Arizona MPJE (Pharmacy Jurisprudence) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Pentobarbital is a medication that belongs to the class of barbiturates, which are central nervous system depressants. To determine its scheduling, it's important to consider its potential for abuse and accepted medical use. In the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) categorizes controlled substances into schedules based on these factors.

Pentobarbital, when used in suppository form, is classified under Schedule II due to its high potential for abuse, which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Schedule II substances are considered to have accepted medical uses, often involving severe pain management or as sedatives for certain medical conditions.

The confusion might arise because pentobarbital is sometimes discussed in contexts that include less potent formulations, which could lead to differentiation in scheduling based on form and use. However, the key point is that regardless of its form—injectable, oral, or suppository—the active ingredient pentobarbital is consistent in its classification under Schedule II.

Thus, recognizing pentobarbital as a Schedule II controlled substance is essential for both legal compliance and safe pharmacy practice.