column, depending on your needs. Mine have survived a few years in an outside luggage pocket, with all the abuse that entails. Intriguing… ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/35 "2011-12-13T04:07:00Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > So, in general, how does a cop know what kind of pills he’s looking at if they aren’t in their original bottles? I mean, sure, maybe SOME particular pills are [well-known and recognizable](http://buyingtadalafil.com/uploads/20911/viagra-heart-rate.jpg), but most are rather non-descript. Many just have some kind of code-number like KU-118 or TL-384 stamped on them. My WAG is that it’s not that difficult for cops to recognize them, even if they only have code numbers, as there are a limited number of controlled substances that are abused. And of course, some have more [descriptive](http://www.drugs.com/imprints.php?action=search&drugname=vicodin)[markings](http://www.drugs.com/imprints.php?action=search&drugname=percocet) ---
**Author:** ![Av8trix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@Av8trix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Av8trix)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/36 "2011-12-13T04:33:28Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > Intriguing… Hm, on further inspection, those are 2" diameter, but I assure you the 1" are out there. Try your local craft store. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/37 "2011-12-13T07:08:25Z")
Sure, you could go the cheap and easy route. But I say style it up with some [antique prescription bottles](http://www.etsy.com/listing/88316352/prescription-bottles-19th-century). ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/38 "2011-12-13T08:07:39Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > … those cards of pills that you push through the back in them (never saw that in the US from a pharmacy before, kinda different) Do US pharmacies really not have the pill cards? In India there are very few medicines that don’t come in push-out-through-back or tear open pill cards (so much so that I don’t know if they’re called pill cards. They’re so ubiquitous there’s never been a need to refer to them) ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/39 "2011-12-13T10:25:03Z")
In the US, we do have some medications that come on cards. There’s at least one antibiotic that I’ve taken that comes on a card, and one anti yeast medication. However, most of my prescriptions come in pill bottles, if they’re in pill or tablet form. We do have a lot of over the counter medicines that come on cards, but even with those, you can generally choose whether to get the pills on cards or in a bottle. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746/40 "2011-12-13T19:13:06Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > In the US, we do have some medications that come on cards. There’s at least one antibiotic that I’ve taken that comes on a card, and one anti yeast medication. However, most of my prescriptions come in pill bottles, if they’re in pill or tablet form. We do have a lot of over the counter medicines that come on cards, but even with those, you can generally choose whether to get the pills on cards or in a bottle. Yep. Only a very few prescriptions come on cards. One that comes to mind is the Z-pack. (pac?) Virtually all prescriptions for pills come as loose pills in a bottle. I’d say it’s maybe 50/50 for over the counter stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-individual-or-low-quantity-prescription-bottles-especially-really-small-ones/605746.md?page=3)