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National Library of Medicine Technical BulletinNational Library of Medicine Technical Bulletin

Table of Contents: 2019 JANUARY–FEBRUARY No. 426

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RxNorm February 2019 Release

RxNorm February 2019 Release. NLM Tech Bull. 2019 Jan-Feb;(426):b5.

2019 February 04 [posted]

The February full monthly release of RxNorm is available as of February 4, 2019, and includes dose form changes to inhaled products and vaginal products as part of ongoing quality assurance and quality control activities. The new dose forms more closely align with U.S. and International naming standards from the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), respectively.

The four new dose forms in RxNorm are: Inhalation Suspension, Inhalation Solution, Inhalation Powder, and Vaginal Insert. Inhalation Suspension is new in RxNorm; the other dose forms replace existing dose form names (see details below).

  • Inhalation Suspension
    • This is a new dose form created in RxNorm.
    • Inhalation Suspension is defined as a suspension intended to be inhaled.
    • Approximately 4 active generic drug names (TTY= SCD) and their related concepts use this dose form.
  • Inhalation Solution
    • This dose form replaces the Inhalant Solution dose form. All drugs previously using the Inhalant Solution dose form now have the Inhalation Solution dose form.
    • Inhalation Solution is defined as a solution intended to be inhaled.
    • Approximately 49 active generic drug names (TTY= SCD) and their related concepts use this dose form.
  • Inhalation Powder
    • This dose form replaces the Inhalant Powder dose form. All drugs previously using the Inhalant Powder dose form now have the Inhalation Powder dose form.
    • Inhalation Powder is defined as a powdered medication that is intended to be inhaled.
    • Approximately 18 active generic drug names (TTY= SCD) and their related concepts use this dose form.
  • Vaginal Insert
    • This dose form replaces the Vaginal Tablet and Vaginal Suppository dose forms. All drugs previously using the Vaginal Tablet and Vaginal Suppository dose forms now have the Vaginal Insert dose form.
    • Vaginal Insert is defined as a solid form (tablet, capsule, or suppository) intended to be inserted into the vagina.
    • Approximately 20 active drug names (TTY = SCD) and their related concepts use this dose form.
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