Veterinary Controlled Substance (DEA Schedule) Reference
DEA schedule (II-V) for the controlled substances most commonly used in veterinary practice, grouped by restriction level.
This schedule does not apply outside the US - always verify your own country's rules
This reference covers the US federal DEA schedule only. It does not apply in the UK (Misuse of Drugs Act 1971), Australia (Poisons Standard - Schedule 4/Schedule 8), Canada (Controlled Drugs and Substances Act), or Ireland (Misuse of Drugs Regulations) - a drug's DEA schedule tells you nothing reliable about its status in those countries. Within the US, states can also impose additional restrictions beyond federal scheduling (for example, some states have separately scheduled tramadol or gabapentin) - always verify current requirements with your state veterinary board, state pharmacy board, and your practice's own DEA registration and controlled-substance logging protocols before handling, storing, or dispensing any controlled substance. Scheduling can change - this is not a substitute for checking current regulations.
Schedule II
Highest restriction among drugs with accepted medical use - no phone-in refills, strict inventory/logging requirements
| Drug |
|---|
| Fentanyl |
| Hydromorphone |
| Methadone |
| Morphine |
| Oxymorphone |
| Pentobarbital Used for euthanasia, but its high abuse/diversion potential as a barbiturate keeps it in the most restrictive schedule. |
Schedule III
Moderate-to-low physical dependence potential relative to Schedule II
| Drug |
|---|
| Ketamine |
| Buprenorphine |
| Telazol Tiletamine/zolazepam combination. |
| Anabolic steroids |
Schedule IV
Lower abuse potential, but still federally controlled
| Drug |
|---|
| Butorphanol |
| Diazepam |
| Midazolam |
| Phenobarbital |
| Tramadol |
Schedule V
Lowest schedule, limited veterinary relevance
| Drug |
|---|
| Low-dose codeine-containing cough preparations Uncommon in modern small animal practice. |
Reflects general current federal DEA scheduling in the United States. Not exhaustive and not a compliance document - confirm classification and handling requirements with your state board and DEA registration before acting on it.
Frequently asked questions
What does DEA Schedule II mean in daily practice?
No telephone or fax refills, strict biennial inventory and continuous log requirements, and more restrictive storage/security expectations than lower schedules.
Is ketamine a controlled substance?
Yes, ketamine is federally classified as Schedule III in the United States.
Can states impose stricter rules than the federal DEA schedule?
Yes - several states have separately scheduled drugs like tramadol or gabapentin at a stricter level than federal law requires, so practices must check their own state's requirements in addition to federal scheduling.
Why is pentobarbital Schedule II despite being used for euthanasia?
Its high abuse/diversion potential and status as a barbiturate places it in the most restrictive schedule among substances with accepted uses, requiring the same strict handling and logging as other Schedule II drugs.