Editing Controlled Substances Act (section)

===Schedule II===
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{{Main|List of Schedule II drugs (US)}}

Schedule II substances are those that have the following findings:

{{blockquote|1=
{{ordered list|type=A
 |The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse
 |The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions
 |Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.<ref name="cornell1" />
}}}}

Except when dispensed directly to an ultimate user by a practitioner other than a pharmacist, no controlled substance in Schedule II, which is a prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 USC 301 ''et seq.''), may be dispensed without the written or electronically transmitted (21 CFR 1306.08) prescription of a practitioner, except that in emergency situations, as prescribed by the Secretary by regulation after consultation with the Attorney General, such drug may be dispensed upon oral prescription in accordance with section 503(b) of that Act (21 USC 353 (b)). With exceptions, an original prescription is always required even though faxing in a prescription in advance to a pharmacy by a prescriber is allowed.<ref name="deadiversion.usdoj.gov">{{cite web|title=Manuals – Practitioner's Manual – SECTION V|url=http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/manuals/pract/section5.htm|access-date=January 7, 2014|archive-date=January 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107191947/http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/manuals/pract/section5.htm|url-status=dead}} Retrieved January 7, 2014</ref> Prescriptions shall be retained in conformity with the requirements of section 827 of this title. No prescription for a controlled substance in Schedule II may be refilled.<ref name="cornell2">{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/21/829-|title=21 U.S. Code § 829 - Prescriptions|website=LII / Legal Information Institute}}</ref>

These drugs vary in potency: for example [[fentanyl]] is about 80 times as potent as [[morphine]] ([[heroin]] is roughly two times as potent). More significantly, they vary in nature. Pharmacology and CSA scheduling have a weak relationship.

Because refills of prescriptions for Schedule II substances are not allowed, it can be burdensome to both the practitioner and the patient if the substances are to be used on a long-term basis. To provide relief, in 2007, {{CodeFedReg|21|1306.12}} was amended (at {{Federal Register|72|64921}}) to allow practitioners to write up to three prescriptions at once, to provide up to a 90-day supply, specifying on each the earliest date on which it may be filled.<ref>{{cite web |title=Issuance of Multiple Prescriptions for Schedule II Controlled Substances |url=http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/faq/mult_rx_faq.htm |publisher=[[United States Drug Enforcement Administration|U.S. DEA]], [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. DOJ]] |access-date=September 3, 2014 |date=November 2007 |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016215736/http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/faq/mult_rx_faq.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Drugs in this schedule include:
* [[Amphetamine]] drugs including [[Adderall]], [[Dextroamphetamine]] (Dexedrine), [[Lisdexamfetamine]] (Vyvanse): treatment of [[ADHD]], [[narcolepsy]], severe [[obesity]] (limited use, dextroamphetamine only), [[binge eating disorder]] (lisdexamfetamine only). Originally placed in Schedule III, but moved to Schedule II in 1978 as part of the [[Psychotropic Substances Act (United States)|Psychotropic Substances Act]].
* [[Barbiturates]] (short-acting), such as [[pentobarbital]]
* [[Cocaine]]: used as a [[topical anesthetic]] or [[local anesthetic]] and to stop severe [[epistaxis]]
* [[Codeine]] (pure) and any drug for non-[[wikt:parenteral|parenteral]] administration containing the equivalent of more than 90&nbsp;mg of codeine per dosage unit;
* [[Diphenoxylate]] (pure)
* [[Fentanyl]] and most other strong pure [[opioid]] agonists, e.g. [[levorphanol]]
* [[Hydrocodone]] in ''any'' formulation since October 2014 (examples include Vicodin, Norco, Tussionex). Prior to October 2014, formulations containing hydrocodone and over-the-counter [[analgesic]]s such as [[Paracetamol|Acetaminophen]] and [[Ibuprofen]] were Schedule III.<ref>Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 163 / Pgs. 49661 - 49682 / August 22, 2014, DEA-Final Rule, Effective October 6, 2014 [https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-08-22/html/2014-19922.htm Text (162 KB)] [https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-08-22/pdf/2014-19922.pdf PDF (242 KB)]</ref>
* [[Hydromorphone]] (semi-synthetic opioid; active ingredient in [[Dilaudid]], [[Palladone]])
* [[Methadone]]: treatment of [[heroin]] addiction, extreme chronic pain
* [[Methamphetamine]]: treatment of [[ADHD]] (rare), severe [[obesity]] (limited use) under the brandname Desoxyn.
* [[Methylphenidate]] (Ritalin, Concerta), [[Dexmethylphenidate]] (Focalin): treatment of [[ADHD]], [[narcolepsy]]
* [[Morphine]]: a pain medication of the opiate family.
* [[Nabilone]] (Cesamet) – A synthetic [[cannabinoid]]. An analogue to [[dronabinol]] (Marinol) which is a Schedule III drug.
* [[Opium]] tincture ([[Laudanum]]): a potent [[antidiarrheal]]
* [[Oxycodone]] (semi-synthetic opioid; active ingredient in [[Percocet]], [[OxyContin]], and [[Percodan]])
* [[Oxymorphone]] (semi-synthetic opioid; active ingredient in Opana)
* [[Pentobarbital|Nembutal (Pentobarbital)]] – [[barbiturate]] medication originally developed for [[narcolepsy]]; primarily used today for [[Assisted suicide|physician assisted suicide]] and [[euthanasia]] of animals.
* [[Pethidine]] ([[United States Adopted Name|USAN]]: Meperidine; Demerol)
* [[Phencyclidine]] (PCP) - Formerly used as veterinary anesthetic under the trade name Sernylan and before then as an injectable anesthetic under the trade name Sernyl.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/LSS/SubstanceGroup/Details/6bf165ed-82e7-47e0-9eaa-daacc42d99cd |title=Details for Phencyclidine-type substances}}</ref>
* [[Secobarbital]] (Seconal)
* [[Tapentadol]] (Nucynta) – A drug with mixed opioid agonist and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor activity.

{{anchor|Schedule III drugs}}