DEA Proposes Placing Pain Drug Tramadol Into Schedule IV

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to place the pain drug tramadol into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), according to a notice published Nov. 4 in the Federal Register (78 Fed. Reg. 65,923).

The notice specifically affects the substance 2- ((dimethylamino)methyl)-1-(3- methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanol, its salts, optical and geometric isomers and salts of these isomers. Under the CSA, controlled substances are classified in one of five schedules based upon their potential for abuse, their currently accepted medical use and the degree of dependence the substance may cause, the notice said. If finalized, this action would impose ...