North Central Florida Advanced Practice Nurses

NP Colleagues-Tramadol Reclassified To Schedule IV Controlled Substance 8-18-14

Posted over 9 years ago by Mary S. Johnson

Action Required

If you are a provider WITHOUT authority to write for Schedule IV controlled substances, please forward this request in a timely manner to your supervising provider with authority to prescribe Schedule IV controlled substances.

On August 18th, 2014, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will reclassify tramadol to a Schedule IV controlled substance. The main reasons for the reclassification relate to concerns about the increasing abuse, addiction and potentially fatal overdoses of tramadol.

**Patient has requested a refill of tramadol.

  1. If tramadol should be continued, please re-issue the prescription by entering a new prescription. Please note: tramadol is now limited to a maximum of a 30 day supply per fill and a maximum of 5 refills within 6 months from the date of issue of the original prescription.

  2. Please discontinue old tramadol prescription if/when you enter new prescription.

  3. Please discuss pertinent cautions and concerns with your patient if they are going to continue using tramadol (e.g., that tramadol can be addicting or abused and can be associated with fatal overdoses).

Thanks