What Hydrocodone’s Schedule 2 Status Means (Plus, 5 Ways to Protect Yourself While Taking It)

Hydrocodone extended-release (ER) and hydrocodone/acetaminophen are opioid medications. They’re used to treat pain when other medications haven’t worked. 

Opioids carry many risks, which is why they’re controlled substances. This also means there’s some restrictions around how they’re prescribed and refilled.

What is hydrocodone?

Medications that contain hydrocodone are prescription opioids. Opioids are substances that attach to specific areas on your nerve cells called opioid receptors. Hydrocodone is a “semisynthetic opioid,” which means it’s made in a lab from a natural material.

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Hydrocodone products come in various forms. Some are approved to treat pain. These include:

• Hydrocodone ER tablets (Hysingla ER)

• Hydrocodone ER capsules

• Hydrocodone/acetaminophen tablets and liquid

• Hydrocodone/ibuprofen tablets

• Hydrocodone/aspirin tablets

Other hydrocodone products are approved to treat cough symptoms. These include:

• Hydrocodone/homatropine tablets and liquid (Hycodan)

• Hydrocodone/chlorpheniramine ER liquid

• Hydrocodone/chlorpheniramine/pseudoephedrine liquid

Keep in mind that you may not recognize the generic name hydrocodone/acetaminophen. But you might recognize the brand names Lortab, Vicodin, or Norco. These brand-name medications have been discontinued and are no longer commercially available.

What are controlled substances and how are they “scheduled”?

In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act classified all prescription medications as controlled or non-controlled substances. Most medications are non-controlled substances. A smaller number of medications — with a higher likelihood of causing physical and/or mental dependence — are considered controlled substances.

If you’re dependent on medication, your brain experiences physical changes because of it. You feel like you need the medication to function normally. You may need greater amounts of the medication over time to have the desired effect. And if you stop taking it, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms as a result of not having it in your system (withdrawal).

Controlled substances are further classified into five different categories, or schedules. A specific medication (or illegal substance) is placed into a schedule depending on how great the risk of dependence or misuse is. The schedules are:

• Schedule 1

• Schedule 2

• Schedule 3

• Schedule 4

• Schedule 5

Schedule 5 substances have the least risk of dependence and misuse. Schedule 1 substances have the most risk. In fact, Schedule 1 substances have no federally accepted medical use.

If you’re interested in learning more about these categorizations, check out our GoodRx Health article on controlled substance schedules.

What controlled substance schedule is hydrocodone?

As of 2014, hydrocodone products are Schedule 2 substances. Prior to 2014, hydrocodone was a Schedule 3 substance.

Schedule 2 controlled substances have a high potential for misuse and dependence. All Schedule 2 substances, including hydrocodone, should be prescribed and taken with caution.

What does hydrocodone’s Schedule 2 status mean for your prescription?

Schedule 2 medications like hydrocodone are prescribed differently than non-controlled medications. Schedule 2 medications cannot be refilled. This means that if you need a refill of a hydrocodone product, you’ll need an entirely new prescription.

Additionally, most states keep a database of controlled medication refill records. This is called a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). Pharmacists and prescribers can use a PDMP to see when someone last filled a prescription for a controlled medication. They can also see the quantity filled and if the medication was picked up at more than one pharmacy. This helps healthcare professionals recognize when someone might be at risk of dependence, misuse, and even overdose.

What else should you know if you’re prescribed hydrocodone?

If you’re prescribed a medication that contains hydrocodone, there are steps you can take to keep yourself safe. Below, we cover five of them.

1. Take hydrocodone exactly as prescribed.

Talk to your healthcare provider about how long you can expect to take hydrocodone. And make sure you know exactly how much to take each day. This will help limit the side effects and risks. 

It’s best to take hydrocodone for the shortest amount of time and at the lowest dose possible.

2. If you’ve been taking hydrocodone for a long time, don’t stop taking it abruptly.

Opioid withdrawal can happen if you stop taking hydrocodone abruptly. Withdrawal happens when your body has become accustomed to having a medication like an opioid. It can cause physical symptoms like sweating, nausea, or shakiness. It can also cause psychological symptoms like agitation or anxiety. 

Talk to your healthcare provider about how to safely stop taking hydrocodone if you’ve been taking it for more than a few days.

3. Avoid alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other medications that affect the brain.

Substances that are categorized as central nervous system depressants can impact your brain function. These include benzodiazepines and sleep medications. 

These substances, including alcohol, should be avoided while taking hydrocodone because the combination makes side effects — like drowsiness, dizziness, and trouble breathing — more likely to occur.

4. Know what to do in the case of an opioid overdose.

An opioid overdose can lead to trouble breathing and is potentially life-threatening. It can happen if you take more hydrocodone than prescribed. It can also happen if you take the medication with other substances that can have similar effects on the brain, like alcohol.

If you take any opioid, including hydrocodone, it’s a good idea to carry naloxone (Narcan) on you at all times. This is a fast-acting medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. For more information, read these GoodRx Health articles about how to get Narcan without a prescription or for free.

5. Know that help is available if you need it.

If you feel like you may have opioid use disorder, talk to your healthcare provider right away. This is a type of substance use disorder that can be diagnosed by a provider. 

With opioid use disorder, you have a physical, mental, or emotional dependence on opioids. This leads to problems in your personal and professional life.

If you or someone you know struggles with substance misuse, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to learn about resources in your area.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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