September Release - 9/08/2020
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vaccines Administered | CVX | CVX_2020_07_28 |
| DrugBank | DRUGBANK | DRUGBANK5.0_2020_07_30 |
| Gold Standard Drug Database | GS | GS_2020_08_13 |
| Multum MediSource Lexicon | MMSL | MMSL_2020_08_01 |
| Micromedex RED BOOK | MMX | MMX_2020_08_10 |
| FDA Structured Product Labels | MTHSPL | MTHSPL_2020_08_28 |
| FDB MedKnowledge (formerly NDDF Plus) | NDDF | NDDF_2020_08_12 |
| RxNorm normalized names and codes | RXNORM | RXNORM_20AA_200908F |
| US Edition of SNOMED CT (drug information) | SNOMEDCT_US | SNOMEDCT_US_2020_07_31 |
| Veterans Health Administration National Drug File | VANDF | VANDF_2020_08_03 |
The following sources have not been updated since the previous RxNorm release:
| Source Name | SAB | Version |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System | ATC | ATC_2020 |
| Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) | MSH | MSH2020_2020_01_15 |
| CMS Formulary Reference File | MTHCMSFRF | MTHCMSFRF_2014 |
| 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
Unique ISMP Tall Man Lettering Names Added
Tall man lettering (TML) is an approach that uses uppercase lettering to help differentiate look-alike drug names by capitalizing dissimilar letters (e.g. CISplatin versus CARBOplatin). 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. To provide more comprehensive TML medication names, the RxNorm September 2020 release includes unique ISMP TML names absent from the FDA list.
Archiving Brand Name OTC Cough/Cold/Flu Products with Two Ingredients
Several years ago, RxNorm archived brand name over-the-counter (OTC) cold/cough/flu products with 3 or more ingredients. For the September release, OTC cold/cough/flu products with term types SBD or BPCK with 2 ingredients will be archived. Impacted atoms will be reassigned to generic names.
Notice of Upcoming RxNorm 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.
- Reminder: Deleting UMLS Metathesaurus UMLSAUI & UMLSCUI in the RxNorm November 2020 Monthly Release
- The Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) atom unique identifier (AUI) and concept unique identifier (CUI) will not exist in RxNorm beginning with the November 2020 release. In other words, the UMLSAUI and UMLSCUI attributes will be deleted from the RxNorm terminology in the RXNSAT.RRF file. Users can obtain the UMLSAUI and UMLSCUI directly from the Metathesaurus if needed.
Related News
NLM’s Pillbox will be Retired January 2021
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) Pillbox program will be retired on January 29, 2021. See the following announcement for more information: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ja20/ja20_pillbox_discontinue.html
Data Counts
| Term Type or Attribute | Number |
|---|---|
| Active GPCKs | 426 |
| Active BPCKs | 511 |
| Active SCDs | 16762 |
| Active SBDs | 9428 |
| Active RXNORM MINs | 3730 |
| Active RXNORM INs | 12914 |
| Active RXNORM PINs | 3032 |
| Active RXNORM BNs | 5140 |
| Active RXNORM DFs | 121 |
| Obsolete GPCKs | 231 |
| Obsolete BPCKs | 197 |
| Obsolete SCDs | 18215 |
| Obsolete SBDs | 10686 |
| Obsolete RXNORM MINs | 0 |
| Obsolete RXNORM INs | 0 |
| Obsolete RXNORM PINs | 0 |
| Obsolete RXNORM BNs | 6094 |
| Obsolete RXNORM DFs | 63 |
| Editor-suppressed SCDs | 1778 |
| Editor-suppressed SBDs | 1464 |
| SAB=RXNORM NDCs | 239403 |
| Distinct SAB=RXNORM NDCs | 239403 |
Last Reviewed: October 13, 2020