As of March 31, 2022, tramadol will be removed from the Prescription Drug List (PDL) and listed in Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Tramadol will also be listed as item 19 in the Schedule of the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR) and therefore subject to all the regulatory requirements set out in the CDSA and NCR. Controlling tramadol will strengthen Health Canada’s oversight of legitimate activities with this substance, and facilitate detection and prevention of diversion.
For more information on pharmacy teams’ responsibilities as a result of this change, including record keeping requirements, destruction, loss or theft reporting, security, and advertising and labelling, refer to this message from the Office of Controlled Substances.
