US Controlled Substances Act
Schedule IV drugs list (Schedule 4)
Accepted medical use, with a low potential for abuse relative to Schedule III.
What it means
Accepted medical use, with a low potential for abuse relative to Schedule III.
Prescribing and refills
Prescription required; up to five refills within six months.
25 Schedule IV substances on DoseUses
Alprazolam
Xanax, Xanax XR
Alprazolam (brand name Xanax) is a short-acting benzodiazepine prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
Read profileArmodafinil
Nuvigil
Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a prescription wakefulness medicine for narcolepsy, sleepiness from obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder.
Read profileButorphanol
Stadol, Stadol NS
Butorphanol is a prescription opioid that activates kappa opioid receptors and partly blocks mu receptors.
Read profileCarisoprodol
Soma
Carisoprodol (Soma) is a muscle relaxant for short-term relief of acute, painful muscle conditions, used for no more than two or three weeks.
Read profileChlordiazepoxide
Librium, Librax (with clidinium), Libs
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) was the first benzodiazepine, introduced in 1960.
Read profileClonazepam
Klonopin
Clonazepam (Klonopin) is a long-acting benzodiazepine used for panic disorder and certain seizure disorders.
Read profileClorazepate
Tranxene, Tranxene T-Tab
Clorazepate (Tranxene) is a long-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety, as an add-on treatment for partial seizures, and for alcohol withdrawal.
Read profileDaridorexant
Quviviq
Daridorexant (Quviviq) is a prescription insomnia medicine that blocks orexin, a brain chemical that keeps people awake.
Read profileDiazepam
Valium, Valtoco, Diastat
Diazepam (Valium) is a long-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasms, and seizures.
Read profileDiethylpropion
Tenuate, Tenuate Dospan, Amfepramone
Diethylpropion, called amfepramone outside the US, is a prescription appetite suppressant for a few weeks of use in obesity.
Read profileEszopiclone
Lunesta
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is a Z-drug sleep medicine for trouble falling or staying asleep.
Read profileLorazepam
Ativan, Loreev XR
Lorazepam (Ativan) is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety, short-term insomnia caused by anxiety, and, by injection, for status epilepticus and sedation before procedures.
Read profileMidazolam
Versed, Nayzilam, Seizalam
Midazolam is a fast, short-acting benzodiazepine used to sedate people for procedures and surgery and, as Nayzilam nasal spray, to stop seizure clusters at home.
Read profileModafinil
Provigil
Modafinil (Provigil) is a wakefulness-promoting medicine for excessive sleepiness from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder.
Read profileOxazepam
Serax
Oxazepam is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine for anxiety and alcohol withdrawal.
Read profilePhenobarbital
Sezaby
Phenobarbital is a long-acting barbiturate used mainly for seizures and, in hospitals, for alcohol withdrawal.
Read profilePhentermine
Adipex-P, Lomaira, Qsymia
Phentermine (Adipex-P) is an appetite suppressant related to amphetamine, used for a few weeks as part of a weight-loss program in people with obesity.
Read profileSolriamfetol
Sunosi
Solriamfetol (Sunosi) is a prescription medicine that improves wakefulness in adults with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea.
Read profileSuvorexant
Belsomra
Suvorexant (Belsomra) is a sleep medicine that blocks orexin, a brain chemical that keeps you awake, rather than boosting GABA like benzodiazepines and Z-drugs.
Read profileTemazepam
Restoril
Temazepam (Restoril) is a benzodiazepine sleeping pill approved for short-term treatment of insomnia, usually 7 to 10 days.
Read profileTramadol
Ultram, Ultracet, ConZip
Tramadol is a prescription pain medicine that acts as a weak opioid and also raises serotonin and norepinephrine levels.
Read profileTriazolam
Halcion, Blues
Triazolam (Halcion) is a short-acting benzodiazepine sleeping pill for short-term insomnia, usually 7 to 10 days.
Read profileZaleplon
Sonata
Zaleplon (Sonata) is a very short-acting prescription sleep medicine, a Z-drug related to zolpidem, for trouble falling asleep.
Read profileZolpidem
Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar
Zolpidem (Ambien) is a prescription sleep medicine that acts on the same brain receptors as benzodiazepines.
Read profileZuranolone
Zurzuvae
Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) is the first pill approved specifically for postpartum depression, taken once a day for 14 days.
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.