Drug schedule

Question 1

1

Answer 1

Drugs belonging to this schedule are thought to have no therapeutic value and therefore cannot be lawfully possessed or prescribed. Drugs may be used for research but a Home Office licence is required

LSD, MDMA, raw opium

Question 2

Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001

Answer 2

Classifies controlled drugs into 5 schedules

Question 3

2

Answer 3

Available for medical use, can be prescribed (controlled drug prescription required). Illegal to be in possession without prescription

Drugs are subject to the full Controlled Drug requirements relating to prescriptions, safe custody (except for quinalbarbitone (secobarbital) and some liquid preparations), and the need to keep a Controlled Drug register.

Amphetamines, cocaine, methylphenidate, morphine, methadone, diamorphine, fentanyl, pethidine, cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans

Question 4

3

Answer 4

Similar to schedule 2 but without the need for a register.

barbiturates, flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), temazepam

Question 5

4

Answer 5

These drugs have recently been divided into two parts (part one and two).

Controlled drug prescription requirements do not apply and Schedule 4 Controlled Drugs are not subject to safe custody requirements.

Question 6

4 - part 1

Answer 6

Part one drugs - benzodiazepines (except temazepam and midazolam, which are in Schedule 3), non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (zaleplon, zolpidem tartrate, and zopiclone) and Sativexµ.

Question 7

4 - part 2

Answer 7

Part two drugs - androgenic and anabolic steroids, clenbuterol, chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), non-human chorionic gonadotrophin, somatotropin, somatrem, and somatropin.

Question 8

5

Answer 8

Includes preparations of certain Controlled Drugs (such as codeine, pholcodine or morphine) which due to their low strength, are exempt from virtually all Controlled Drug requirements other than retention of invoices for two years.

oral codeine phosphate (injectable form is schedule 2)
dihydrocodeine
morphine (weak preparations e.g. 2 mg per ml)

Question 9

Acamprosate

Answer 9

Synthetic taurine analogue that acts as a glutamatergic NMDA antagonist and increases GABA

SE (>1 in 10) - diarrhoea

Question 10

Naltrexone

Answer 10

Non-selective opioid receptor antagonist

Nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, headache, sleep disorders, restlessness, arthralgia, myalgia, abdominal pain, abdominal cramps

Question 11

Disulfiram

Answer 11

Inhibits enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase resulting in accumulation of acetaldehyde (toxic metabolite of alcohol)

Frequency of side-effects not known

Question 12

Nalmefene
(licensed however controversial given limited evidence)

Answer 12

Opioid antagonist

Insomnia, dizziness, headache, nausea

Question 13

Alcohol-disulfiram reaction (mild)

Answer 13

Facial flushing
Sweating
Nausea
Hyperventilation
Dyspnoea
Tachycardia
Hypotension

Question 14

Alcohol-disulfirum reaction (severe)

Answer 14

Heart failure
Myocardial infarction
Arrhythmia
Bradycardia
Respiratory depression
Severe hypotension

Question 15

Baclofen

Answer 15

Not listed as an option by NICE and no license for alcohol dependence but still used by some clinicians.