Which of the following is an example of Schedule 5 drugs?

• A. Low strength prescription cold and pain medicines found in most homes
• B. High-strength prescription narcotics used in hospitals
• C. Over-the-counter vitamins
• D. Prescription antibiotics

Answer: (A)

Schedule 5 drugs have the lowest potential for abuse among controlled substances and still have accepted medical use. They are usually preparations that contain only small amounts of narcotics, such as certain cough syrups or antidiarrheal products. That’s why the example of low-strength prescription cold and pain medicines found in many homes fits Schedule 5: they provide legitimate relief but carry a relatively low risk of abuse due to the tiny amounts of narcotics involved. Higher-strength prescription narcotics used in hospitals are more tightly controlled because of greater abuse potential, so they’re not Schedule 5. Over-the-counter vitamins aren’t controlled substances, and prescription antibiotics aren’t part of the controlled-substance scheduling at all.