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Source

• The information is stored in the DWEPMA database on the data warehouse server.
• The formulary is based on the First Databank standard.
  • The version in use is not the latest version.
  • The latest version is in test, but there have been problems.
  • It contains the same drugs multiple times for different manufacturers.
• The prescription data does not always contain all the information (dosage, route, frequency, duration) as this may be added by the person who administers the drug.
• Once created, prescriptions are never altered.
  • Incorrect prescriptions are stopped and a new prescription is issued.

Mapping

• Depending on how closely the formulary sticks to the First Databank National Drug Data File (NDDF), it may be possible to use the ​RxNorm standard as an ontology or as a way to map the codes to SNOMEDCT.
• Dosage, route, frequency, duration can be stored in i2b2 as modifiers. This would require i2b2 to updated version 1.6.
• Another possibility is to user the ​National Centre for Bio-Ontology (NCBO) tools. Click Mappings tab and select 'National Drug Data File' from the options to show all the ​NDDF mappings, which contains a link to a mapping for SNOMED.
• Also investigate ​First Databank to use SNOWMED CT article.

​RxNorm

• Downloading the RxNorm data requires an account for ​Unified Medical Language System (UMLS).
• The ​technical documentation contains a few acronyms that it doesn't explain. Here is the table from the quick start guide with some additions:

Term	Name	Description	Example
TTY	Term Type	The acronyms listed below	IN, SCDF, GPCK
IN	Ingredient	A compound or moiety that gives the drug its distinctive clinical properties. Ingredients generally use the United States Adopted Name (USAN).	Fluoxetine
PIN	Precise Ingredient	A specified form of the ingredient that may or may not be clinically active. Most precise ingredients are salt or isomer forms.	Fluoxetine Hydrochloride
MIN	Multiple Ingredients	Two or more ingredients appearing together in a single drug preparation, created from SCDF. In rare cases when IN/PIN or PIN/PIN combinations of the same base ingredient exist, created from SCD.	Fluoxetine / Olanzapine
DF	Dose Form	See Appendix 2 for a full list of Dose Forms.	Oral Solution
DFG	Dose Form Group	See Appendix 3 for a full list of Dose Form Groups.	Oral Liquid
SCDC	Semantic Clinical Drug Component	Ingredient + Strength	Fluoxetine 4 MG/ML
SCDF	Semantic Clinical Drug Form	Ingredient + Dose Form	Fluoxetine Oral Solution
SCDG	Semantic Clinical Dose Form Group	Ingredient + Dose Form Group	Fluoxetine Oral Product
SCD	Semantic Clinical Drug Ingredient + Strength + Dose Form	Fluoxetine 4 MG/ML Oral Solution
BN	Brand Name	A proprietary name for a family of products containing a specific active ingredient.	Prozac
SBDC	Semantic Branded Drug Component	Ingredient + Strength + Brand Name	Fluoxetine 4 MG/ML [Prozac]
SBDF	Semantic Branded Drug Form	Ingredient + Dose Form + Brand Name	Fluoxetine Oral Solution [Prozac]
SBDG	Semantic Branded Dose Form Group	Ingredient + Dose Form Group + Brand Name	Prozac Pill
SBD	Semantic Branded Drug	Ingredient + Strength + Dose Form + Brand Name	Fluoxetine 4 MG/ML Oral Solution [Prozac]
SY	Synonym	Synonym of another TTY, given for clarity.	Prozac 4 MG/ML Oral Solution
TMSY	Tall Man Lettering Synonym	Tall Man Lettering synonym of another TTY, given to distinguish between commonly confused drugs.	FLUoxetine 10 MG Oral Capsule [PROzac]
BPCK	Brand Name Pack	A list of drugs provided in a branded pack. {# (Ingredient Strength Dose Form) / # (Ingredient Strength Dose Form)} Pack [Brand Name]	{12 (Ethinyl Estradiol 0.035 MG / Norethindrone 0.5 MG Oral Tablet) / 9 (Ethinyl Estradiol 0.035 MG / Norethindrone 1 MG Oral Tablet) / 7 (Inert Ingredients 1 MG Oral Tablet) } Pack [Leena 28 Day]
GPCK	Generic Pack	A list of drugs provided in a generic pack. {# (Ingredient + Strength + Dose Form) / # (Ingredient + Strength + Dose Form)} Pack	{11 (varenicline 0.5 MG Oral Tablet) / 42 (varenicline 1 MG Oral Tablet) } Pack
NDC	National Drug Codes	Codes that RxNorm seeks to map	SNOMEDCT code or First Databank code

RxNorm Data Files

• RxNorm data is supplied in ​Rich Release Format (RRF).