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Intro to ATC Drug Codes(Dari)

EO 003.01 Part 16

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Importance of Lesson(Dari)

Pharmacy technicians are required to have a basic understanding of drug classification in order to understand where and how a given drug works in the body as well as its therapeutic use.

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Overview of Lesson(Dari)

• Define ATC

• Role of the World Health Organization (WHO)

• Organization of the ATC Drug Codes

• Example of Drug Classification

• What a Pharmacy Technician needs to know

• 1st level of classification

• 2nd level of classification

• 3rd level of classification

• 4th level of classification

• 5th level of classification

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What does ATC mean? (Insert Dari)

ATC = Anatomical Therapeutic Drug Classificaiton System

Active substances are divided into different groups according to the organ or system on which they act and their therapeutic, pharmacological and chemical properties.

Active substance = ingredient in the medication that causes effect (i.e. lowers blood pressure).

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Role of the World Health Organization (WHO)(Insert Dari)

The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes guidelines for ATC drug classification and DDD assignment.

DDD assignment = Defined Daily Dose

Updates to the document occur yearly and can be found on the WHO website.

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Organization of the ATC System(Insert Dari)

Drugs are classified at 5 different levels:

1st level – anatomical site of action

where it acts in the body

2nd level –therapeutic subgroup

what it is used for

3rd / 4th level – pharmacologic subgroup or a further therapeutic class or chemical class

type of drug or a more specified use for the drug or a chemical class of drug

5th level – chemical substance

the name of the actual drug

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Example: Sucralfate (Insert Dari)

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How is Sucralfate Classified?(Insert Dari)

1st level - A (alimentary tract and metabolism)

2nd level – A02 drugs for acid related disorders

3rd level – A02B drugs for peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

4th level – A02BX other drugs for peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

5th level – A02BX02 sucralfate

1st level – anatomical site of action

where it acts in the body

2nd level –therapeutic subgroup

what it is used for

3rd / 4th level – pharmacologic subgroup or a further therapeutic class or chemical class

type of drug or a more specified use for the drug or a chemical class of drug

5th level – chemical substance

the name of the actual drug

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What do I need to know as a Pharmacy Technician? (Insert Dari)

It is NOT necessary for a pharmacy technician to know all 5 levels of classification for a given drug (i.e. metformin = A10BA02) .

What is important is to understand are the following:

•Where the drug acts in the body•Therapeutic use (indication) •Basic pharmacological class

The ATC system is a useful tool to remember this information.

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1st Level of Classification : Anatomical Site of Action(Insert Dari)

Alimentary Tract and Metabolism (A) Blood and blood forming agents (B) Cardiovascular (C) Dermatologicals (D) Genitourinary system and sex hormones (G) Systemic hormonal preparations, excl. Sex

hormones and insulin (H) Antiinfectives for Systemic Use (J) Antineoplastics and Immunomodulators (L) Musculoskeletal System (M) Nervous System (N) Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellents

(P) Respiratory System (R) Sensory Organs (S) Various (V)

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2nd Level of Classification : Therapeutic Use

Example From: Alimentary Tract and Metabolism (A)

A01 – Stomatological preparationsA02 – Drugs for acid related disordersA03 – Drugs for functional Gastrointestinal DisordersA04 – Antiemetic and antinauseantsA05 – Bile and Liver Therapy A06 – Drugs for constipationA07 – Anti-diarrheals, Anti-inflammatories and Antiinfectives for the gastrointestinal tractA08 – Anti-obesity preparations (excl diet products)A09 – Digestives (incl enzymes)A10 – Drugs used in diabetesA11 – VitaminsA12 – MineralsA13 – TonicsA14 – Anabolic Steroids for Systemic UseA15 – Appetite SuppressantsA16 - Other

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3rd Level of Organization : Further Therapeutic Class or Pharmacologic Class

Example From: A02 Drugs Used in Acid Disease

A02A – Antacids

A02B – Drugs for Peptic Acid Disease and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

A02X - Other Drugs for Acid Related Disorders

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4th Level of Organization: Pharmacologic Class or Chemical Class

Example From:

A02B – Drugs for Peptic Acid Disease and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

• A02BA : H2-receptor antagonists

• A02BB : Prostaglandins

• A02BC : Proton pump inhibitors

• A02BD : Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori

• A02BE : Other drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

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5th Level of Classification : Name of Substance

Example From : A02BE : Other drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

sucralfate

Note: The ATC System only uses generic names of medication (this topic will be covered in greater detail in EO 003.03.

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Questions? (Insert Dari)

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In-class Assignment(Insert Dari)

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1. What does ATC mean?(Insert Dari)

A) Anatomical Taxonomy Classification System

B) Anatomical Therapeutic Classification System

C) Anatomical Theory Classification System

D) Appropriate Therapeutic Classification System

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1. Answer: What does ATC mean?(Insert Dari)

A) Anatomical Taxonomy Classification System

B) Anatomical Therapeutic Classification System

C) Anatomical Theory Classification System

D) Appropriate Therapeutic Classification System

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2. How many levels of classification are there in the ATC system?

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A) 4

B) 3

C) 5

D) 2

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2. Answer: How many levels of classification are there in the ATC system?

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A) 4

B) 3

C) 5

D) 2

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3. Answer: The ATC code for sucralfate is A02BX02, what does the ‘A’ indicate?

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A) The anatomical site of action

B) The therapeutic use of the drug

C) The chemical class of the drug

D) The pharmacological class of the drug

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3. The ATC code for sucralfate is A02BX02, what does the ‘A’ indicate?

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A) The anatomical site of action

B) The therapeutic use of the drug

C) The chemical class of the drug

D) The pharmacological class of the drug

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4. The ATC code for metformin is A10BA02, what does ‘10’ indicate?

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Insert DariA) The anatomical site of action

B) The therapeutic use of the drug

C) The chemical class of the drug

D) The pharmacological class of the drug

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4. Answer: The ATC code for metformin is A10BA02, what does ‘10’ indicate?

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Insert DariA) The anatomical site of action

B) The therapeutic use of the drug

C) The chemical class of the drug

D) The pharmacological class of the drug

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5. The 3rd and 4th levels of classification indicate what?

(Insert Dari) A) A further therapeutic class

B) A chemical class

C) A pharmacologic class

D) All of the above

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5. Answer: The 3rd and 4th levels of classification indicate what? (Insert Dari)

A) A further therapeutic class

B) A chemical class

C) A pharmacologic class

D) All of the above

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