SA medicine schedules
How scheduled medicines are controlled under the Medicines and Related Substances Act — hover each rung, then drill down to see atlas medications and therapies cross-linked to that schedule.
Scheduling ladder
Higher schedules mean tighter prescribing and dispensing controls — relevant to dependence, sedation, and safety-critical duty disputes.
Schedule 0
Unscheduled / OTC
Schedule 1
Pharmacy-only
Schedule 2
Pharmacist recommendation
Schedule 3
Pharmacist may extend
Schedule 4
Prescription — Part I
Schedule 5
Prescription — Part II
Schedule 6
Special authority
Schedule 7
Stimulant / psychotropic control
Schedule 8
Substances of dependence
Not scheduled
Linked therapy services
All schedule types
| Schedule | Summary | Claim angle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule 0 | Unscheduled / OTC | OTC does not mean irrelevant — insurers may ask about self-medication, side-effects, and whether you could function with… | → |
| Schedule 1 | Pharmacy-only | Capture pharmacy records if insurer disputes treatment timeline or medicine use before cover. | → |
| Schedule 2 | Pharmacist recommendation | Less common on IP scripts — note if your chronology includes pharmacist-initiated treatment. | → |
| Schedule 3 | Pharmacist may extend | Useful when explaining continuity of treatment between doctor visits. | → |
| Schedule 4 | Prescription — Part I | Most chronic medicines on income-protection claims sit here or Schedule 5 — document prescriber, start date, and work-li… | → |
| Schedule 5 | Prescription — Part II | Insurers may accept the diagnosis but dispute sedation, cognitive slowing, or attendance effects — link each medicine to… | → |
| Schedule 6 | Special authority | Higher scrutiny on dependence and safety-critical duties — document prescriber plan, authority letters, and any insurer … | → |
| Schedule 7 | Stimulant / psychotropic control | Document timing of doses against work start, driving, and concentration duties — insurers often probe crash patterns and… | → |
| Schedule 8 | Substances of dependence | Insurers frequently query long-term use, sedation, driving, and safety-critical work — pair script history with function… | → |
| Not scheduled | Referral service | Document referral letter, session frequency, provider registration, and functional goals. | → |
Not legal or prescribing advice. Confirm schedule on your package insert or SAHPRA registration. Clinical Atlas →