Definition: A controlled substance schedule is one of five groups, I to V, that US law (21 U.S.C. 812) uses to sort drugs by their potential for abuse, accepted medical use and risk of dependence. Labels print the schedule as a C with a Roman numeral, such as CIII or CIV.
| Schedule | Abuse potential | Accepted medical use |
|---|---|---|
| I | High | None in the US |
| II | High; may lead to severe dependence | Yes, or with severe restrictions |
| III | Less than I and II; may lead to moderate or low physical or high psychological dependence | Yes |
| IV | Low relative to III; limited dependence relative to III | Yes |
| V | Low relative to IV; limited dependence relative to IV | Yes |
| Product | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Testosterone products such as Aveed and Testim | CIII |
| Phendimetrazine tablets | CIII |
| Lomaira (phentermine) | CIV |
| Diethylpropion tablets | CIV |
The weight-loss labels say these drugs are related to amphetamine. See anorectic.
A schedule is a legal category, not a measure of how well a drug works or how safe it is at a given dose. The law sets the findings for each schedule; the schedule of a specific product is printed on its package and label. The Lomaira label says selling or giving the drug away is against the law. Keeping your own log of each dose and refill gives you a clear record if a pharmacy or prescriber asks.
Read more on Dose Track: Aveed side effects · Testim side effects · Lomaira side effects · Phendimetrazine side effects