Auvelity is not a controlled substance. Neither of its two active ingredients, dextromethorphan and bupropion, is scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act. You can fill an Auvelity prescription at any pharmacy without the special restrictions that apply to controlled medications, such as limits on refills or mandatory ID checks.
Why the Question Comes Up
Auvelity works differently from traditional antidepressants. One of its ingredients, dextromethorphan (the same compound found in over-the-counter cough medicines), blocks a receptor in the brain involved in glutamate signaling. At high doses, dextromethorphan is known to produce dissociative and psychedelic-like effects, which is why some people misuse cough syrups. That reputation naturally raises questions about whether a prescription containing dextromethorphan would carry controlled substance restrictions.
The second ingredient, bupropion, serves a dual role. It has its own antidepressant effects, but it also slows the breakdown of dextromethorphan in the body, keeping blood levels of dextromethorphan higher for longer. Each Auvelity tablet contains 45 mg of dextromethorphan and 105 mg of bupropion. For context, a standard dose of many OTC cough products contains 20 to 30 mg of dextromethorphan per dose.
What the FDA’s Abuse Review Found
Before approving Auvelity, the FDA’s Controlled Substances Staff conducted a formal evaluation of its abuse potential. Their conclusion: relative to the highly concentrated, flavored dextromethorphan products already available over the counter, Auvelity does not present an increased risk of abuse. No cases of drug abuse or substance abuse were reported in any treatment group during clinical trials.
The most common side effects that could theoretically be linked to abuse were dizziness (about 14% of patients on Auvelity versus 6% on placebo) and sleepiness (about 4% versus 3%). Every other abuse-related side effect occurred in 1% or fewer of patients. Researchers also checked for withdrawal symptoms when patients stopped taking the drug. Other than mild dizziness and nausea, which were already common side effects during treatment, there was no meaningful difference between Auvelity and placebo on a 20-item withdrawal checklist. No withdrawal or discontinuation events were reported.
Based on all of this, the FDA recommended that Auvelity not be scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act, though the label does include a section describing the known abuse-related risks of dextromethorphan as an ingredient.
How This Compares to Spravato
Auvelity is sometimes compared to Spravato (esketamine), another antidepressant that targets a similar brain receptor. The two have very different regulatory profiles. Spravato is a Schedule III controlled substance, meaning the DEA considers it to have moderate abuse potential. Because of that classification, Spravato can only be administered in a certified healthcare setting under direct observation. Patients cannot take it home.
Auvelity, by contrast, is prescribed like a standard antidepressant. You pick it up at the pharmacy, take it at home, and your doctor can call in refills without the prescribing limits that apply to controlled drugs. There are no requirements for in-office administration or post-dose monitoring periods tied to its scheduling status.
What Auvelity’s Label Does Warn About
Not being a controlled substance doesn’t mean the drug is free of serious safety considerations. Auvelity carries a boxed warning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults, which is standard for antidepressants. It also carries warnings related to seizure risk, a concern tied to the bupropion component. These are clinical safety issues rather than abuse-related restrictions, and they don’t affect how the prescription is filled or refilled.
The practical takeaway: Auvelity is treated like any other non-controlled prescription medication at the pharmacy. Your prescriber does not need a special DEA registration to write for it, and there are no state or federal limits on how many refills you can receive at once.