Schedule 5 and 6 medicines – what S5 and S6 mean

Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 medicines sit in the more tightly controlled part of South Africa's scheduling system. The controls help regulate supply, prescribing, dispensing and record-keeping. They do not provide a personal dose, and the number alone cannot tell you what will happen in your body.

A substance can have more than one schedule when its strength, formulation, route or indication changes. A current SAHPRA record and the dispensing label are therefore more useful than an unsourced list of S5 or S6 products.

• Use only the prescription or clinician instructions attached to your own treatment.
• Keep controlled medicines secure and do not share them.
• Tell every clinician and pharmacist what you take, including traditional remedies.
• Ask before stopping, restarting or changing a long-term controlled medicine.

1. 1Save the generic ingredient, strength and directions in one medicine list.
2. 2Bring that list to every appointment and pharmacy visit.
3. 3Set a refill reminder before the supply is nearly finished.
4. 4Report unexpected effects or suspected dependence early rather than hiding them.