FDA drug schedules

Controlled substances

Controlled substances are drugs or chemical substances whose possession and use are regulated under the Controlled Substances Act. The Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, is the legal foundation of the United States government's fight against the abuse of drugs and other substances. This law is a consolidation of numerous laws regulating the manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of controlled substances.

Schedule I drugs

Schedule I drugs are defined as those considered to have high potential for abuse, with no recognized medical use in treatment in the US. The medical uses illustrate the dominance of recreational use as the primary qualifying factor for Schedule I, even when there are medical uses which in theory disqualify them from being eligible for Schedule I.

1-(1-Phenylcyclohexyl)pyrrolidine, 1-(2-Phenylethyl)-4-phenyl-4-acetoxypiperidine, 1-[1-(2-Thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine, 1-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl) Piperazine, 1-[1-(2-Thienyl)cyclohexyl]pyrrolidine, 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-4-propionoxypiperidine, 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine, 2,5-Dimethoxyamphetamine, 3,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine,
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Schedule II drugs

Schedule II drugs are those with a high potential for abuse, but recognized medical use; and a high incidence of physical or psychological dependence. These are available only by prescription, and distribution is carefully controlled and monitored by the DEA.

1-Phenylcyclohexylamine, 1-Piperidinocyclohexanecarbonitrile, Alfentanil, Alphaprodine, Amobarbital, Amphetamine, Anileridine, Benzoylecgonine, Bezitramide, Carfentanil,
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Schedule III drugs

Schedule II drugs are those with a high potential for abuse, but recognized medical use; and a high incidence of physical or psychological dependence. These are available only by prescription, and distribution is carefully controlled and monitored by the DEA.

Amobarbital, Amobarbital suppository dosage form, Anabolic steroids, Aprobarbital, Barbituric acid derivative, Benzphetamine, Boldenone, Butabarbital, Butalbital, Buprenorphine,
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Schedule IV drugs

Schedule IV drugs are those deemed to have a low potential for abuse relative to drugs in Schedule III; recognized medical uses; and a low risk of dependence relative to drugs in Schedule III. These are controlled similarly to Schedule III drugs.

Alprazolam, Barbital, Bromazepam, Butorphanol, Camazepam, Cathine, Chloral betaine, Chloral hydrate, Chlordiazepoxide, Clobazam,
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Schedule V drugs

Schedule V drugs are deemed to have a lower potential for abuse relative to drugs in Schedule IV and a small incidence of physical or psychological dependence. These are sometimes available without a prescription and includes, among others, cough suppressants containing small amounts of codeine and preparations containing small amounts of opium, used to treat diarrhea.

Codeine preparations - 200 mg/100 ml or 100 gm, Difenoxin preparations - 0.5 mg/25 ug AtSO4/du, Dihydrocodeine preparations 10 mg/100 ml or 100 gm, Diphenoxylate preparations 2.5 mg/25 ug AtSO4, Ethylmorphine preparations 100 mg/100 ml or 100 gm, Opium preparations - 100 mg/100 ml or gm, Pyrovalerone,
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Schedule VI drugs - only regional

The federal law has only five schedules, but some states have added a "Schedule VI" to cover certain substances which are not "drugs" in the conventional sense, but are nonetheless abused recreationally; these include toluene (found in many types of paint, especially spray paint) and similar inhalants such as amyl nitrite (or poppers), butyl nitrite, and nitrous oxide (found in many types of aerosol cans). Many state and local governments enforce age limits on the sale of products containing these substances (in addition to its inhalant properties, the sale of spray paint is restricted in some localities in an effort to curtail the incidence of graffiti vandalism).

Notes

Drugs requiring prescriptions are sometimes also known as legend drugs because legislation requires labels with the legend, "Caution! Federal law prohibits dispensing without a prescription." The term controlled drugs is sometimes used for scheduled drugs because of the additional controls placed on them (beyond the need for a prescription).