DEA: Final Rule Rescheduling Hydrocodone Will Not Block Patient Access

The Drug Enforcement Administration does not believe moving hydrocodone combination products from schedule III to the more restrictive schedule II would dissuade prescribers from dispensing the drug, the agency said Thursday (Aug. 21) in a final rule mandating the scheduling change. DEA addressed concerns from pharmacists and lawmakers in finalizing the controversial rule. In a Federal Register notice, DEA said that it had considered those comments, along with others in support of the move, and determined that rescheduling hydrocodone was...