ASA Submits Letter to DEA Supporting the Scheduling of Propofol

In a letter sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), ASA expresses its strong support for the DEA’s proposal to place propofol into schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act and its belief that schedule IV is the proper schedule for the drug. While ASA is extremely supportive of DEA’s proposal, ASA also reminded the Agency that the U.S. health care system and the anesthesia community in particular, are currently recovering from a nationwide shortage of propofol and other related induction agents. Therefore ASA urged the Agency to carefully consider the impact scheduling will have on the supply and distribution of propofol in the near-term in order to avoid unnecessary shortages that could hamper anesthesiologists ability to provide safe patient care. 

Click here to read the full letter.