The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System, known as ATC, is a drug classification system that groups the active ingredients of medications according to the organ or body system on which they act, together with their therapeutic, pharmacological, and chemical properties. Its purpose is to aid in monitoring drug use and in research to improve the quality of medication use, and it does not itself imply a recommendation or a claim of efficacy. It is controlled by the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology and was first published in 1976.
Facts
Origin YearSourced to the subject's own account FAQs
How many levels does the ATC classification have?
It has five levels under fourteen main groups.
The ATC system arranges active substances in a hierarchy of five levels. The first level is one of fourteen main anatomical or pharmacological groups. The second level divides each main group into pharmacological or therapeutic groups, the third and fourth levels are chemical, pharmacological or therapeutic subgroups, and the fifth level is the chemical substance itself. The World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology illustrates this with metformin, which sits under A for the alimentary tract and metabolism, then A10 for drugs used in diabetes, A10B for blood glucose lowering drugs excluding insulins, A10BA for biguanides, and finally A10BA02 for metformin.
Can one medicine have more than one ATC code?
Yes, when strengths or routes have clearly different uses.
Yes, in some cases. The Collaborating Centre states that a medicinal substance can be given more than one ATC code if it is available in two or more strengths or routes of administration with clearly different therapeutic uses. Its example is finasteride: a low strength tablet for male pattern baldness is classified under D11AX, other dermatologicals, while a high strength tablet used for benign prostatic hypertrophy is classified under G04C, drugs used in BPH.
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
2. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section
It is controlled by the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (WHOCC), and was first published in 1976.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_Therapeutic_Chemical_Classification_System, lead section
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.
In Group: Drug Classification and Regulatory Categories, Introduction
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.
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