Hydrocodone Combination Products to Become Schedule II Substances

​Physicians treating pain with hydrocodone combination products will need to take steps to address the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) reclassification of hydrocodone combination products from schedule III to schedule II effective October 6, 2014, according to a September 17, 2014, AAFP News article. As a result of the DEA final rule, prescriptions issued on or before October 6 with authorized refills will be dispensed according to current DEA rules until April 8, 2015. Prescriptions written after this date must comply with the more restrictive schedule II requirements stipulating that the doctor see the patient and provide a paper prescription order for a refill of the pain medicine.