DEA Controls Tramadol as a Schedule IV Controlled Substance July 9, 2014 News, Physician Resource DEA, Controlled Substances, Schedule IV, tramadol 0 Effective August 18, 2014, tramadol will be classified as a Schedule IV drug, according to a rule recently published by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The final rule imposes the regulatory controls and administrative, civil and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule IV controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, dispense, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities with, or possess) or propose to handle tramadol. Physicians should be aware of the following effective August 18, 2014: The change becomes effective on Monday, August 18, 2014. After that, all regulatory requirements applicable to schedule IV controlled substances will apply to tramadol. This includes specific rules relating to storage, recordkeeping, inventory, disposal and prescribing. Every DEA registrant who possesses any quantity of tramadol must take an inventory of all stocks of tramadol on hand. Prescribers will have to be registered with the DEA in order to prescribe tramadol. Any unfilled prescriptions/refills for tramadol after August 18 will have to follow Controlled Substances Act rules governing Schedule IV substances, and some patients may need new prescriptions. Click here to read the final rule. Comments are closed.
