Buprenorphine is listed as which Schedule?

• A. Schedule II
• B. Schedule III
• C. Schedule IV
• D. Not controlled

Answer: (B)

Buprenorphine is scheduled because it has legitimate medical use but a real potential for abuse and dependence. It is a partial opioid agonist with a ceiling effect, which lowers its risk of producing euphoria and severe respiratory depression compared with full opioid agonists. This combination of accepted medical use and moderate-to-low abuse potential fits Schedule III. Even when combined with naloxone, it remains Schedule III to deter misuse while preserving therapeutic access. It is not “not controlled” and it is not Schedule II or Schedule IV for these reasons.