U.S. · Controlled substances · 21 CFR 1308.14(b)(3)

Is tramadol 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. Tramadol is listed in Schedule IV at 21 CFR 1308.14(b)(3) with DEA Controlled Substances Code Number 9752, under the heading "Narcotic drugs". The entry is written by chemical name followed by "(including tramadol)".

Source: 21 CFR 1308 (eCFR)Read November 12, 2026Unofficial reference

Look up a substance

The short answer

Yes. Tramadol is a Schedule IV controlled substance under federal law. It is listed at 21 CFR 1308.14(b)(3) with DEA Controlled Substances Code Number 9752, under the heading "Narcotic drugs". The entry is written by chemical name and ends with "(including tramadol)".

Two sources sit behind that answer. Title 21 U.S.C. 812 is the statute that sets out what each schedule means. 21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15 is the regulation that lists the substances in each schedule. The CFR text here was read from the eCFR for the issue current through November 10, 2026, and the statute from the 2024 U.S. Code edition on govinfo.

This is a classification page. It has no dosing, use, acquisition or synthesis information.

The tramadol entry, quoted

Paragraph (b) of 1308.14 is headed "Narcotic drugs". It covers any material, compound, mixture or preparation containing the listed narcotic drugs, "or their salts calculated as the free anhydrous base or alkaloid, in limited quantities as set forth below". It has three items:

(1) "Not more than 1 milligram of difenoxin and not less than 25 micrograms of atropine sulfate per dosage unit 9167"
(2) "Dextropropoxyphene (alpha-(+)-4-dimethylamino-1,2-diphenyl-3-methyl-2-propionoxybutane) 9278"
(3) "2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanol, its salts, optical and geometric isomers and salts of these isomers (including tramadol) 9752"

Because the entry uses the full chemical name, a search for the plain word "tramadol" finds it only through the words "(including tramadol)".

A related substance sits elsewhere. O-desmethyltramadol, a metabolite, is a separate Schedule I entry at 21 CFR 1308.11(h)(88), code 9667. It is in the temporary-listing paragraph (h). Closely named substances can be in different schedules, so match the exact name on the line.

Statute and findings

Under 21 U.S.C. 812(b)(4), Schedule IV requires "a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III". It also requires "a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States". Abuse "may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III".

The initial schedules in 812(c) do not name tramadol. It was added later by rulemaking. The eCFR shows 1308.14 last amended on August 31, 2026.

What this page leaves out

This page records a classification and its citation. It gives no information on dosing, use, obtaining or prescribing. It also does not describe the separate rules for narcotic drugs elsewhere in the regulations, which were not read for this page.

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

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

(b) Narcotic drugs. Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing any of the following narcotic drugs, or their salts calculated as the free anhydrous base or alkaloid, in limited quantities as set forth below:

Entries from the three Schedule IV narcotic drug entries at 1308.14(b):

(1) Not more than 1 milligram of difenoxin and not less than 25 micrograms of atropine sulfate per dosage unit 9167
(2) Dextropropoxyphene 9278
(3) 2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanol, its salts, optical and geometric isomers and salts of these isomers 9752

What the statute requires for Schedule IV

Title 21 U.S.C. 812(b) says a substance "may not be placed in any schedule unless the findings required for such schedule are made". The three Schedule IV findings are quoted under "Statute and findings" above.

Those findings are the legal test for scheduling. They are not a medical statement and do not describe any person's use of a drug. The CFR then records which substances were placed in each of the five schedules.

How to read and re-check a schedule listing

Each schedule entry follows the same pattern. A lead-in sentence says what class of substance follows, and often that salts, isomers and salts of isomers are included. Each line then gives a substance name and, in most sections, a four-digit DEA Controlled Substances Code Number. The code identifies the line. It is not a rating of risk.

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 schedules change by rulemaking.

Limits of this page

This page quotes 21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15 as published in the eCFR, current through November 10, 2026, and part of 21 U.S.C. 812. The eCFR shows these last-amended dates: 1308.11 November 6, 2026; 1308.12 December 21, 2022; 1308.13 October 30, 2026; 1308.14 August 31, 2026; 1308.15 June 1, 2022.

It reports the federal classification only. It does not cover state law, registration, record-keeping or prescription rules, penalties, or any use of a drug. It cannot 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 schedules change by rulemaking. Check the current text and DEA before relying on it. Take legal questions to a qualified attorney and medicine questions to a pharmacist or physician.

Sources

Sources opened and read November 12, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is tramadol a controlled substance?

Yes. 21 CFR 1308.14(b)(3) lists it in Schedule IV, written as 2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanol "(including tramadol)", with DEA Controlled Substances Code Number 9752 (eCFR current through November 10, 2026, read November 12, 2026).

What schedule is tramadol in?

Schedule IV, in the "Narcotic drugs" 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 tramadol?

9752, as printed at 21 CFR 1308.14(b)(3).

Is O-desmethyltramadol in the same schedule?

No. It is listed in Schedule I at 21 CFR 1308.11(h)(88) with code 9667.

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.