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Is there a set definition or list of narcotics I can use as reference?

I am chronically and apparently progressively ill and undiagnosed, going to MANY different doctors constantly, on and off all sorts of drugs. And lately I have noticed either their all misinformed about medication, or they ALL disagree on what counts as a narcotic. I was prescribed fioricet a while back assured it was non-narcotic, another doctor seemed to back that only for a doctor to point out it IS a narcotic and apparently highly addictive. Which bothers me, not because I assume at my stage of illness I can AVOID narcotic use, but because a narcotic obviously warrants very special attention when you're using it, and definitely needs to be used with discretion. So I was wondering first off, what the set definition of "narcotic" is, and secondly, if there is some sort of official list of medications which count as narcotics. I apparently can't trust doctors to really know those things, or be honest about it, so I was hoping there was an easier way to do it myself. I appreciate any good information you can give me for future reference on this topic.

Public Comments

1. The Physician's Desk Reference, or PDR, is the bible for prescription drugs. Tells everything there is to know about the substance and is very technical (though you can skip the really techie parts and still get the gist of it). It's not available for free anywhere. Your local library might have a copy as reference.
2. Fioricet is not a narcotic, it contains caffiene, butalbital (barbituate) and acetaminaphen. Maybe you should do research your drs before actually seeing them. I have hand picked every one of my doctors and have had no trouble with any of them.