Will Alabama Make Alprazolam a Schedule II Drug?

The Alabama State Board of Health has proposed to revise Rule 420-7-2 to make alprazolam a Schedule II drug, among other changes. The Board's proposal will move alprazolam from Schedule IV to Schedule II and would reschedule all other benzodiazepines from Schedule IV to Schedule III. The rule change would also reschedule pregabalin from Schedule V to Schedule IV and reschedule zolpidem from Schedule IV to Schedule III. 

The comment period for the proposal ended on January 4, 2017 but no action has been taken to finalize the proposal and it is not clear when the final ruling will occur. If the proposal is approved it will have the greatest impact on alprazolam, moving it into one of the most restrictive categories for controlled substances. It would have significant effects at the prescriber, pharmacy and wholesale drug distribution levels, altering prescribing practices and prescription processing, prescription drug monitor program reporting, and storage requirements, among other things. 

If approved, rescheduling information will be posted at the Pharmacy Division website for the Alabama Department of Public Health, as well as the Boards of Pharmacy and Medical Examiners, and the Alabama Pharmacy Association websites.

For questions, contact Susan B. Trujillo at susan.trujillo@quarles.com/(602) 229-5318 or your Quarles & Brady attorney.