Phentermine is scheduled as which DEA category?

• A. Schedule II
• B. Schedule IV
• C. Schedule III
• D. Schedule V

Answer: (B)

DEA scheduling groups drugs by abuse potential, medical use, and safety. Phentermine has accepted medical use as an appetite suppressant, but its potential for abuse and dependence is lower than the drugs placed in the higher schedules. That combination fits Schedule IV, which covers medications with medical use and lower abuse risk. It’s not placed in the higher schedules (II or III) due to lower abuse potential, and it isn’t in Schedule V, which covers substances with even lower potential and different narrow allowances. So, phentermine is Schedule IV.