Opioid Tramadol to Become Schedule IV Controlled Substance Next Week

The opioid tramadol will become a Schedule IV controlled substance on Aug. 18. The Drug Enforcement Administration announced the rule July 2. After the change takes effect, patients with tramadol prescriptions will be limited to five refills in a six-month period. The opioid's entry into the controlled substance schedules will also mean that prescription drug monitoring programs will also start collecting data on its usage. Tramadol was the only opioid on the market not classified as a controlled substance, according to a comment a group of pharmacy students submitted to the DE...