Category: Drug regulation

While the federal government does not classify gabapentin as a controlled substance, several states have independently reclassified it as a Schedule V medication due to growing concerns over its misuse and abuse. This state-level approach means regulations for gabapentin can vary dramatically across the country, affecting prescribing practices and pharmacy dispensing rules.

In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids from the *Ephedra* plant after linking them to serious health risks like heart attack and stroke. However, the legality of the *Ephedra* plant itself is more complex, with specific regulations based on the plant species and how it is sold and used.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Schedule II drugs are substances with a high potential for abuse and use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. This high-risk classification answers the question, **what is a number 2 controlled substance?**, by identifying medications that have an accepted medical use but are subject to strict regulations due to their danger.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), controlled substances are classified into five distinct categories or schedules based on their medical use and abuse potential. A **Level 1 or 2 controlled substance**, officially known as a Schedule I or Schedule II drug, represents the highest level of regulatory control due to its severe risks of abuse and dependence.

According to the DEA, controlled substances are classified into five schedules based on their potential for abuse and accepted medical use. The most dangerous drugs, like heroin, fall into Schedule I with no accepted medical use, while the top controlled substances in other schedules are widely prescribed medications with high potential for dependence.

According to the DEA, a Schedule IV drug has a low potential for abuse relative to Schedule III, a currently accepted medical use, and may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence. This is the very definition that explains why is Xanax only schedule 4, a classification that balances its therapeutic benefits against its addictive properties.

While pure atropine injections and eye drops are not controlled, a significant distinction exists in its legal status when it is combined with other active ingredients. It is this dual classification that often leads to confusion regarding whether **is atropine a controlled substance** and subject to federal scheduling by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

An estimated 30 million people use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) every day worldwide [1.11.1]. While generally effective, some have been taken off the market. This article explores which NSAIDs are banned and the reasons for their withdrawal.

In 2012, hydrocodone combination products were the most prescribed medications in the U.S. before the DEA's reclassification. Today, the question, 'Is hydrocodone considered a controlled substance?' has a straightforward answer: all products containing it are strictly regulated Schedule II narcotics due to their high abuse potential.

Butalbital, a barbiturate commonly combined with other analgesics for tension headaches, is banned in many European countries due to its potential for dependence and abuse. Its legal classification and availability vary dramatically by country, from being an outright ban in some regions to having a complex controlled substance status in others.