Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System
Encyclopedia
The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System is used for the classification of drug
s. It is controlled by the WHO
Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (WHOCC), and was first published in 1976.
The classification system divides drugs into different groups according to the organ or system on which they act and/or their therapeutic
and chemical characteristics
. Each bottom-level ATC code stands for a pharmaceutically used substance in a single indication (or use). This means that one drug can have more than one code: acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), for example, has as a drug for local oral
treatment, as a platelet inhibitor, and as an analgesic
and antipyretic
. On the other hand, several different brands share the same code if they have the same active substance and indications.
Example: C03
Diuretic
s
Example: C03C High-ceiling diuretics
Example: C03CA Sulfonamide
s
Example: C03CA01 Furosemide
Some codes are used exclusively for veterinary drugs, like QI
Immunologicals, QJ51
Antibacterials for intramammary use or QN05AX90 amperozide
.
Anatomisch-therapeutisch-chemische Klassifikation mit Tagesdosen, may include additional codes and DDDs not present in the WHO version.
Medication
A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
s. It is controlled by the WHO
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (WHOCC), and was first published in 1976.
The classification system divides drugs into different groups according to the organ or system on which they act and/or their therapeutic
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and chemical characteristics
Chemical classification
Chemical classification systems attempt to classify as elements or compounds according to certain chemical functional or structural properties. Whereas the structural properties are largely intrinsic, functional properties and the derived classifications depend to a certain degree on the type of...
. Each bottom-level ATC code stands for a pharmaceutically used substance in a single indication (or use). This means that one drug can have more than one code: acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), for example, has as a drug for local oral
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
treatment, as a platelet inhibitor, and as an analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
and antipyretic
Antipyretic
Antipyretics ; an-tee-pahy-ret-iks; from the Greek anti, against, and pyreticus, are drugs or herbs that reduce fever. Normally, they will not lower body temperature if one does not have a fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override an interleukin-induced increase in temperature...
. On the other hand, several different brands share the same code if they have the same active substance and indications.
First level
The first level of the code indicates the anatomical main group and consists of one letter. There are 14 main groups:| Code | Contents |
|---|---|
| A | Alimentary tract and metabolism Metabolism Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories... |
| B | Blood Blood Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells.... and blood forming organs Haematopoiesis Haematopoiesis is the formation of blood cellular components. All cellular blood components are derived from haematopoietic stem cells... |
| C | Cardiovascular system |
| D | Dermatologicals |
| G | Genito-urinary system and sex hormones |
| H ATC code H -See also:*Sex hormones are in the ATC group G03.*Insulins are in the ATC group A10A.... |
Systemic hormonal preparations, excluding sex hormones and insulins |
| J ATC code J -See also:* Immune sera, immunoglobulins and vaccines for veterinary use are in the ATCvet group QI.... |
Antiinfectives for systemic use |
| L ATC code L -References:... |
Antineoplastic and immunomodulating Immunomodulator An immunomodulator, also known as an immunotherapy is a substance which has an effect on the immune system.- Immunosuppressants :Inhibits immune response in organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases.- Immunostimulants :... agents |
| M | Musculo-skeletal system |
| N | Nervous system Nervous system The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous... |
| P | Antiparasitic products, insecticide Insecticide An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind... s and repellent Insect repellent An insect repellent is a substance applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourages insects from landing or climbing on that surface. There are also insect repellent products available based on sound production, particularly ultrasound... s |
| R | Respiratory system Respiratory system The respiratory system is the anatomical system of an organism that introduces respiratory gases to the interior and performs gas exchange. In humans and other mammals, the anatomical features of the respiratory system include airways, lungs, and the respiratory muscles... |
| S | Sensory organs |
| V | Various |
Second level
The second level of the code indicates the therapeutic main group and consists of two digits.Example: C03
ATC code C03
-C03AA Thiazides, plain:-C03AA Thiazides, plain:-C03AA Thiazides, plain::C03AA01 Bendroflumethiazide:C03AA02 Hydroflumethiazide:C03AA03 Hydrochlorothiazide:C03AA04 Chlorothiazide:C03AA05 Polythiazide:C03AA06 Trichlormethiazide:C03AA07 Cyclopenthiazide...
