US Controlled Substances Act
Not federally controlled substances
Not listed in any federal schedule. Some are prescription medicines, some are veterinary drugs, and some are sold without regulation. States may control them, and federal scheduling may be pending.
What it means
Not listed in any federal schedule. Some are prescription medicines, some are veterinary drugs, and some are sold without regulation. States may control them, and federal scheduling may be pending.
Prescribing and refills
Depends on the substance and the state.
22 substances not federally controlled on DoseUses
7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine)
7-hydroxymitragynine, 7OH, 7-Tabs
7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) is a potent opioid compound found in trace amounts in kratom and sold in concentrated tablets, gummies, and shots in gas stations and vape shops.
Read profileAmanita muscaria
Fly agaric, Muscimol, Amanita gummies
Amanita muscaria, the red-and-white fly agaric mushroom, contains muscimol and ibotenic acid, which act on GABA and glutamate receptors, not like psilocybin.
Read profileCaffeine
Coffee, Energy drinks, NoDoz
Caffeine is the world's most widely used psychoactive substance, found in coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and over-the-counter alertness pills.
Read profileCBD
Cannabidiol, Epidiolex
CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating compound from cannabis and hemp.
Read profileCyclobenzaprine
Flexeril, Amrix, Fexmid
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) is a prescription muscle relaxant for short-term relief of muscle spasm.
Read profileDelta-8 THC
Delta-8, D8, Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol
Delta-8 THC is an intoxicating cannabinoid usually made by chemically converting hemp-derived CBD.
Read profileDextromethorphan
DXM, Robitussin DM, Delsym
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is the cough suppressant in many over-the-counter medicines, such as Delsym, Robitussin DM, and NyQuil.
Read profileDiphenhydramine
Benadryl, ZzzQuil, Unisom SleepGels
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is an over-the-counter antihistamine for allergies that also causes drowsiness and is sold as a sleep aid.
Read profileGabapentin
Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant
Gabapentin (Neurontin) is one of the most prescribed medicines in the US, approved for shingles nerve pain, partial seizures, and (as Horizant) restless legs syndrome.
Read profileHHC
Hexahydrocannabinol, Legal weed
HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid made from hemp-derived CBD, with effects similar to THC.
Read profileKratom
Mitragyna speciosa, Kakuam, Thang
Kratom is a Southeast Asian tree whose leaves contain mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which act on opioid receptors.
Read profileLoperamide
Imodium, Imodium A-D, Poor man's methadone
Loperamide (Imodium) is an over-the-counter diarrhea medicine that acts on opioid receptors in the gut.
Read profileMedetomidine
Domitor, Rhino tranq, Rhino tranq
Medetomidine is a powerful veterinary sedative that, since late 2024, has replaced xylazine as a common adulterant in illicit fentanyl in Philadelphia, Chicago, and other cities.
Read profileNaloxone
Narcan, RiVive, Kloxxado
Naloxone is an emergency medicine that reverses opioid overdose by knocking opioids off their receptors.
Read profileNaltrexone
Vivitrol, Revia
Naltrexone is a prescription medicine that blocks opioid receptors.
Read profileNitrous oxide
Laughing gas, N2O, Whippets
Nitrous oxide is a gas used in dentistry and as a whipped-cream propellant.
Read profilePhenibut
Beta-phenyl-GABA, Noofen, Anvifen
Phenibut is a sedative related to GABA and baclofen, prescribed for anxiety and sleep in Russia and Latvia.
Read profilePseudoephedrine
Sudafed, Claritin-D, Allegra-D
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is a decongestant sold without a prescription but kept behind the pharmacy counter.
Read profileSalvia divinorum
Salvia, Diviner's sage, Sally-D
Salvia divinorum is a Mexican plant whose active compound, salvinorin A, causes intense but very brief hallucinations when smoked or chewed.
Read profileSARMs
Selective androgen receptor modulators, Ostarine (MK-2866), Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators) are experimental drugs designed to build muscle with fewer side effects than steroids.
Read profileTianeptine
Gas station heroin, Za Za, Tianaa
Tianeptine is an antidepressant approved in some European, Asian, and Latin American countries but never in the US.
Read profileXylazine
Tranq, Tranq dope, Sleep cut
Xylazine is a veterinary sedative that has spread through the illicit fentanyl supply as "tranq".
Read profileSource: DEA Diversion Control Division, Controlled Substance Schedules. Some substances are listed in different schedules depending on the product or formulation; see each profile.