The Union Health Ministry has proposed reclassifying four off-patent central nervous system (CNS) drugs—flupentixol, zopiclone, gabapentin, and carisoprodol—under Schedule H1, bringing their sale under closer regulatory oversight amid concerns over potential misuse. The proposal has been issued through a gazette notification and follows a recommendation by an expert committee that was considered by the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) at its 68th meeting in March 2026. Flupentixol is an antipsychotic medication used to treat mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and chronic psychosis.

Zopiclone is a sedative-hypnotic medication used for the short-term treatment of severe insomnia. Gabapentin is an anti-seizure drug used to treat nerve pain, while carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant used for short-term relief of acute musculoskeletal conditions. All four drugs act on the CNS and…