The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System is a drug classification system that classifies the active ingredients of drugs according to the organ or system on which they act and their therapeutic , pharmacological and chemical properties. Its purpose is an aid to monitor drug use and for research to improve quality medication use. It does not imply drug recommendation or efficacy . It is controlled by the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (WHOCC), and was first published in 1976.
18-405: This pharmaceutical coding system divides drugs into different groups according to the organ or system on which they act, their therapeutic intent or nature, and the drug's chemical characteristics . Different brands share the same code if they have the same active substance and indications. Each bottom-level ATC code stands for a pharmaceutically used substance, or a combination of substances, in
36-417: A single indication (or use). This means that one drug can have more than one code, for example acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) has A01AD05 ( WHO ) as a drug for local oral treatment, B01AC06 ( WHO ) as a platelet inhibitor , and N02BA01 ( WHO ) as an analgesic and antipyretic ; as well as one code can represent more than one active ingredient, for example C09BB04 ( WHO )
54-678: A unique identifier (RxCUI) to every combination of active ingredient and dose level. This pharmacology -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Uppsala Monitoring Centre Uppsala Monitoring Centre ( UMC ), located in Uppsala , Sweden , is the field name for the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring. UMC works by collecting, assessing and communicating information from member countries' national pharmacovigilance centres in regard to
72-740: Is published annually on January 1. Pharmaceutical code Pharmaceutical codes are used in medical classification to uniquely identify medication . They may uniquely identify an active ingredient , drug system (including inactive ingredients and time-release agents) in general, or a specific pharmaceutical product from a specific manufacturer. Drug system identifiers (manufacturer-specific including inactive ingredients): Hierarchical systems: Ingredients: Proprietary database identifiers include those assigned by First Databank , Micromedex , MediSpan , Gold Standard Drug Database (published by Elsevier ), and Cerner Multum MediSource Lexicon; these are cross-indexed by RxNorm , which also assigns
90-461: Is submitted to WHO for ATC classification and DDD assignment. A preliminary or temporary code is assigned and published on the website and in the WHO Drug Information for comment or objection. New ATC/DDD codes are discussed at the semi-annual Working Group meeting. If accepted it becomes a final decision and published semi-annually on the website and WHO Drug Information and implemented in
108-504: Is the combination of perindopril with amlodipine, two active ingredients that have their own codes ( C09AA04 ( WHO ) and C08CA01 ( WHO ) respectively) when prescribed alone. The ATC classification system is a strict hierarchy, meaning that each code necessarily has one and only one parent code, except for the 14 codes at the topmost level which have no parents. The codes are semantic identifiers, meaning they depict information by themselves beyond serving as identifiers (namely,
126-517: The 5th level group. The herbal classification is not adopted by WHO. The Uppsala Monitoring Centre is responsible for the Herbal ATC classification, and it is part of the WHODrug Global portfolio available by subscription . The ATC system also includes defined daily doses (DDDs) for many drugs. This is a measurement of drug consumption based on the usual daily dose for a given drug. According to
144-1032: The WHO Programme. A WHO global individual case safety report database ( VigiBase ) is maintained and developed on behalf of the WHO by UMC. UMC develops and provides several tools and classifications for use by organisations involved in drug safety, including the WHO Drug Dictionary – with a bridge to the MedDRA terminology and WHO ICD – tools for searching in the database, and a program for case report management, VigiFlow. UMC's research covers mainly three areas: data-driven discovery (especially statistical techniques), dis-proportionality analyses, interaction detection, patterns and duplicate case detection, safety surveillance and signaling (among which drug dependence and pediatric use) and benefit—risk analysis. As of 2023 over 200 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals were linked on
162-415: The annual print/on-line ACT/DDD Index on January 1. Changes to existing ATC/DDD follow a similar process to become temporary codes and if accepted become a final decision as ATC/DDD alterations. ATC and DDD alterations are only valid and implemented in the coming annual updates; the original codes must continue until the end of the year. An updated version of the complete on-line/print ATC index with DDDs
180-524: The benefits, harm, effectiveness and risks of drugs. Since 1978, responsibility for managing the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring has been carried by UMC. In the early years the staff consisted of just three pharmacists, Sten Olsson, Cecilia Biriell and Marie Lindquist, based at the Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket); Currently over 150 staff work in central Uppsala. The founding chairman and acting Director
198-422: The centre's website. UMC has been active in initiatives to improve communication in areas related to medicines safety since 1996. The centre has been active in presenting research in the medical literature which has included some seminal works in the field. The Uppsala centre has also published books in the field of drugs safety including a regular newsletter. In 2010 the 2nd edition of a crisis management guide
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#1732852582772216-442: The code indicates the anatomical main group and consists of one letter. There are 14 main groups: Example : C Cardiovascular system The second level of the code indicates the therapeutic subgroup and consists of two digits. Example : C 03 Diuretics The third level of the code indicates the therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup and consists of one letter. Example : C03 C High-ceiling diuretics The fourth level of
234-443: The code indicates the chemical/therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup and consists of one letter. Example : C03C A Sulfonamides The fifth level of the code indicates the chemical substance and consists of two digits. Example : C03CA 01 furosemide The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System for veterinary medicinal products (ATCvet) is used to classify veterinary drugs. ATCvet codes can be created by placing
252-456: The codes depict themselves the complete lineage of parenthood). As of 7 May 2020, there are 6,331 codes in ATC; the table below gives the count per level. The ATC system is based on the earlier Anatomical Classification System, which is intended as a tool for the pharmaceutical industry to classify pharmaceutical products (as opposed to their active ingredients). This system, confusingly also called ATC,
270-516: The definition, "[t]he DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults." National issues of the ATC classification, such as the German Anatomisch-therapeutisch-chemische Klassifikation mit Tagesdosen , may include additional codes and DDDs not present in the WHO version. ATC follows guidelines in creating new codes for newly approved drugs. An application
288-446: The letter Q in front of the ATC code of most human medications. For example, furosemide for veterinary use has the code Q C03CA01. Some codes are used exclusively for veterinary drugs, such as QI Immunologicals , QJ51 Antibacterials for intramammary use or QN05AX90 amperozide . The Herbal ATC system (HATC) is an ATC classification of herbal substances ; it differs from the regular ATC system by using 4 digits instead of 2 at
306-589: Was Professor Åke Liljestrand. From 1990 to 2009 the Director was Professor Ralph Edwards. In 2009, Dr. Marie Lindquist became the Director until her retirement in 2020. Hervé Le Louët served from 2021 to 2022 and was succeeded by Peter Hjelmström. The Head of Research is Dr. Niklas Norén. The work of the UMC is: The main focus and source of data in pharmacovigilance are reports of ICSRs (individual case safety reports) from healthcare providers and patients in member countries of
324-545: Was initiated in 1971 by the European Pharmaceutical Market Research Association (EphMRA) and is being maintained by the EphMRA and Intellus. Its codes are organised into four levels. The WHO's system, having five levels, is an extension and modification of the EphMRA's. It was first published in 1976. In this system, drugs are classified into groups at five different levels: The first level of
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