U.S. · Controlled substances · 21 CFR 1308.14(f)(7)

Is modafinil a controlled substance? Yes: Schedule IV.

The federal schedule listing, its CFR citation and DEA code number, and the statutory criteria, quoted from the eCFR and the U.S. Code.

Yes. Modafinil is listed in Schedule IV at 21 CFR 1308.14(f)(7) with DEA Controlled Substances Code Number 1680. "Provigil" is a brand name that does not appear in the schedule text; the listing is for the substance.

Source: 21 CFR 1308 (eCFR)Read November 2, 2026Unofficial reference

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The short answer

Two texts decide this. The statute is 21 U.S.C. 812, part of the Controlled Substances Act, which sets the five schedules and the findings each requires. The regulation is 21 CFR part 1308, sections 1308.11 to 1308.15, which lists substances one by one. This page quotes both: the CFR as published in the eCFR through October 29, 2026, and the statute from the 2024 U.S. Code edition on govinfo.

It is a classification page only. It has no dosing, use, acquisition or synthesis information, and it does not cover state law.

The modafinil entry, quoted

Modafinil is item (7) of 1308.14(f), the Schedule IV "Stimulants" paragraph. The eCFR prints it as "(7)Modafinil 1680". The full list of fourteen items is further down this page.

The lead-in sentence of that paragraph applies to every item, and extends each to "its salts, isomers and salts of isomers". So the listing covers the substance in any of those forms, not only one named compound.

Brand names versus substances

Section 1308.14(a) says the schedule covers substances "by whatever official name, common or usual name, chemical name, or brand name designated, listed in this section". The entries themselves use official or chemical names. A text search of 1308.11 to 1308.15 for "Provigil" finds no match.

In practice, a product is covered because of the substance it contains, not the name on the box. The ingredients are stated on the FDA-approved label, which FDA's DailyMed database publishes.

Statute and findings

The Schedule IV findings are set out in full under "What the statute requires for Schedule IV" below. The initial schedules in 812(c) do not name modafinil, so it was added later through rulemaking. The eCFR versioner shows section 1308.14 last substantively amended on August 31, 2026.

That date matters because it tells you how fresh the listing is: if you read this page long after November 2026, check the eCFR for a newer amendment.

The Schedule IV listing, in the CFR's own words

The lead-in of 21 CFR 1308.14(f) reads:

(f) Stimulants. Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a stimulant effect on the central nervous system, including its salts, isomers and salts of isomers:

Entries from the Schedule IV stimulants at 1308.14(f):

(1) Cathine 1230
(2) Diethylpropion 1610
(3) Fencamfamin 1760
(4) Fenproporex 1575
(5) Mazindol 1605
(6) Mefenorex 1580
(7) Modafinil 1680
(8) Pemoline 1530
(9) Phentermine 1640
(10) Pipradrol 1750
(11) Serdexmethylphenidate 1729
(12) Sibutramine 1675
(13) Solriamfetol 1650
(14) SPA 1635

What the statute requires for Schedule IV

Title 21 U.S.C. 812(b) says a drug or other substance "may not be placed in any schedule unless the findings required for such schedule are made". For Schedule IV the findings are: (A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III. (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. (C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.

These findings are the legal test for placing a substance in the schedule. They are not medical advice and say nothing about any one person's use. The CFR sections 1308.11 to 1308.15 then list which substances have been placed in each of the five schedules.

How to read and re-check a schedule listing

A schedule entry has a fixed shape. A lead-in sentence says which class of substance follows and often that the listing extends to salts, isomers and salts of isomers. Each line then names a substance and, in most sections, a four-digit DEA Controlled Substances Code Number. The opening paragraph of 1308.11 to 1308.14 says each substance "has been assigned the DEA Controlled Substances Code Number set forth opposite it". The number identifies the line. It is not a risk rating, so 1680 for modafinil says nothing about how it compares with 1640 for phentermine.

Open the section for the schedule you want: 21 CFR 1308.11 (Schedule I), 1308.12 (II), 1308.13 (III), 1308.14 (IV) or 1308.15 (V) in the eCFR.
Find the paragraph for the class of substance: opiates, opium derivatives, hallucinogenic substances, depressants, stimulants, narcotic drugs, anabolic steroids and so on, each introduced by a lead-in sentence.
Read the entry by its official or chemical name, not by brand name, and note the four-digit DEA Controlled Substances Code Number printed beside it.
Check for words such as "unless specifically excepted" or "except" in the lead-in or the line itself, which limit what the entry covers.
Confirm the date: the eCFR shows an "as of" date, and the schedules change by rulemaking.

Limits of this page

This page quotes the text of 21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15 as published in the eCFR, current through October 29, 2026 (last substantive amendment dates per the eCFR versioner: 1308.11 October 21, 2026, 1308.12 December 21, 2022, 1308.13 April 28, 2026, 1308.14 August 31, 2026, 1308.15 June 1, 2022), and parts of 21 U.S.C. 812. It reports federal classification only. It does not describe any state law, any registration, record-keeping or prescription requirement, any penalty, or any use of a drug, and it does not tell you whether a particular product, person or activity is lawful. The eCFR is an editorial compilation, not the official legal edition of the Federal Register, and the schedules change by rulemaking, so check the current text and DEA before relying on it. Questions about law go to a qualified attorney, and questions about a medicine go to a pharmacist or physician.

Sources

Sources opened and read November 2, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is modafinil a controlled substance?

Yes. 21 CFR 1308.14(f)(7) lists "Modafinil 1680" in Schedule IV (eCFR current through October 29, 2026, read November 2, 2026).

What schedule is modafinil in?

Schedule IV, in the "Stimulants" paragraph of 21 CFR 1308.14. Under 21 U.S.C. 812(b)(4) that means a low potential for abuse relative to Schedule III, a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and limited dependence relative to Schedule III.

What is the DEA code number for modafinil?

1680, as printed at 21 CFR 1308.14(f)(7).

Is the brand name Provigil listed in the CFR?

No. A search of 21 CFR 1308.11 through 1308.15 for the brand name finds no match. The schedule lists the substance, and a product's ingredients are stated on its FDA-approved label.

Do state laws differ from the federal schedule?

This page covers the federal schedule only and describes no state rules. Ask your state board of pharmacy or a qualified attorney about state requirements.

Is this page medical or legal advice?

No. It is a reading of the published federal schedule for general information and gives no dosing, use or medical guidance. Speak to a pharmacist or physician about a medicine.

Not legal or medical advice

This page is general information drawn from the sources listed, not legal, medical or compliance advice, and it is not run by any government agency. It gives no dosing, use or medical guidance. Rules and schedules change by rulemaking and your state, agency or court decides your case, so confirm with the office named on this page before you rely on it. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.