When you are ill, there are certain over-the-counter medications that are readily available like cold and flu syrups and pills. Then, for more severe issues, you may be allowed to purchase certain pain medications over the counter, while other analgesics need a prescription. The difference between these medications is the schedule that they fall under.

Medication schedules determine the ease of access and availability of the specific drug, and within the medicine community, there are nine used schedules in South Africa.

Schedule 0

This is an unused schedule designation, but refers to medicine available in shops and niche stores.

Schedule 1

This is the medication that we know as ‘over the counter’. This medication is usually used to treat minor ailments and injuries and doesn’t require the help of a physician.
These medications are still in danger of being abused, but usually contain miniscule amounts of poisons or harsh chemicals and compounds. Usually skin creams and topical preparations.

Nasal sprays that contain decongestants or steroids are an example of a schedule two medication. A well-known schedule two painkiller for adults and kids is Panado, also known as paracetamol.

Schedule 2

This is medication that needs to be suggested after therapy, counselling or medical examination. Still, the medications under this classification don’t require medical diagnosis, or only require initial medical diagnosis, and don’t require close medical management, explains Wikipedia.

A sale record must be kept of these transactions.

Schedule 3

Schedule 3 medication is prescription only.

This includes scripts that repeat for six months.

Schedule 4

The Medical Society can dispense up to Schedule 4 medication. This includes pain tablets, chronic medication and Antibiotics.

Schedule 5

This is the schedule that includes long-term prescriptions for psychoactive conditions that include antidepressants and sedatives.

Schedules 6 and 7

Schedule 6 and Schedule 7 are narcotics and other controlled substances and poisons like morphine. These are not easy to access and are only used in extreme cases.

Schedule 8 is for even stricter controlled substances, usually only dispensed to hospitals and physicians. According to Essentials, Medicine with a high scheduling status (usually schedule 5 and above) is treated differently because of its habit-forming nature and potential harmful side effects — pharmacists keep a record of all sales, and repeat prescriptions are limited or not given and need to be renewed.