Hydrocodone shift to Schedule II considered

Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced hydrocodone rescheduling legislation on March 20. The Safe Prescribing Act of 2013 (S. 621) would reclassify hydrocodone products such as Vicodin and Lortab from a Schedule III to a Schedule II controlled substance. “Under the new restrictions, a written prescription would be required in order to receive hydrocodone painkillers except in cases of emergency,” according to Manchin’s