Controlled Drugs
A. Requirements for controlled drug prescriptions:
- Patient name and address
- Medication form, strength and preparation
- Total quantity in words and figures
- Number of dosage units in words and figures
- Prescriber’s name, signature, address and current date
- Dose of medication
B. Schedule classifications:
- Schedule 1: Cannabis
- Schedule 2: Morphine, diamorphine, amphetamines, cocaine
- Schedule 3: Barbiturates, midazolam, buprenorphine
- Schedule 4 Part 1: Benzodiazepines (except midazolam)
- Schedule 4 Part 2: Anabolic steroids, HCG
- Schedule 5: Low-strength preparations (exempt from most controls) – Key points:
- Schedules 2 and 3 are marked as controlled drugs in the BNF
- Schedule 2, 3, and 4 prescriptions are valid for 28 days
C. Opioid dose conversions (24-hour period)
Base oral morphine dose: max amount is 120mg/24hrs
– Conversion ratios from oral morphine:
- Subcutaneous morphine: ÷2
- Subcutaneous diamorphine: ÷3
- Fentanyl patch: ÷3
- Buprenorphine patch: ÷2.4
- Subcutaneous oxycodone: ÷4
- Oral oxycodone: ÷2
- Oral codeine/dihydrocodeine/tramadol: ÷10 – Breakthrough dose: Total 24-hour opioid dose ÷6