Status of Pending DEA Rules
Second temporary rule October 10, 2023
“Further extending existing DEA regulations for new practitioner relationships”
- Authorizes all DEA-registered practitioners to prescribe
schedule II–V controlled medications via telemedicine through
December 31, 2024 - Whether or not the patient and practitioner established a
telemedicine relationship on or before November 11, 2023
What are scheduled medications?
Scheduled medications refer to drugs and substances that are regulated under controlled substance laws and regulations. In the U.S., the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies controlled substances into five schedules based on their potential for abuse, medical use, and other criteria.
Here’s a list of some common scheduled medications by their DEA schedule:
- Schedule I:
- No currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
- Examples: Heroin, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“Ecstasy”), methaqualone, and peyote.
- Schedule II:
- High potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
- Examples:
- Narcotics: Fentanyl, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), and morphine.
- Stimulants: Amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall), methamphetamine (Desoxyn), and methylphenidate (Ritalin).
- Others: Cocaine, pentobarbital, and secobarbital.
- Schedule III:
- Moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.
- Examples:
- Buprenorphine products (like Subutex and Suboxone).
- Anabolic steroids (like Depo-Testosterone).
- Some codeine preparations like Tylenol with codeine.
- Testosterone.
- Schedule IV:
- Low potential for abuse relative to substances in Schedule III.
- Examples:
- Benzodiazepines: Alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
- Sleep medications: Zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), and eszopiclone (Lunesta).
- Others: Tramadol (Ultram), carisoprodol (Soma), and clorazepate (Tranxene).
- Schedule V:
- Lower potential for abuse relative to Schedule IV.
- Generally contain limited quantities of narcotics.
- Examples:
- Cough preparations containing less than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams (like Robitussin AC).
- Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, and Parepectolin.
Note: The scheduling of substances can change over time based on new research, legislative changes, and societal perspectives. Additionally, the list above is not exhaustive, and many other substances fall into these categories