U.S. · Controlled substances · 21 CFR 1308.14(c)(2)

Is Xanax a controlled substance? Its alprazolam is 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. Alprazolam is listed in Schedule IV at 21 CFR 1308.14(c)(2) with DEA Controlled Substances Code Number 2882. "Xanax" is a brand name and 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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Matches the substance name, schedule, citation or code number of the 13 entries in this set. Leave blank to list them all.
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The short answer

Yes. Alprazolam is listed in Schedule IV at 21 CFR 1308.14(c)(2) with DEA Controlled Substances Code Number 2882. "Xanax" is a brand name and does not appear in the schedule text; the listing is for the substance.

The statute behind every schedule is Title 21 U.S.C. 812, part of the Controlled Substances Act. The regulation that lists substances one by one is 21 CFR part 1308, sections 1308.11 to 1308.15. This page quotes both. The CFR text was read from the eCFR versioner API for the issue current through October 29, 2026, and the statute from the 2024 U.S. Code edition published on govinfo. This is a classification page only: it contains no dosing, use, acquisition or synthesis information.

The alprazolam entry, quoted

Paragraph (c) of 1308.14 is headed "Depressants" and has 61 items. Its lead-in covers "any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation". Item (2) is "Alprazolam 2882".

The paragraph is alphabetical. Around alprazolam: (1) Alfaxalone 2731; (2) Alprazolam 2882; (3) Barbital 2145; (4) Brexanolone 2400; (5) Bromazepam 2748; (6) Camazepam 2749; (7) Carisoprodol 8192; (8) Chloral betaine 2460. Other entries in the list include (10) Chlordiazepoxide 2744, (13) Clonazepam 2737, (19) Diazepam 2765, (34) Lorazepam 2885, (55) Temazepam 2925, (57) Triazolam 2887 and (59) Zolpidem 2783.

Brand names versus substances

Section 1308.14(a) says Schedule IV consists of the drugs and substances "by whatever official name, common or usual name, chemical name, or brand name designated, listed in this section". The entries are by official or chemical name, and a text search of 1308.11 to 1308.15 for "Xanax" finds no match. A product's actual ingredients are stated on its FDA-approved label (FDA's DailyMed database publishes them).

What the Schedule IV findings are

Section 812(b)(4) requires, for Schedule IV, "a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III", "a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States", and abuse that "may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III". The initial Schedule IV in 21 U.S.C. 812(c) lists substances such as barbital, chloral hydrate and meprobamate and does not name alprazolam, which was added later by rulemaking. This page gives no dosing, use, obtaining or medical information.

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

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

(c) Depressants. Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:

Entries from the first entries of the Schedule IV depressants at 1308.14(c):

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.

Those findings are the statutory test for putting a substance into the schedule. They are not a description of any person's use of a drug, and they are not a medical statement. The CFR sections 1308.11 to 1308.15 then list, substance by substance, what has 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 rating of risk.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Check for words such as "unless specifically excepted" or "except" in the lead-in or the line itself, which limit what the entry covers.
  5. 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.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Xanax a controlled substance?

Its alprazolam is. Alprazolam is listed in Schedule IV at 21 CFR 1308.14(c)(2) with DEA Controlled Substances Code Number 2882 (eCFR current through October 29, 2026, read November 2, 2026). The brand name does not appear in the schedule text.

What schedule is alprazolam in?

Schedule IV, in the "Depressants" 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 alprazolam?

2882, as printed at 21 CFR 1308.14(c)(2).

Is the brand name Xanax 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.