Controlled drugs

Question 1

What is a controlled drug ?

Answer 1

drugs which are ‘dangerous or otherwise harmful’ and have the potential for abuse or misuse. Therefore they are restricted to the public.

Question 2

What is an example of a schedule 1CD ?

Answer 2

• have no therapeutic use and a license generally required for their production, possession or supply.
  examples: Ecstasy, LSD and raw opium

Question 3

What is an example of a schedule 2 CD ?

Answer 3

Pharmacists and other classes of person named in the 2001 Regulations have a general authority to prescribe, possess, supply and procure Schedule 2 CDs when acting in that capacity.

Schedule 2 includes opiates (e.g., diamorphine, morphine, methadone, oxycodone, pethidine), major stimulants (e.g., amfetamines), quinalbarbitone and ketamine.

ketamine used as an anaesthetic
methadone used to treat opioid addiction.

Question 4

What is an example of a schedule 3 CD ?

Answer 4

Schedule 3 CDs include minor stimulants and other drugs (such as buprenorphine, temazepam, tramadol, midazolam, phenobarbital, gabapentin and pregabalin) that are less likely to be misused (and less harmful if misused) than those in Schedule 2.

-Gabapentin used to treat epilepsy
Temazepam used to treat insomnia.

Question 5

What is an example of a schedule 4 CD ?

Answer 5

Part I (CD Benz POM) Contains most of the benzodiazepines (such as diazepam), non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (such as zopiclone) and Sativex (a cannabinoid oromucosal mouth spray)
Part II (CD Anab POM) Contains most of the anabolic and androgenic steroids, together with clenbuterol (an adrenoceptor stimulant) and growth hormones.

Question 6

What are examples of a schedule 5 CD ?

Answer 6

Schedule 5 contains preparations of certain CDs (such as nitrous oxide, codeine, pholcodine and morphine) that are exempt from full control when present in medicinal products of specifically low strengths.

Question 7

What are the prescription requirements for schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs ?

(mep 3.6 classification control drugs)

3.3 pharmacy only medicines professional and legal issues.

Answer 7

prescriber signature
date prescription was issued.
(CD prescriptions valid for 28 days since it was signed)
Prescribers address
Name of CD
STRENGTH (ex. 500mg/tablet)
THE FORMULATION
DOSE ‘take one to two tablets when required/three ampoules to be given over 24 hours as directed’
total quantity ‘10mg tablets, 2 packs of 30 tablets’
quantity prescribed
Dental prescription ‘ the words for dental treatment only must be present’
Instalment wording where appropriate.
Name of patient
Address of patient
the maximum quantity of Schedule 2, 3 or 4 CDs prescribed should not exceed 30 days