Gabapentin Now a Controlled Substance in Michigan

Released: 01/28/2019   By: Heidi Dufrene, PharmD

The Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Department in Michigan recently released changes to the state Controlled Substance Rules.   These rules include the addition of gabapentin to the Schedule V list as a controlled substance. Michigan follows several other states to change the schedule of gabapentin including Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.  The changing of gabapentin to a controlled substance will now require the reporting of gabapentin dispensing to the state prescription monitoring database.

Other changes to the Controlled Substance Rules include opioid and controlled substance awareness training for licensees who prescribe or dispense controlled substances. The rule also provides exceptions to the bona fide prescriber-patient relationship that is currently required in order to prescribe medications in Schedules II through V.

The entire list of changes can be found at the website below:

www.michigan.gov/bpl