August Release - 8/03/2020
This full release of RxNorm is consistent with the 2020AA UMLS Metathesaurus release. For additional information about RxNorm releases, including scripts for loading the RxNorm data into Oracle and MySQL databases, read the RxNorm Technical Documentation.
Sources
The following sources with version names in bold have been updated since the previous RxNorm release:
| Source Name | SAB | Version |
|---|---|---|
| DrugBank | DRUGBANK | DRUGBANK5.0_2020_07_02 |
| Gold Standard Drug Database | GS | GS_2020_07_13 |
| Multum MediSource Lexicon | MMSL | MMSL_2020_07_01 |
| Micromedex RED BOOK | MMX | MMX_2020_07_13 |
| FDA Structured Product Labels | MTHSPL | MTHSPL_2020_07_24 |
| FDB MedKnowledge (formerly NDDF Plus) | NDDF | NDDF_2020_07_15 |
| RxNorm normalized names and codes | RXNORM | RXNORM_20AA_200803F |
| Veterans Health Administration National Drug File | VANDF | VANDF_2020_06_30 |
The following sources have not been updated since the previous RxNorm release:
| Source Name | SAB | Version |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System | ATC | ATC_2020 |
| Vaccines Administered | CVX | CVX_2020_05_11 |
| Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) | MSH | MSH2020_2020_01_15 |
| CMS Formulary Reference File | MTHCMSFRF | MTHCMSFRF_2014 |
| US Edition of SNOMED CT (drug information) | SNOMEDCT_US | SNOMEDCT_US_2020_01_31 |
| USP Compendial Nomenclature | USP | USP_2020_02_06 |
*Reminder: As of October 2017, Medi-Span data will not be included in the RxNorm or UMLS releases. If you have questions about Medi-Span, please contact: medispan-support@wolterskluwer.com.
Data Changes
New Qualitative Distinction
Qualitative Distinction (QD) modifiers allow flexibility in the RxNorm model to create a new RxNorm Concept Unique Identifier (RXCUI) or differentiate an existing medication concept when needed. The August 2020 release includes the new QD “Twice-Daily” for the following active concepts:
| RXCUI | TTY | String |
|---|---|---|
| 855626 | SCD | Twice-Daily diclofenac epolamine 0.013 MG/MG Medicated Patch |
| 855628 | SBD | Twice-Daily diclofenac epolamine 0.013 MG/MG Medicated Patch [Flector] |
For each SCD or SBD with a QD, there is an associated attribute in RXNSAT with the attribute name (ATN) of 'RXN_QUALITATIVE_DISTINCTION'. The August release contains the following new attribute value (ATV) to match the QD strings found in the SCD and SBD normalized names:
- Twice-Daily
Notice of Upcoming Data Changes
As a courtesy to users, this section provides advance notice of possible upcoming RxNorm data changes. More information about each change will be provided or repeated in the future. Please note that planned data changes and timelines may change if issues arise.
- Unique ISMP Tall Man Lettering Names will be added in September 2020 release
- RxNorm currently uses the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) List of Established Drug Names Recommended to Use Tall Man Lettering (TML) which overlaps heavily with the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) List of Look-Alike Drug Names with Recommended Tall Man Letters. The RxNorm September 2020 release will include unique ISMP TML names absent from the FDA list to provide more comprehensive TML drug names.
Data Counts
| Term Type or Attribute | Number |
|---|---|
| Active GPCKs | 424 |
| Active BPCKs | 511 |
| Active SCDs | 16736 |
| Active SBDs | 9565 |
| Active RXNORM MINs | 3729 |
| Active RXNORM INs | 12839 |
| Active RXNORM PINs | 3020 |
| Active RXNORM BNs | 5275 |
| Active RXNORM DFs | 122 |
| Obsolete GPCKs | 230 |
| Obsolete BPCKs | 196 |
| Obsolete SCDs | 18181 |
| Obsolete SBDs | 11470 |
| Obsolete RXNORM MINs | 0 |
| Obsolete RXNORM INs | 0 |
| Obsolete RXNORM PINs | 0 |
| Obsolete RXNORM BNs | 6569 |
| Obsolete RXNORM DFs | 62 |
| Editor-suppressed SCDs | 1774 |
| Editor-suppressed SBDs | 1477 |
| SAB=RXNORM NDCs | 233903 |
| Distinct SAB=RXNORM NDCs | 233903 |
Last Reviewed: August 3, 2020