Controlled medicines

Also known as Duragesic, Sublimaze, Actiq, Durogesic

Opioid painkiller. Very strong painkiller for severe pain and anaesthesia. About 100 times stronger than morphine.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once
• Tiny amounts can be fatal; patches must be stored and thrown away carefully

UN 1961 Schedule I

Also known as Meperidine, Demerol

Opioid painkiller. Strong painkiller, used in labour and after surgery.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1961 Schedule I

Also known as Dolophine, Physeptone, Methadose

Opioid. Treats opioid addiction and severe pain.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1961 Schedule I

Also known as Mst Continus, Oramorph, Sevredol, Kapanol

Opioid painkiller. Strong painkiller for severe pain, cancer pain and end-of-life care.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1961 Schedule I

Also known as Oxycontin, Oxynorm, Percocet, Roxicodone

Opioid painkiller. Strong painkiller for moderate to severe pain.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1961 Schedule I

Also known as Dilaudid, Palladone

Opioid painkiller. Strong painkiller for severe pain.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1961 Schedule I

Also known as Opana

Opioid painkiller. Strong painkiller for severe pain.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1961 Schedule I

Also known as Codeine Phosphate, Co-codamol, Paracetamol And Codeine, Tylenol With Codeine

Opioid painkiller / cough medicine. Mild opioid for pain, cough and diarrhoea.

Codeine cough syrups have been banned in Nigeria since May 2018 (production and import). Codeine tablets remain prescription-only.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1961 Schedule II

Also known as Df118, Co-dydramol

Opioid painkiller. Mild-to-moderate opioid painkiller.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1961 Schedule II

Also known as Subutex, Suboxone, Temgesic, Butrans

Opioid. Treats opioid addiction and pain (tablets under the tongue, patches, injection).

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1971 Schedule III

Also known as Fortwin, Talwin, Sosegon, Fortral

Opioid painkiller. Painkiller, mostly given by injection in Nigeria.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once
• Injecting it causes skin ulcers and muscle damage

UN 1971 Schedule III

Also known as Tramal, Ultram, Tramadol Hydrochloride, Zydol

Opioid painkiller. Painkiller for moderate to severe pain.

In Nigeria, tramadol above 100 mg per tablet or capsule is not allowed (NAFDAC, 2018). 50 mg and 100 mg are prescription-only.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once
• Fits (seizures), even at normal doses in some people

Not on the UN lists; controlled nationally in Nigeria

Also known as Lomotil, Co-phenotrope

Opioid anti-diarrhoea medicine. Stops diarrhoea. Usually combined with atropine to discourage misuse.

• Dangerous for young children: can stop breathing
• Misuse in high doses gives opioid effects

UN 1961 Schedule I (low-dose preparations with atropine are exempt)

Also known as Pholcodine Linctus, Galenphol

Opioid cough medicine. Cough suppressant.

The European Medicines Agency recommended withdrawing all pholcodine medicines in December 2022. Tell your doctor or anaesthetist if you used it in the past year.

• Linked to severe allergic reactions during later surgery under general anaesthesia
• Drowsiness

UN 1961 Schedule II

Also known as Valium, Stesolid, Diastat

Benzodiazepine (sedative). Anxiety, muscle spasm, alcohol withdrawal and fits.

• Dependence after a few weeks of daily use; do not stop suddenly
• Drowsiness, falls and road accidents
• Dangerous with alcohol or opioid painkillers: breathing can stop

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Xanax, Alprazolam Xr

Benzodiazepine (sedative). Anxiety and panic attacks.

• Dependence after a few weeks of daily use; do not stop suddenly
• Drowsiness, falls and road accidents
• Dangerous with alcohol or opioid painkillers: breathing can stop

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Rivotril, Klonopin

Benzodiazepine (sedative). Epilepsy and panic disorder.

• Dependence after a few weeks of daily use; do not stop suddenly
• Drowsiness, falls and road accidents
• Dangerous with alcohol or opioid painkillers: breathing can stop

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Ativan

Benzodiazepine (sedative). Anxiety, sleep before surgery and seizures.

• Dependence after a few weeks of daily use; do not stop suddenly
• Drowsiness, falls and road accidents
• Dangerous with alcohol or opioid painkillers: breathing can stop

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Lexotan, Lexotanil, Lectopam

Benzodiazepine (sedative). Anxiety.

• Dependence after a few weeks of daily use; do not stop suddenly
• Drowsiness, falls and road accidents
• Dangerous with alcohol or opioid painkillers: breathing can stop

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Dormicum, Hypnovel, Buccolam, Versed

Benzodiazepine (sedative). Sedation before procedures and emergency treatment of fits.

• Dependence after a few weeks of daily use; do not stop suddenly
• Drowsiness, falls and road accidents
• Dangerous with alcohol or opioid painkillers: breathing can stop

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Mogadon

Benzodiazepine (sleeping pill). Short-term treatment of sleeplessness.

