Schedule 3 Drugs – What are they & What Does Schedule 3 Mean

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In the United States, Schedule 3 drugs are controlled under the administration of the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970, along with any subsequent amendments to the Act where substances have been added, moved from one schedule to another or eliminated from control.

Schedule 3 substances include those drugs or substances and the mixtures, compounds, materials, preparations containing quantities of substances under control and immediate precursors that:

• Have an abuse potential less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.
• Have a currently acceptable medical use for treatment in the United States.
• Have the potential for moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

What is the Controlled Substances Act?

The drugs on Schedule 3 have some accepted medical use.

Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in 1970, establishing a federal policy to regulate the manufacturing, distribution, importation, exportation and use of regulated substances. The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) was charged with enforcing the laws under the CSA until 1973, when President Nixon designated the Drug Enforcement Administration with authoritative control.

The CSA places certain substances into one of five schedules according to their dangers and abuse potential, legitimate medical value and the potential for dependence. Substances under Schedule 1 have no medical value and the highest potential risks for abuse and dependence. Schedule V drugs have a low potential for abuse and consist mainly of preparations with limited quantities of controlled substances listed under other schedules.

Schedule 3 falls right in the middle.

The Dedicated Process of Scheduling Drugs under the CSA

There are hundreds of drug brands being manufactured and introduced annually, along with the ever increasing phenomenon of illegal drugs showing up on the street. The DEA is tasked with controlling any substances that pose health risks to society. DEA reference codes are assigned to the chemicals as a way of tracking their movements between manufacturers, distributors, pharmacists, hospitals, practitioners and researchers.

CSA schedules are continuously being revised as recreational drug abuse and addictions continue to increase and known hazards continue to present themselves.

Schedule 3 Drug Types

The CSA defines schedules l though V, with Schedule Vl substances being defined by individual state statutes. Typically, Schedule III substances have a low to moderate potential for physical and psychological dependence. They have also accepted medical uses and must be prescribed by a qualified medical provider.

Stimulants listed under Schedule 3 are those drugs that have a stimulating effect on the central nervous system (CNS) unless otherwise excepted or listed in another schedule.

Examples of Schedule 3 stimulants include:

• Benzphetamine or Didrex- used for the short-term treatment of obesity
• Phendimetrazine or Bontril – used for appetite suppression and works as a sympathomimetic amine
• Diethypropion or Tenuate – used as an appetite suppressant
• Mazindol or Sanorex- used to manage obesity

Depressants

Depressants listed under Schedule 3 are drugs that have a depressant effect on the central nervous system unless otherwise excepted or included in another schedule.

Examples of Schedule 3 depressants include:

• Sedative-  Nembutal and Seconal, when formulated with other active ingredients. Alone, both are considered Schedule ll.
• Lysergic Acid – LSD (listed as a depressant under the CSA, although it has hallucinogenic effects.)
• Dissociative drugs –  including Ketamine and Tiletamine
• Zolazapam-  used in veterinary medicine and is structurally similar to benzodiazepines (Although uncommon, it can sometimes be misued by humans)

Hallucinogenic Substances

Hallucinogen Substances include those approved medications containing THC, such as Marinol or dronabinol, for the control of nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Alone, there are no Schedule III drugs.

Nalorphine

Nalorphine is a mixed opioid agonist and antagonist used to reverse opioid overdose. While it was extremely useful for years, Naloxone is a much safer and more effective drug used to reverse the effects of opioids. Naloxone is not a restricted substance.

Narcotic Drugs

Narcotic drugs under Schedule 3 include only those preparations, mixtures and compounds of opiates or opioids in limited quantities of milligrams per dosage unit unless specifically excepted or listed in another schedule.

Legal Narcotics List

Though most people’s minds immediately think of illegality when considering narcotics, there are some medicinal and other drugs on the legal narcotics list.

Examples of Schedule 3 narcotic drugs may include:

• Codeine or dihydrocodeine containing no more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit and combined with analgesics or non-narcotic ingredients such as acetaminophen in Tylenol 3 or in cough preparations.
• Dihydrocodeinone+papaverine or noscapine in less than 15 milligrams per dosage unit.
• Buprenorphine – Suboxone or Subutex

Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids that are listed in Schedule 3 are drugs that are hormonal substances chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone (other than estrogens, progestins, corticosteroids and dehydroepiandrosterone) unless specifically excepted or listed in another schedule.

Examples of schedule 3 anabolic steroids may include:

• Bodybuilding drugs
• Testosterone

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