Drug Classification
Controlling Drugs or Other Substances
Physicians are legally responsible when prescribing controlled drugs and need to be familiar with federal and state prescribing laws and regulations. In all cases, the most stringent law--whether it is federal or state--takes precedence. Controlled substances are considered drugs with potential for physical dependence, psychologic dependence, or both. Under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves drugs established to be safe and effective. Physicians may choose to prescribe drugs for indications other than their approved labeling if it is done on the basis of acceptable medical practice.
Schedule I Drugs
High abuse potential and no accepted medical indications
heroin (diacetylmorphine), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) ,cannabis (marijuana), methaqualone (Quaalude), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-Ecstasy), mescaline\peyote, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), hashish, Psilocybin mushroom\psychedelic
Schedule II Drugs
High abuse potential and accepted medical indications with severe restrictions. May lead to severe psychologic or physical dependence
morphine (Duramorph, MS Contin), phencyclidine (PCP), methadone (Dolophine®), methamphetamine (Desoxyn) , amobarbital (Amytal®), pentobarbital (Nembutal®), secobarbital (Seconal®), Tuinal (amobarbital/secobarbital combo, opium, oxymorphone (Numorphan), dihydrocodeinone (hydrocodone), oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox), fentanyl (Duragesic), amphetamine (Dexedrine), methylphenidate (Ritalin), propoxyphene coproxamal (Darvocet), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), Meperidine (Demerol), topical anesthetic cocaine
Schedule III Drugs
Accepted medical uses
Abuse potential less than with Schedule II drugs
Anabolic steroids (androstenedione, androstenediol), codeine combo prods. (Empirin, Fiorinal, Tylenol, ASA or APAP w/codeine), thiamyl (Surital®), thiopental (Pentothal®), butalbital (Fiorinal®), butabarbital (Butisol®), talbutal (Lotusate®), aprobarbital (Alurate®), Marinol (tetrahydrocannabinol, THC), hydrocodone combo prod. (Lortab, Vicodin, Hycodan), buprenorphine (Buprenex®), ketamine (Ketaset)
Schedule IV Drugs
Accepted medical uses
Abuse potential less than with Schedule III drugs
dextropropoxyphene (Darvon®), pentazocine (Talwin®), meprobamate
(Equanil®), methohexital (Brevital®) phenobarbital (Luminal®), mephobarbital (Mebaral®), Zolpidem (Ambien®), zaleplon (Sonata®), estazolam (ProSom®), flurazepam (Dalmane®), temazepam (Restoril®), triazolam (Halcion®). midazolam (Versed®), alprazolam (Xanax®), chlordiazepoxide (Librium®), clorazepate (Tranxene®), diazepam (Valium®), halazepam (Paxipam®), lorazepam (Ativan®), oxazepam (Serax®), prazepam (Centrax®), quazepam (Doral®), Clonazepam (Klonopin®), chloral hydrate (Noctec), phentermine (Ionamin), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), butorphanol (Stadol), sibutramine (Meridia), zopiclone (Lunesta)
Schedule V Drugs
Accepted medical uses which are often nonprescription
Preparations with limited quantities of certain opioids and stimulants
Abuse potential less than with Schedule IV drugs
Robitussin A-C, Cheracol, Cough medicines w/codeine (No >200 mg. codeine/100 ml or 100 gm.), pregabalin (Lyrica®), pyrovalerone (Centroton, Thymergix) , diphenoxylate prep.(Lomotil), dihydrocodeine prep. (Cophene-S), opium prep. (Parepectolin, Kapectolin PG)
No prescriptions may be written for most of Schedule I substances. Schedule II drugs must be prescribed with a written prescription for no more than 30 days, and refills are prohibited unless the patient contacts his or her physician and obtains a new prescription. However, in cases of medical emergencies, written prescriptions for limited amounts of Schedule II medications may be telephoned or faxed to a pharmacy, with the written prescriptions delivered within 72 hours. The Schedule II drugs are only available by prescription, and distribution is carefully controlled and monitored by the DEA. Oral prescriptions are allowed, except that the prescription is limited to 30 doses, although exceptions are made for cancer patients, burn victims, etc. No refills are allowed. Also, Schedule II drugs are subject to production quotas set by the DEA. The Schedule III drugs are available only by prescription, though control of wholesale distribution is somewhat less stringent than Schedule II drugs. Prescriptions for Schedule III drugs may be refilled up to five times within a six month period. As many as five refills are allowed with Schedule IV, and V medications. http://www.dea.gov/