ESSENTIALS OF PHARMACOLOGY FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONS COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 DRUG ACTIONS AND
THERAPEUTIC PRINCIPLES
◉ Examples of Schedule I Drugs.
Answer: Cannabis, Heroin, ecstasy, LSD, Mescaline, peyote.
◉ Schedule II Drugs.
Answer: drug or substance has a high potential for abuse, has a
currently accepted medical use in treatment in the US or a currently
accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse of the drug or
substance may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Only available with a prescription, distribution carefully controlled
and monitored by the DEA
◉ Examples of Schedule II Drugs.
Answer: Ritalin, cocaine, fentanyl, morphine, PCP,
methamphetamines.
◉ Schedule III Drugs.
Answer: Drug or substance has a potential of less abuse than other
drugs or substances in schedules I & II, has currently accepted
,medical use in treatment in the US, abuse of the drug may lead to
moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological
dependence. These drugs or substances are only available with a
prescription, less stringent control of wholesale distribution than
Schedule II drugs.
◉ Examples of Schedule III Drugs.
Answer: Marinol, anabolic steroids, intermediate-acting
barbiturates, codeine or hydrocodone preparations with aspirin or
acetaminophen, ketamine, paregoric.
◉ Schedule IV Drugs.
Answer: Drug or substance has a low potential for abuse relative to
the other drugs or substances in schedule III, drug or substance has
a currently accepted medical treatment use in the US, abuse of the
drug or substance may be limited physical dependence or
psychological dependence relative to the other drugs or substances
in schedule III. Control measures are similar to schedule III.
◉ Examples of Schedule IV Drugs.
Answer: Xanax, Librium, Valium, long-acting barbiturates
(phenobarbital), Darvon, Talwin.
◉ Schedule V Drugs.
, Answer: Drug or substance has low potential of abuse relative to the
drugs or substance in schedule IV, drug or other substance has a
currently accepted medical use for treatment in the US, abuse may
lead to limited physiological or psychological dependence relative to
drugs or substances in schedule IV, sometimes available without a
prescription.
◉ Examples of Schedule V Drugs.
Answer: Cough suppressants with small amounts of codeine and
preparations containing small amounts of opium, used to treat
diarrhea.
◉ Drug Standards.
Answer: Rules set to assure consumers that they get what they pay
for. The law says all preparations called by the same drug name must
be of uniform strength, quality and purity.
◉ 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act.
Answer: First government attempt to establish consumer protection
in manufacture of drugs and foods.
(1) Require all drugs marketed in the US to meet minimal standards
of strength, purity and quality.
(2) Demands all drug preparations containing dangerous
ingredients have a label on their container indicating dangerous
HEALTH PROFESSIONS COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 DRUG ACTIONS AND
THERAPEUTIC PRINCIPLES
◉ Examples of Schedule I Drugs.
Answer: Cannabis, Heroin, ecstasy, LSD, Mescaline, peyote.
◉ Schedule II Drugs.
Answer: drug or substance has a high potential for abuse, has a
currently accepted medical use in treatment in the US or a currently
accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse of the drug or
substance may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Only available with a prescription, distribution carefully controlled
and monitored by the DEA
◉ Examples of Schedule II Drugs.
Answer: Ritalin, cocaine, fentanyl, morphine, PCP,
methamphetamines.
◉ Schedule III Drugs.
Answer: Drug or substance has a potential of less abuse than other
drugs or substances in schedules I & II, has currently accepted
,medical use in treatment in the US, abuse of the drug may lead to
moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological
dependence. These drugs or substances are only available with a
prescription, less stringent control of wholesale distribution than
Schedule II drugs.
◉ Examples of Schedule III Drugs.
Answer: Marinol, anabolic steroids, intermediate-acting
barbiturates, codeine or hydrocodone preparations with aspirin or
acetaminophen, ketamine, paregoric.
◉ Schedule IV Drugs.
Answer: Drug or substance has a low potential for abuse relative to
the other drugs or substances in schedule III, drug or substance has
a currently accepted medical treatment use in the US, abuse of the
drug or substance may be limited physical dependence or
psychological dependence relative to the other drugs or substances
in schedule III. Control measures are similar to schedule III.
◉ Examples of Schedule IV Drugs.
Answer: Xanax, Librium, Valium, long-acting barbiturates
(phenobarbital), Darvon, Talwin.
◉ Schedule V Drugs.
, Answer: Drug or substance has low potential of abuse relative to the
drugs or substance in schedule IV, drug or other substance has a
currently accepted medical use for treatment in the US, abuse may
lead to limited physiological or psychological dependence relative to
drugs or substances in schedule IV, sometimes available without a
prescription.
◉ Examples of Schedule V Drugs.
Answer: Cough suppressants with small amounts of codeine and
preparations containing small amounts of opium, used to treat
diarrhea.
◉ Drug Standards.
Answer: Rules set to assure consumers that they get what they pay
for. The law says all preparations called by the same drug name must
be of uniform strength, quality and purity.
◉ 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act.
Answer: First government attempt to establish consumer protection
in manufacture of drugs and foods.
(1) Require all drugs marketed in the US to meet minimal standards
of strength, purity and quality.
(2) Demands all drug preparations containing dangerous
ingredients have a label on their container indicating dangerous
