Tramadol Added to Schedule I

Summary#

The Order Amending Schedule I to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Tramadol) adds Tramadol and two of its chemical derivatives to Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The order was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on March 31, 2021 and comes into force on the first anniversary of that publication (March 31, 2022).

What it does#

• Adds Tramadol (including its salts, isomers and salts of isomers) to Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Also adds these derivatives of Tramadol:
  • O-desmethyltramadol
  • N,O-didesmethyltramadol
• Sets the coming-into-force date as the first anniversary of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II (March 31, 2022).

Who's affected#

• People who are prescribed or use Tramadol for pain relief — patients and caregivers may notice changes in how the drug is prescribed or dispensed.
• Health professionals who prescribe or dispense Tramadol, such as doctors and pharmacists.
• Companies that make, import, distribute or sell Tramadol (manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies).
• Researchers and laboratories that work with Tramadol or its listed derivatives.
• Law enforcement and regulators who oversee controlled substances.

If the order is unclear about specific licensing or penalty changes, those follow from being placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and may be laid out in other rules or guidance.

Why it matters#

• Being placed in Schedule I means Tramadol will be subject to stricter controls than before. That can affect how easily people obtain it, how doctors prescribe it, and how businesses handle it.
• It could change paperwork, licensing and legal risks for anyone who manufactures, imports, distributes, prescribes or researches Tramadol.
• For people who rely on Tramadol for pain management, this may affect access or require different steps to get prescriptions filled.