There are 18 medicines that are or have been sought by US states for use in lethal injection executions. These medicines are made by healthcare companies who develop and make medicines to save and improve the lives and health of patients. The companies do not approve of the misuse of medicines in lethal injections (see Industry Position) and have put distribution controls in place to protect their medicines and ensure they are sold exclusively for legitimate medical use.
Every FDA-approved manufacturer of listed execution drugs has strict controls in place to prevent Departments of Corrections from diverting their products for misuse in lethal injection executions.
Below is a summary of the medicines which are or have been listed in US state lethal injection protocols, or have been mooted by US states for use in executions, as well as their manufacturers, and the controls that are in place to protect these medicines from misuse.