2015 01 DrugClassification

DRUG CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEMS
PRESENTED BY:
ALEXANDER LUONG, PHARM.D., CANDIDATE 2015 1
PRECEPTOR:
DR. CRAIG STERN, PHARM.D., MBA
PRESIDENT, PROPHARMA PHARMACEUTICAL CONSULTANTS, INC.
1/9/2015
OUTLINE
1. What are drug classification systems?
2. What types of systems are there?
3. What are each of their strengths and weaknesses?
4. How do they compare against each other?
5. Conclusion
1/9/2015 2
WHAT ARE DRUG CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEMS?
• A method for categorizing drugs into a series of
numbers or “codes”
• Simplifies the ability to identify the appropriate

medication
• Mechanism/Class, Usage, Strength, Dose Form, etc.
• Used in payment, billing, and analysis of

medications in the healthcare system
1/9/2015 3
THE PLAYERS
• There are multiple classification systems available in

the U.S.
• 3 main systems in this presentation:

• Generic Product Identifier (GPI)
• American Hospital Formulary System (AHFS)
• Generic Code Number (GCN)
• One is not “better” than another. Each has their

own logic and individual methods in organizing
medications.
1/9/2015 4
GENERIC PRODUCT IDENTIFIER (GPI)
• From Medi-Span
• Up to 14 characters (7 couplets)
• Divided into a therapeutic classification hierarchy

• As you increase the amount of couplets, more specific
subgroup of drugs are being identified.
• Defines equivalent drug products having the same active
ingredients, strength, route, form, and therapeutic use
• Example:
• 58-20-00-60-10-01-05
• Nortriptyline HCL Capsule 10 mg
1/9/2015 5
GPI HIERARCHY
GPI Coding Example

58- Drug Group Antidepressants
58-20- Drug Class Tricyclic Agents
58-20-00- Drug Sub-class Tricyclic Agents
58-20-00-60- Drug Name Nortriptyline
58-20-00-60-10- Drug Name Extension Nortriptyline HCL
58-20-00-60-10-01- Dosage Form Nortriptyline HCL
Capsule
58-20-00-60-10-01-05 Strength Nortriptyline HCL
Capsule 10 mg
*Multiple medications can be grouped under smaller couplets, but as the
code expands, a specific drug is being identified.
*Table obtained from PHSI website at

1/9/2015 http://phsirx.com/blog/gpi-vs-gsn 6
GENERIC PRODUCT IDENTIFIER (GPI)
• Strengths:
• Each number has a defined meaning (not random) and is a
sequential flowing system
• If you see 17 as the first couplet, you know it is a vaccine and
every other number after it describes the vaccine even further
• Simple, logical, and easy to use
• Specific: Complex drug code with many tier levels
• Weaknesses:
• Does not subdivide into package size or manufacturer
• Such as NDC codes
• 3 code segment (XXXXX – XXXX – XX)
• Labeler code (manufacturer)
• Product code (strength, dosage form, formulation)
• Package code (package size/type)
1/9/2015 7
GENERIC CODE NUMBER (GCN)
• From First Databank (FDB)
• 5-digit code to represent a clinical formulation

• Specific to: Ingredient, Strength, Form, and Route
• Same across manufacturers and/or package size
• Can be used to group pharmaceutically equivalent products
together
• One drug can have multiple GCNs depending on product’s
available strength, forms, and route of administration.
• Ex: Nutritional supplement or multivitamins
• The numbers itself have no significance
• Example:
• 21414: Gabapentin 300 mg tablet
• 21414: Neurontin 300 mg tablet
1/9/2015 8
GENERIC CODE NUMBER (GCN)
• Strengths
• Same across all manufacturers, package size, and
brand/generic products.
• Specific set of numbers per product
• Does not require consistent updating
• Limitations
• Absence of logical flow in the code (no significance in
each number)
• Does not include indication/class of drug
• Only identifies Ingredient, Strength, Form, and Route
• Harder to identify an ingredient using just the code alone
1/9/2015 9
AMERICAN HOSPITAL FORMULARY
SERVICE (AHFS)
• From American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
• 4 tier hierarchy classification: Each tier describes a specific

