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Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System




Drugs are divided into different groups according to the organ or system on which they act and/or their Therapeutic and Chemical Characteristics .


CLASSIFICATION


In the system drugs are classified into groups at 5 different levels:


First level


The first level of the code is based on a letter for the anatomical group and consists of one letter; there are 14 main groups:


Second level


The second level of the code is based on the therapeutic main group and consists of two digits.


Third level


The third level of the code is based on the therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup and consists of one letter.


Fourth level


The fourth level of the code is based on the chemical/therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup and consists of one letter.


Fifth level


The fifth level of the code is based on the chemical substance subgroup and consists of two digits.


Further notes


The actual drug name used is the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) when available.

The ATC/DDD system is the ATC system with the addition of a measure of the assumed average maintenance Dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults (Defined Daily Doses).

Other ATC classifications are ATCvet (for Veterinary medicinal products) and ATC herbal classification (for Herbal remedies).

The ATC classification system was based on the Anatomical Classification (AC-system) developed by the European Pharmaceutical Market Research Association (EPhMRA) and the Pharmaceutical Business Intelligence And Research Group (PBIRG).


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