Please note that changes to the reclassification procedure for medicines mean that the legal status of a product now becomes part of its marketing authorisation rather than being determined by the active substance listed in secondary legislation. Because a change of legal status will be conferred only on products that are the subject of an application for reclassification, you should refer to the entry for the specific proprietary product and not rely only on the entry for the active substance. Since the POM Order remains in force, entries for active substances will remain in this list but will include cross references wherever proprietary products have been reclassified.

While every possible care has been taken in the compilation of this  database it is by no means exhaustive. In addition, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or for any consequences of errors arising from the use of the database.
Further guidance or clarification on the status of individual products can be obtained from manufacturers or from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s support service (RPS support) welcomes details of any errors or omission in this list. Errors can be reported by clicking on the report an error link on the database.

CD POM: A substance controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to which the principal restrictions of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 apply. CD POM substances are listed in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, as amended

CD Lic: A substance controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act to which the restrictions of the Regulations apply and, in addition, the production, possession and supply of which is limited in the public interest to purposes of research or other special purposes. A Home Office licence is required for such purposes. CD Lic substances are listed in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, as amended

CD No Register POM: A substance controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act to which the restrictions of the Regulations apply except that no entry in the Controlled Drugs Register is required and invoices must be retained for two years. CD No Register POM substances are listed in Schedule 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, as amended

CD Benz POM: A substance controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act to which the restrictions of the Regulations apply but with the following relaxation: prescription and labelling requirements do not apply (except those under the Medicines Act 1968), records in the CD register need not be kept by retailers, destruction requirements apply only to importers, exporters and manufacturers, there are no safe custody requirements. CD Benz POM substances are listed in Schedule 4, Part I of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, as amended

CD Anab POM: A substance controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act to which the restrictions of the Regulations apply but with the following relaxation: prescription and labelling requirements do not apply (except those under the Medicines Act 1968), records in the CD register need not be kept by retailers, destruction requirements apply only to importers, exporters and manufacturers, there are no safe custody requirements. There is no restriction on possession when contained in a medicinal product. A Home office import or export licence is required for the importation and exportation of these substances, unless they are imported or exported in the form of a medicinal product by a person for administration to himself. CD Anab POM substances are listed in Schedule 4, Part II of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, as amended

CD Inv. POM: A substance controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act but which is exempt from all restrictions under the Regulations except that the invoice or a copy of it must be kept for two years. CD Inv POM substances are listed in Schedule 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, as amended

POM: A substance which, by virtue of an entry in the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997, as amended, may be sold or supplied to the public only on a practitioner's prescription

P: A substance which is a pharmacy medicine, ie, is not subject to the prescription-only requirements of the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997, as amended, and which is not included in the Medicines (Products Other Than Veterinary Drugs) (General Sale List) Order 1984, as amended

GSL: A substance described in the Medicines (Products Other Than Veterinary Drugs) (General Sale List) Order 1984, as amended, made under the Medicines Act 1968

PO: A substance which contains GSL ingredients but is licensed for sale through pharmacies only

md (maximum dose), ie, the maximum quantity of the substance contained in the amount of a medicinal product which is recommended to be taken or administered at any one time

mdd (maximum daily dose), ie, the maximum quantity of the substance that is contained in the amount of a medicinal product which is recommended to be taken or administered in any period of 24 hours

ms (maximum strength), ie, either or, if so specified, both of the following: (a) the maximum quantity of the substance by weight or volume that is contained in the dosage unit of a medicinal product; or (b) the maximum percentage of the substance contained in a medicinal product calculated in terms of w/w, w/v, v/w or v/v, as appropriate

External use means for application to the skin, teeth, mucosa of the mouth, throat, nose, eye, ear, vagina or anal canal when a local action only is necessary and extensive systemic absorption is unlikely to occur.
Note: The following are not regarded as for external use: throat sprays, throat pastilles, throat lozenges, throat tablets, nasal drops, nasal sprays, nasal inhalations or teething preparations

Parenteral administration means administration by breach of the skin or mucous membrane