Not sure whether a particular controlled drug is a Schedule II, III, IV or V? Check the label on the container or box. By federal law, each controlled drug is required to carry a letter "C" on the label, and within that letter is a Roman numeral identifying the schedule/category of the drug.

The federal scheduling of controlled drugs categorizes them by degree of abuse potential and addictiveness. The lower the number, the higher the abuse potential. For example, fentanyl is a Schedule II, and midazolam is a Schedule IV. Illegal drugs such as marijuana and heroin are Schedule I.

Also note that lower categories carry with them different regulatory rules. For example, a Schedule II drug requires an authorized person, or "registrant," to sign special forms in order to make a purchase.

Sheldon S. Sones, RPh, FASCP

Mr. Sones is a pharmacy consultant and safe medication management officer and a member of Outpatient Surgery Magazine's Editorial Board.

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