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ATC (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System) - Synopsis

Search ATC in the UMLS Metathesaurus
(requires a free UMLS license)

Web site:
http://www.who.int/classifications/atcddd/en/

Authority
The World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Drug Statistics Methodology produces and maintains the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System with Defined Daily Doses (ATC/DDD).

The Metathesaurus includes ATC information only.

Purpose
ATC classifies therapeutic drugs to enable drug research and to improve the quality of drug use.

Description
ATC classifies drugs at five different levels. Each level is a different grouping of drugs. Groupings of active substances include the organ or system on which the drug acts as well as therapeutic, pharmacological, and chemical properties of the drug.

Metathesaurus Scope
The Metathesaurus representation of ATC includes ingredients and drug classes.

The Metathesaurus representation of ATC has approximately 5,067 ingredients and 1,264 drug classes.

Update Frequency
ATC is updated annually.

Metathesaurus Update Frequency
ATC is updated annually in each May release (AA) as part of RxNorm.

Sites Consulted

  1. WHO | The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System with Defined Daily Doses (ATC/DDD). [Geneva]: World Health Organization; c2014 [cited 2014 Apr 18]. Available from: http://www.who.int/classifications/atcddd/en/.
  2. WHOCC - Home [Internet]. Oslo: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology [updated 2014 Jan 23]. WHOCC - Structure and Principles; [updated 2011 Mar 25; cited 2014 Apr 18].  Available from: http://www.whocc.no/atc/structure_and_principles/.