subset of drugs
• 31 classifications in 1st tier
• 189 classifications in 2nd tier
• 269 classifications in 3rd tier
• 105 classifications in 4th tier
• Example:
• 28 : 00 : 00 : 00 = CNS agents
• 28 : 08 : 00 : 00 = Analgesics and Antipyretics
• 28 : 08 : 04 : 00 = NSAIDs
• 28 : 08 : 04 : 08 = COX-2 Inhibitors
1/9/2015 10
SERVICE (AHFS)
• Multiple combinations of codes possible for each
product
• Unlike GPI and GCN (ingredient, form, strength, route, use),
AHFS divides medications into:
• Pharmacologic, therapeutic, and/or chemical characteristics
• Less specific than that of a GPI and GCN
• Does not take into account route of administration or dosage
• Some classes only have one tier
• Not all products have to divide out into all 4 tiers
• 16:00 = Blood products
• 60:00 = Gold compounds
1/9/2015 11
SERVICE (AHFS)
• Example: Labetalol (β Blocker w/ activity)
• 24 : 04 : 04: 16
• CV Drug : Cardiac Drug : Antiarrhythmic (AA) Drug: Class II AA
• 24 : 08 : 04
• CV Drug : Hypotensive Agent : Alpha-Adrenergic Blockade
• 24 : 08 : 08
• CV Drug : Hypotensive Agent : Beta-Adrenergic Blockade
• 24 : 24
• CV Drug : Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents
• Example: Gentamicin (Aminoglycoside Antibiotic)

• 8 : 12 : 02
• Anti-Infective Agent : Antibacterial : Aminoglycoside
• 52 : 04 : 04
• Eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) Preparations : Anti-infective : Antibacterial
1/9/2015 12
SERVICE (AHFS)
• Strengths:
• Subdivides into multiple categories
• Simple to see the logic and flow
• Limitations:
• Variety of combinations are possible for certain medications
• Non-specific code – Especially for medications with multiple indications
• Requires constant maintenance and updates regarding drug
assignments and classification changes
• List of annual changes and updates can be found on the ASHP website
• Example:
• Solvaldi Old AHFS Class: 8 : 18 : 32 (Nucleosides and Nucleotides)
• Solvaldi New AHFS Class: 8 : 18 : 40.16 (HCV Polymerase Inhibitors)
1/9/2015 13
COMPARISONS AMONG SYSTEMS
Attribute GPI GCN AHFS

Hierarchy Yes No Yes
Logical Flow Yes No Yes
Specificity High Moderate Low
Numerical Digits Up to 14 5 Up to 8
Code for: 16-23-00-40-00-03-30 26870 08 : 12 : 28 : 24
Linezolid 600 mg
Tablets
Code for: 57-10-00-40-00-20-01 31551 28 : 12 : 08
Diazepam 1 45560 28 : 24 : 08
mg/mL SOLN
Code for: 57-10-00-40-00-03-15 14220 28 : 12 : 08
Diazepam 10 28 : 24 : 08
mg TAB
1/9/2015 14
CONCLUSION
• Each classification system has their own benefits

and disadvantage
• There is no right or wrong system to use
• These systems enable parties to effectively locate

and identify a drug for interactions with other
parties (ie. Pharmacy and their interaction with
payers)
• Enables for a smoother and cleaner transition between
steps in a healthcare system
1/9/2015 15
REFERENCES
1. "GPI vs. GSN." Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions Inc GPI vs GSN

Comments. Web. 7 Jan. 2015. <http://phsirx.com/blog/gpi-vs-
gsn>.http://www.ahfsdruginformation.com/pt-classification-
system.aspx
2. "Drug Assignments and Reassignments 2014." AHFS

Classification. Web. 7 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.ahfsdruginformation.com/drug-
assignments.aspx>.
3. Dickstein, C and Renu, G. 2014. Administrative Healthcare Data:

A Guide to Its Origin, Content, and Application Using SAS. Cary,
NC: SAS Institute Inc.
4. Simonaitis, L and Mcdonald, C. Using Drug Codes and Drug

Knowledge Bases to Organize Prescription Records from
Mulitple Sources. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2009; 66(19): 1743 -
1753
1/9/2015 16

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DRUG CLASSIFICATION

1. What are drug classification systems?

2. What types of systems are there?

3. What are each of their strengths and weaknesses?

4. How do they compare against each other?

• Simplifies the ability to identify the appropriate

• Used in payment, billing, and analysis of

• There are multiple classification systems available in

• 3 main systems in this presentation:

• One is not “better” than another. Each has their

• Divided into a therapeutic classification hierarchy

GPI Coding Example

*Table obtained from PHSI website at

• From First Databank (FDB)

• 5-digit code to represent a clinical formulation

• 4 tier hierarchy classification: Each tier describes a specific

• Example: Gentamicin (Aminoglycoside Antibiotic)

Attribute GPI GCN AHFS

• Each classification system has their own benefits

• These systems enable parties to effectively locate

1. "GPI vs. GSN." Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions Inc GPI vs GSN

2. "Drug Assignments and Reassignments 2014." AHFS

3. Dickstein, C and Renu, G. 2014. Administrative Healthcare Data:

4. Simonaitis, L and Mcdonald, C. Using Drug Codes and Drug

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