Diuretic
Diuretic
A diuretic provides a means of forced diuresis which elevates the rate of urination. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from bodies, although each class does so in a distinct way.- Medical uses :...
s
Third level
The third level of the code indicates the therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup and consists of one letter.Example: C03C High-ceiling diuretics
Fourth level
The fourth level of the code indicates the chemical/therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup and consists of one letter.Example: C03CA Sulfonamide
Sulfonamide (medicine)
Sulfonamide or sulphonamide is the basis of several groups of drugs. The original antibacterial sulfonamides are synthetic antimicrobial agents that contain the sulfonamide group. Some sulfonamides are also devoid of antibacterial activity, e.g., the anticonvulsant sultiame...
s
Fifth level
The fifth level of the code indicates the chemical substance and consists of two digits.Example: C03CA01 Furosemide
Furosemide
Furosemide or frusemide is a loop diuretic used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and edema. It is most commonly marketed by Sanofi-Aventis under the brand name Lasix...
ATCvet
The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System for veterinary medicinal products (ATCvet) is used to classify veterinary drugs. ATCvet codes can be created by placing the letter Q in front of the ATC code of most human medications. For example, furosemide for veterinary use has the code QC03CA01.Some codes are used exclusively for veterinary drugs, like QI
ATCvet code QI
-See also:* Immune sera and immunoglobulins for human use are in the ATC group J06.* Vaccines for human use are in the ATC group J07....
Immunologicals, QJ51
ATCvet code QJ51
-QJ51AA Tetracyclines:-QJ51AA Tetracyclines:-QJ51AA Tetracyclines::QJ51AA03 Chlortetracycline:QJ51AA06 Oxytetracycline:QJ51AA07 Tetracycline:QJ51AA53 Chlortetracycline, combinations-QJ51BA Amphenicols::QJ51BA01 Chloramphenicol:QJ51BA02 Thiamphenicol...
Antibacterials for intramammary use or QN05AX90 amperozide
Amperozide
Amperozide is an atypical antipsychotic of the diphenylbutylpiperazine class which acts as an antagonist at the 5-HT2A receptor. It does not block dopamine receptors as with most antipsychotic drugs, but does inhibit dopamine release, and alters the firing pattern of dopaminergic neurons...
.
Defined daily dose
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 the definition, "[t]he DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults."National adaptions
National issues of the ATC classification, such as the GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Anatomisch-therapeutisch-chemische Klassifikation mit Tagesdosen, may include additional codes and DDDs not present in the WHO version.
See also
- Classification of Pharmaco-Therapeutic ReferralsClassification of Pharmaco-Therapeutic ReferralsThe Classification of Pharmaco-Therapeutic Referrals is a taxonomy focused to define and group together situations requiring a referral from pharmacists to physicians regarding the pharmacotherapy used by the patients. It has been published in 2008...
(CPR) - Family medicineFamily medicineFamily medicine is a medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages. It is a division of primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, sexes, diseases, and parts of the body...
/ Family practice - General practice
- ICD-10ICD-10The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision is a medical classification list for the coding of diseases, signs and symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances, and external causes of injury or diseases, as maintained by the...
International Classification of Diseases - International Classification of Primary CareInternational Classification of Primary CareThe International Classification of Primary Care is a classification method for primary care encounters. It allows for the classification of the patient’s reason for encounter , the problems/diagnosis managed, primary or general health care interventions, and the ordering of the data of the...
(ICPC-2) / ICPC-2 PLUSICPC-2 PLUSICPC-2 PLUS is an extended terminology classified to ICPC-2 International Classification of Primary Care, which aids data entry, retrieval and analysis. ICPC-2 PLUS takes into account the frequency distribution of problems seen in primary health care... - Medical classificationMedical classificationMedical classification, or medical coding, is the process of transforming descriptions of medical diagnoses and procedures into universal medical code numbers...
- Pharmaceutical carePharmaceutical carePharmaceutical care is the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient's quality of life...
- PharmacistPharmacistPharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
/ PharmacyPharmacyPharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs... - PharmacotherapyPharmacotherapyPharmacotherapy is the treatment of disease through the administration of drugs. As such, it is considered part of the larger category of therapy....
- Primary carePrimary carePrimary care is the term for the health services by providers who act as the principal point of consultation for patients within a health care system...
- Referral (medicine)Referral (medicine)In medicine, referral is the transfer of care for a patient from one clinician to another.Tertiary care is usually done by referral from primary or secondary medical care personnel....