---
title: "Controlled Substance Schedules: Schedule I to V Explained"
description: "The five DEA drug schedules, what places a drug in each, and why testosterone's Schedule III status shapes a telehealth program run on Cuvo Health."
canonical: "https://cuvo.co/glossary/controlled-substance-schedules"
last-updated: "Oct 26, 2026"
---
**Definition:** Controlled substance schedules are the five categories, Schedule I through V, into which the Controlled Substances Act sorts regulated drugs by potential for abuse, accepted medical use and dependence risk, with Schedule I the most restricted.

# What are controlled substance schedules?

Whether a drug is scheduled decides which federal prescribing rules a telehealth program follows: DEA registration, EPCS, refill limits and the telemedicine rules for prescribing without an in-person visit. Testosterone is Schedule III; the GLP-1 medications used for weight loss are not scheduled. Cuvo Health runs both kinds of program, with DEA-verified prescribers and EPCS on its Grow, Enterprise and Cuvo Prescribe plans.

Published Oct 26, 2026. Facts reviewed Oct 26, 2026.

Controlled substance schedules are the five categories, Schedule I through V, into which the Controlled Substances Act sorts regulated drugs. Congress set the findings for each in 21 U.S.C. 812(b): the drug's potential for abuse, whether it has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and how severe the dependence its abuse may cause. The DEA publishes the lists in 21 CFR 1308.11 through 1308.15. Testosterone is Schedule III as an anabolic steroid, so a testosterone program follows controlled substance rules from its first visit. On Cuvo Health, testosterone and hormone therapy programs run with DEA-verified prescribers and EPCS on the Grow, Enterprise and Cuvo Prescribe plans.

**At a glance**
- What they are: Five schedules, I to V, under the Controlled Substances Act
- The statute: 21 U.S.C. 812(b) sets the findings for each schedule
- The lists: 21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15, maintained by the DEA
- Testosterone: Schedule III anabolic steroid (21 CFR 1308.13(f))
- On Cuvo: Controlled programs run with DEA-verified prescribers and EPCS on Grow and above

**The five schedules: statutory findings, listed examples and refill rules**

| Schedule | Findings (21 U.S.C. 812(b)) | Examples (21 CFR 1308) | Refills |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Schedule I** | High potential for abuse; no currently accepted medical use in the US | Heroin | Not prescribed |
| **Schedule II** | High potential for abuse; accepted medical use; abuse may lead to severe dependence | Oxycodone, amphetamine | None (21 CFR 1306.12(a)) |
| **Schedule III** | Lower abuse potential than I and II; moderate or low physical, or high psychological, dependence | Testosterone, ketamine | Up to five within six months (1306.22(a)) |
| **Schedule IV** | Low abuse potential relative to Schedule III | Phentermine, alprazolam | Up to five within six months (1306.22(a)) |
| **Schedule V** | Low abuse potential relative to Schedule IV | Pregabalin, lacosamide | Outside the 1306.22 limit |

## 01. Why do drug schedules matter for a telehealth brand?

A drug's schedule decides which federal rules attach to every prescription for it. A Schedule II to V drug needs a prescriber with a DEA registration for that class, an electronic prescription that meets the DEA's EPCS rules in 21 CFR Part 1311, and, when prescribed by telemedicine without a prior in-person evaluation, the conditions of the DEA telemedicine flexibilities in 21 CFR 1307.41, in force through December 31, 2026. A drug that is not on the schedules carries none of those federal controlled substance rules, though state telehealth and prescribing law still applies.

## 02. Is testosterone a controlled substance?

Yes. Testosterone appears by name in the Schedule III list of anabolic steroids at 21 CFR 1308.13(f). The statutory definition of anabolic steroid covers drugs and hormonal substances chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone, and it excludes estrogens, progestins, corticosteroids and dehydroepiandrosterone (21 U.S.C. 802(41)(A)). As a Schedule III drug, a testosterone prescription may be refilled no more than five times and not more than six months after it was issued (21 CFR 1306.22(a)).

## 03. Are GLP-1 weight loss drugs controlled substances?

No. The GLP-1 receptor agonists prescribed for weight loss do not appear in any of the five schedules in 21 CFR 1308.11 through 1308.15, so a GLP-1 program is outside the DEA's registration, EPCS and telemedicine rules for controlled substances. The question returns when a weight loss program adds a scheduled drug: phentermine, for example, is listed in Schedule IV.

## 04. Which Cuvo plans fit controlled substance programs?

Every Cuvo plan includes every treatment vertical except testosterone (TRT), and controlled substances are prescribed only where state and federal rules permit. EPCS, which testosterone prescribing on Cuvo runs through, is included on Grow at $2,500 a month after a one-time $15,000 setup, on Enterprise and on Cuvo Prescribe, so TRT runs on those plans. A brand running only GLP-1 weight loss can start on Launch at $997 a month after a $9,800 setup and add testosterone later on the same platform by moving to Grow, with $25 per completed consult and no revenue share throughout.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: What are the five controlled substance schedules?**

A: Schedule I through V under the Controlled Substances Act, ranked by potential for abuse, accepted medical use and dependence risk under 21 U.S.C. 812(b), with the drug lists in 21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15. On Cuvo, scheduled drugs are prescribed only where state and federal rules permit, by DEA-verified prescribers.

**Q: Is testosterone a controlled substance?**

A: Yes. Testosterone is a Schedule III anabolic steroid, listed at 21 CFR 1308.13(f), so its prescriptions follow DEA registration, EPCS and refill rules. On Cuvo, testosterone programs run on Grow, Enterprise or Cuvo Prescribe, which include EPCS.

**Q: What is a Schedule III drug?**

A: A Schedule III drug has a potential for abuse below Schedules I and II, a currently accepted medical use, and abuse that may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence; testosterone and ketamine are listed there. On Cuvo, Schedule III prescriptions go through EPCS on Grow and above.

**Q: Are GLP-1 weight loss drugs controlled substances?**

A: No. The GLP-1 medications used for weight loss do not appear in the DEA's schedules, so the federal controlled substance rules do not attach to them. On Cuvo, GLP-1 weight loss runs on every plan, including Launch.

**Q: Does a telehealth brand need special rules for controlled substances?**

A: Yes, its prescribers do: a DEA registration for the schedule, EPCS for electronic prescriptions, the refill limits and the DEA telemedicine rules in force. Cuvo Health operates those controls for the brands on its platform, with DEA rule tracking on every plan and EPCS on Grow and above.

**Related pages**

- [DEA telemedicine flexibilities in 2026](/blog/dea-telemedicine-flexibilities-2026): Prescribing scheduled drugs by telemedicine
- [EPCS](/glossary/epcs): How Schedule II to V prescriptions are sent
- [DEA registration](/glossary/dea-registration): Who may prescribe a scheduled drug
- [Hormone therapy and TRT](/solutions/hormone-therapy-trt): Cuvo's Schedule III program
- [How to launch an online TRT clinic](/blog/how-to-launch-online-trt-clinic): The launch steps for a testosterone brand
- [Telehealth glossary](/glossary): Every term a telehealth founder meets

Canonical page: https://cuvo.co/glossary/controlled-substance-schedules