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the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system
Version for 2006
(World Health Organization)
Structure
In the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system, the drugs are divided into different groups according to the organ or system on which they act and their chemical, pharmacological and therapeutic properties.
Drugs are classified in groups at five different levels. The drugs are divided into fourteen main groups (1st level), with one pharmacological/therapeutic subgroup (2nd level). The 3rd and 4th levels are chemical/pharmacological/therapeutic subgroups and the 5th level is the chemical substance. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th levels are often used to identify pharmacological subgroups when that is considered more appropriate than therapeutic or chemical subgroups.
The complete classification of metformin illustrates the structure of the code:
| A |
Alimentary tract and metabolism
(1st level, anatomical main group)
|
| A10 |
Drugs used in diabetes
(2nd level, therapeutic subgroup) |
| A10B |
Oral blood glucose lowering drugs
(3rd level, pharmacological subgroup) |
| A10BA |
Biguanides
(4th level, chemical subgroup) |
| A10BA02 |
Metformin
(5th level, chemical substance) |
Thus, in the ATC system all plain metformin preparations are given the code A10BA02.
- A - Alimentary tract and metabolism
- B - Blood and blood forming organs
- C - Cardiovascular system
- D - Dermatologicals
- G - Genito-urinary system and sex hormones
- H - Systemic hormonal preparations, excluding sex hormones and insulins
- J - Anti-infectives for systemic use
- L - Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents
- M - Musculo-skeletal system
- N - Nervous system
- P - Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellents
- Q - Veterinary drug
- R - Respiratory system
- S - Sensory organs
- V - Various
ATC Homepage
Comments
LINA SAEM STOEY
12 Nov 2007, 02:13
Dear Drugs About:
I am doing drug coding using ATC system. Some drug (chemical substance) has multiple ATC code. How do I know which one to use? Is there really a different? Or, if I just pick one, would it codes the same thing and be understood as the same chemical substance?
thanks!
Lina
Project Manager
CCBR
Denmark
Jagged
12 Nov 2007, 11:03
Hi Lina,
Most of active drugs ingredients have one ore more ATC codes. But most of drugs trade names have ATC codes only for their medical indications. For example, Ibuprofen has 20 ATC codes, but "Advil Extra Strength Liquidui-Gels" (it's the same Ibuprofen) has only M01AE01 code. So if you do drug coding with drugs INN (generic) names use all these codes, but for medicines trade names use only ATC codes for their indications ind usage.
Also you can find more info from ATC makers: http://www.whocc.no/atcddd/
LINA SAEM STOEY
13 Nov 2007, 01:29
Hi again,
Thanks for your response. This info helps!
Sincerely,
lina
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