Duplicate Therapy checks for therapeutic duplication between drugs by cross referencing the ATC codes (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes) as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO). For example if prescribing a medication that contains codeine this module will check existing prescriptions for that patient and warn the prescriber if one of these contains codeine as well.
Overview
Duplicate Therapy checks for therapeutic duplication between drugs by cross referencing the ATC codes (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes) as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The coding system is hierarchical, which makes it possible to have different levels of classification. These levels enable a health professional to check if a patient is being given two medications to treat the same condition or two medications that have the same action.
As with Drug Interactions, Duplicate Therapy takes the route of administration into account so that there is no duplication if a patient uses a drug topically and ingests a comparable drug for another ailment.
Example of the ATC hierarchy
The following table gives an example of the ATC hierarchy:
| A | Alimentary tract and metabolism (1st level, anatomical main group) |
| A10 | Drugs used in diabetes (2nd level, therapeutic subgroup) |
| A10B | Blood glucose lowering drugs, excl. insulins (3rd level, pharmacological subgroup) |
| A10BA | Biguanides (4th level, chemical subgroup) |
| A10BA02 | Metformin (5th level, chemical substance) |
The greater the duplication of codes, the higher the level of duplicate therapy. In these cases, it is up to the clinician to determine whether to prescribe the medication.
Example
A patient is prescribed Capoten Oral solution. The patient’s medication history indicates that the patient is currently taking Perindopril Erbumine for hypertension.
| Prescribed | Capoten Oral solution |
| Medication History | Perindopril Erbumine |
Alert: Warning level 2; Duplicate ATC code C09AA (Ace inhibitors, plain).
Editorial Process
Our decision support editorial team based in Singapore comprises of a Managing Editor and clinical database research editors who are either Pharmacists or Doctors. Editors research, review and collate information to be included in the database, and ensure that the information is accurate and up to date.
To remain unbiased, data from product information, commercial and non-authoritative references are never used; rather, the information is researched and reviewed using only international references and sources. All information is later proofed by a second editor before it gets released into the database to ensure consistency and accuracy of the information.
Availability
This highly valued decision support tool is available for integration into clinical software applications via the MIMS Integrated product.