• Dependence after a few weeks of daily use; do not stop suddenly
• Drowsiness, falls and road accidents
• Dangerous with alcohol or opioid painkillers: breathing can stop

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Rohypnol

Benzodiazepine (sleeping pill). Severe sleeplessness. Known as a "date-rape" drug.

• Dependence after a few weeks of daily use; do not stop suddenly
• Drowsiness, falls and road accidents
• Dangerous with alcohol or opioid painkillers: breathing can stop

UN 1971 Schedule III

Also known as Restoril, Normison

Benzodiazepine (sleeping pill). Short-term treatment of sleeplessness.

• Dependence after a few weeks of daily use; do not stop suddenly
• Drowsiness, falls and road accidents
• Dangerous with alcohol or opioid painkillers: breathing can stop

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Stilnox, Ambien, Zolpidem Tartrate

Sleeping pill ("Z-drug"). Short-term treatment of sleeplessness.

• Dependence
• Sleep-walking, sleep-driving and memory gaps
• Dangerous with alcohol and opioids

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Phenobarbitone, Luminal, Gardenal

Barbiturate. Epilepsy and fits, including in newborns.

• Dependence and dangerous withdrawal fits
• Small difference between a normal dose and a fatal one
• Deadly with alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines

UN 1971 Schedule IV

Also known as Nembutal

Barbiturate. Sedation and anaesthesia in hospitals.

• Dependence and dangerous withdrawal fits
• Small difference between a normal dose and a fatal one
• Deadly with alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines

UN 1971 Schedule III

Also known as Thiopentone, Pentothal, Sodium Thiopental

Barbiturate anaesthetic. Used only in hospitals to start general anaesthesia.

• Dependence and dangerous withdrawal fits
• Small difference between a normal dose and a fatal one
• Deadly with alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines

Not on the UN lists; hospital use only

Also known as Ketalar, Esketamine

Anaesthetic. Anaesthesia and pain relief in hospitals.

• Confusion, hallucinations
• Bladder damage with repeated misuse
• Accidents while intoxicated

Not on the UN lists; controlled nationally in Nigeria

Also known as Ritalin, Concerta, Medikinet, Equasym

Stimulant. ADHD and narcolepsy.

• Addiction
• Fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke
• Sleeplessness, anxiety, paranoia

UN 1971 Schedule II

Also known as Adderall, Dexamfetamine, Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine

Stimulant. ADHD and narcolepsy where approved.

• Addiction
• Fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke
• Sleeplessness, anxiety, paranoia

UN 1971 Schedule II

Also known as Crystal Meth, Mkpuru Mmiri, Desoxyn

Stimulant ("mkpuru mmiri", "ice"). Highly addictive stimulant; mostly made and sold illegally.

• Addiction
• Fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke
• Sleeplessness, anxiety, paranoia
• Psychosis and violent behaviour

UN 1971 Schedule II

Also known as Tryptanol, Elavil, Saroten, Triptyl

Tricyclic antidepressant. Depression, nerve pain and migraine prevention.

• Overdose is very dangerous to the heart
• Drowsiness and dizziness
• Can interact with many medicines

Not on the UN lists

Also known as Anafranil

Tricyclic antidepressant. Depression, OCD and panic disorder.

• Overdose is very dangerous to the heart
• Drowsiness and dizziness
• Can interact with many medicines

Not on the UN lists

Also known as Tofranil

Tricyclic antidepressant. Depression and bed-wetting in children.

• Overdose is very dangerous to the heart
• Drowsiness and dizziness
• Can interact with many medicines

Not on the UN lists

Also known as Diamorphine

Opioid (illegal). No medical use for the public.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once
• HIV and hepatitis from shared needles

UN 1961 Schedules I and IV

Also known as Crack Cocaine

Stimulant (illegal). Rarely used by doctors as a local anaesthetic; street cocaine and crack are illegal.

• Heart attack and stroke, even in young people
• Strong addiction
• Anxiety and paranoia

UN 1961 Schedule I

Also known as Marijuana, Marihuana, Indian Hemp

Cannabis (illegal in Nigeria). Illegal to grow, sell or use in Nigeria.

• Psychosis, especially in young people
• Dependence
• Memory and learning problems

UN 1961 Schedule I

Opium (illegal). Raw opium has no approved use for the public.

• Addiction and dependence, even when taken as prescribed
• Slow or stopped breathing, especially with alcohol or sleeping pills
• Overdose can kill: blue lips, pinpoint pupils, cannot be woken. Call for help at once

UN 1961 Schedule I

Also known as Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Lysergide

Hallucinogen (illegal). No medical use.

• Frightening hallucinations ("bad trips")
• Dangerous behaviour while intoxicated
• Flashbacks

UN 1971 Schedule I

Also known as Angel Dust

Hallucinogen (illegal). No medical use.

• Violent or confused behaviour
• Seizures, coma

UN 1971 Schedule II