Is Xanax (alprazolam) a controlled substance?

Yes. Xanax, the brand name of alprazolam, is a Schedule IV controlled substance under US federal law. In the United Kingdom alprazolam is a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and sits in Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Xanax is a benzodiazepine, and it is not a narcotic.

What is Xanax?

The Xanax label (Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, DailyMed, published February 26, 2026) says in Section 1 that it is indicated for the acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in adults and for the treatment of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, in adults. MedlinePlus says alprazolam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. The label's highlights open the indication with the words "XANAX is a benzodiazepine", so the answer to "is Xanax a benzo" is a plain yes. The family is described in what is a benzo.

What schedule is Xanax?

Schedule IV. Alprazolam appears in 21 CFR 1308.14, in paragraph (c), headed "Depressants". Section 9.1 of the label says:

XANAX contains alprazolam, which is a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Under 21 CFR 1306.22, a prescription for a Schedule III or IV drug may not be filled or refilled more than six months after it was issued, and a prescription authorized for refills may not be refilled more than five times. Under 21 CFR 1306.21, it may be dispensed on a signed paper prescription, a faxed copy, an electronic prescription that meets federal requirements, or an oral prescription the pharmacist writes down promptly. State rules can be stricter, and the state board of pharmacy is the authority. See drug schedules for the full scheme.

Is Xanax a narcotic?

No. The NARC column of the DEA list shows "N" for alprazolam. The statutory definition agrees. 21 U.S.C. 802(17) says a narcotic drug is opium, an opiate or a derivative of one, poppy straw, coca leaves, cocaine, ecgonine, or a compound containing any of them. Alprazolam is none of these. The DEA places it in the "Depressants" paragraph of Schedule IV, while tramadol, which is flagged as a narcotic, sits in the "Narcotic drugs" paragraph of the same section. The word is often used loosely for any strong prescription drug, and that use does not match the law. See what is a narcotic and, for the opioid family that the boxed warning mentions, what is an opioid.

What does the boxed warning say?

The label's boxed warning covers risks from concomitant use with opioids, abuse, misuse and addiction, and dependence and withdrawal reactions. Its first point reads:

Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.

The second point reads:

The use of benzodiazepines, including XANAX, exposes users to risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose or death.

The third point says that continued use of benzodiazepines, including Xanax, may lead to clinically significant physical dependence, and that abrupt discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction after continued use may precipitate acute withdrawal reactions, which can be life-threatening. The label says the risks of dependence and withdrawal increase with longer treatment duration and higher daily dose.

This summary is not advice about any person's treatment. Stopping or changing a benzodiazepine is a decision for the prescriber. Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) answers questions in the US about accidental or excess intake, and people in distress can call or text 988. In the UK, NHS 111 gives advice and 999 is the emergency number.

Why is alprazolam controlled?

Section 9.2 of the label says Xanax is a benzodiazepine and a CNS depressant with a potential for abuse and addiction, and that even taking benzodiazepines as prescribed may put patients at risk for abuse and misuse of their medication. It adds that abuse and misuse commonly involve other medications, alcohol or illicit substances, and that death is more often associated with polysubstance use, especially benzodiazepines with other CNS depressants such as opioids and alcohol. Section 9.3 says Xanax may produce physical dependence from continued therapy.

What class is alprazolam in the UK?

The Home Office list of commonly encountered controlled drugs, updated April 1, 2025, shows alprazolam as Class C, Schedule 4 Part 1. The government's drugs penalties page names benzodiazepines (it gives diazepam as the example) among Class C drugs, and lists for Class C up to 2 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both for possession and up to 14 years, an unlimited fine or both for supply and production. Those are maximums, and outcomes depend on the facts of each case. Part 1 of Schedule 4 is described in the 2014 amending regulations (S.I. 2014/1275) as covering controlled drugs subject to the requirements of regulations 22, 23, 26 and 27 of the 2001 Regulations. We did not verify when alprazolam was first controlled in the UK, so we give no year. Read UK drug classes and schedules for the structure.

Related pages

• Valium (diazepam), Schedule IV, Class C
• Klonopin (clonazepam), Schedule IV, Class C
• Ativan (lorazepam), Schedule IV, Class C
• Ambien (zolpidem), which is not a benzodiazepine by its label
• All drugs with their US schedule and UK class

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