Controlled Substances

Schedule I

No Accepted Medical Use

High abuse potential — No currently accepted medical use in the U.S. — Not legally prescribable

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Drug Name	Brand Names	Primary Use(s)
Heroin (diacetylmorphine)	—	No accepted medical use (illicit opioid)
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)	—	No accepted medical use (psychedelic)
Marijuana / Cannabis (federal)	—	No federal medical use (state laws vary)
Psilocybin	—	No accepted medical use (investigational psychedelic)
MDMA (ecstasy)	—	No accepted medical use (empathogen/stimulant)
Mescaline	—	No accepted medical use (psychedelic)

Schedule II

High Abuse Potential — Accepted Medical Use

May lead to severe psychological or physical dependence — No refills permitted

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Drug Name	Brand Names	Primary Use(s)
Oxycodone	OxyContin, Percocet	Moderate-to-severe pain
Hydrocodone	Vicodin, Norco	Moderate-to-severe pain
Morphine	MS Contin, Kadian	Severe pain
Fentanyl	Duragesic, Sublimaze	Severe pain, anesthesia
Methadone	Dolophine	Severe pain, opioid use disorder
Oxymorphone	Opana	Severe pain
Hydromorphone	Dilaudid	Severe pain
Meperidine	Demerol	Moderate-to-severe pain
Codeine (single-entity, high-dose)	—	Pain, cough suppression
Amphetamine	Adderall, Evekeo	ADHD, narcolepsy
Dextroamphetamine	Dexedrine	ADHD, narcolepsy
Methylphenidate	Ritalin, Concerta	ADHD, narcolepsy
Lisdexamfetamine	Vyvanse	ADHD, binge eating disorder
Methamphetamine	Desoxyn	ADHD, obesity (rarely used medically)
Cocaine	—	Topical local anesthetic (ENT procedures only)
PCP / Phencyclidine	—	No current accepted medical use

Schedule III

Moderate-to-Low Abuse Potential

Less abuse potential than Schedule I/II — Up to 5 refills in 6 months

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Drug Name	Brand Names	Primary Use(s)
Buprenorphine	Suboxone, Subutex, Belbuca	Opioid use disorder, chronic pain
Anabolic Steroids (testosterone, nandrolone, oxandrolone)	AndroGel, Deca-Durabolin, Oxandrin	Hypogonadism, muscle wasting
Ketamine	Ketalar; Spravato (esketamine)	Anesthesia, treatment-resistant depression
Codeine combinations	Tylenol w/ Codeine (#3, #4)	Mild-to-moderate pain, cough
Dronabinol	Marinol	Chemotherapy-induced nausea, appetite stimulation (HIV/AIDS)
Benzphetamine	Didrex	Short-term weight management
Phendimetrazine	Bontril	Short-term weight management

Schedule IV

Low Abuse Potential Relative to Schedule III

Limited dependence potential — Up to 5 refills in 6 months

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Drug Name	Brand Names	Primary Use(s)
Alprazolam	Xanax	Anxiety, panic disorder
Diazepam	Valium	Anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms
Lorazepam	Ativan	Anxiety, seizures, sedation
Clonazepam	Klonopin	Seizures, panic disorder
Zolpidem	Ambien	Insomnia
Eszopiclone	Lunesta	Insomnia
Zaleplon	Sonata	Insomnia
Tramadol	Ultram, ConZip	Moderate pain
Carisoprodol	Soma	Muscle spasms (short-term)
Phentermine	Adipex-P, Lomaira	Weight loss
Modafinil	Provigil	Narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder
Armodafinil	Nuvigil	Narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder
Midazolam	Versed	Anesthesia, procedural sedation
Triazolam	Halcion	Insomnia
Temazepam	Restoril	Insomnia
Oxazepam	Serax	Anxiety, alcohol withdrawal
Chlordiazepoxide	Librium	Anxiety, alcohol withdrawal
Butorphanol	Stadol	Pain management
Pentazocine	Talwin	Moderate-to-severe pain

Schedule V

Lowest Abuse Potential Among Controlled Substances

Low potential relative to Schedule IV — May be dispensed OTC in limited quantities in some states

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Drug Name	Brand Names	Primary Use(s)
Pregabalin	Lyrica	Neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, seizures
Cough preparations <200mg codeine/100mL	Robitussin AC	Cough suppression
Lacosamide	Vimpat	Seizures (partial-onset)
Brivaracetam	Briviact	Seizures (partial-onset)
Gabapentin (some states only)	Neurontin	Neuropathic pain, seizures (Schedule V in some states; NOT federally scheduled)
Ezogabine	Potiga (discontinued)	Seizures (discontinued from market)
Pyrovalerone	—	Fatigue/stimulant (rarely used)

⚖️ Controlled Substances