RxNavA Semantic Navigation Tool for Clinical Drugs |
RxMix has been updated! RxMix is a web application that allows users to combine functions from the RxNorm, NDF-RT and RxTerms APIs to create custom applications that can be run interactively or in a batch mode. Check out the latest version which contains runnable examples. To use the beta version of RxMix, click here. |
RxNav Users: An Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) graph is available for single ingredients under the "Class View" tab in RxNav. |
RxNav is a browser for several drug information sources, including RxNorm, RxTerms and NDF-RT. RxNav finds drugs in RxNorm from the names and codes in its constituent vocabularies. RxNav displays links from clinical drugs, both branded and generic, to their active ingredients, drug components and related brand names. RxNav also provides lists of NDC codes and links to package inserts in DailyMed. The RxTerms record for a given drug can be accessed through RxNav, as well as clinical information from NDF-RT, including pharmacologic classes, mechanisms of action, physiologic effects and drug-drug interactions.
RxNav new features (updated 1/30/2013)
RxNorm API (updated 2/21/2012)
RxNorm Prescribable API
RxTerms API (updated 1/11/2012)
NDF-RT API (updated 7/19/2012)
Frequently Asked Questions
Publications and Presentations
More information on RxNorm
More information on RxTerms
To start RxNav, click on "Launch RxNav" if the link is present; Otherwise, click on "Download and install the lastest JRE and RxNav". You will arrive at the Sun download homepage, browse to find the JRE download link, and install it. Then return to this RxNav home page, where the link now should read "Launch RxNav" and RxNav installation will be automatically launched. During installation, you can elect to have the shortcut on your desktop.
For Firefox users, open with Java Web Start Launcher.
For Netscape users, you might need to associate the file type "application/x-java-jnlp-file" with application "JRE_HOME/javaws/javaws" (JRE_HOME is the directory that JRE is installed).
RxNav code is digitally signed. You need to accept its security certificate to launch the browser.
RxNav uses Java Web Start Technology and requires JRE 1.6 or higher.
RxNav is capable of searching for drug information using a number of different source identifiers. The table below shows the many identifiers by which a user can search. The default search identifier is a text string. To change to another search identifier type, simply select an entry from the "Search By:" pull-down menu and enter the identifier in the search box and hit the carriage return or click on the "Search" button.
For a string search, RxNav will display a list of suggested names in a popup window beneath the search string box. The suggested names are ingredients or brand names and will be displayed after at least four characters are entered in the search string box. The user can then select an entry from the list using either the mouse or the up/down arrow keys or can continue typing in the search string box.
When no valid entries are found by RxNav, a popup menu is displayed indicating the term was not found. A list of spelling suggestions will be displayed for a string search in order of closeness to the entered term. The user can select from this list to continue the search.
Search By | Example | Details |
String | Tylenol | the concept name strings |
AMP ID | 2050 | the Alchemy Marketed Product Id (AMP ID) from Gold Standard Alchemy (SAB:GS) |
ANDA | ANDA007581 | the FDA Abbreviated New Drug Application identifier. |
GCN_SEQNO | 009172 | the Generic Code Sequence Number from First Databank Inc (SAB:NDDF) |
GFC | 108077 | the Generic Formula Code (GFC) from Micromedex DRUGDEX (SAB:MMX) |
GPPC | 14559 | the first five characters of the Generic Product Packaging Code from Master Drug Data Base (SAB:MDDB). Medi-Span, a division of Wolters Kluwer Health |
HIC_SEQN | 004489 | the ingredient identifier from First Databank Inc (SAB:NDDF) |
LISTING_SEQ_NO | 203855 | the FDA generated unique identification number for each product from FDA National Drug Code Directory (SAB:MTHFDA) |
MESH | D000212 | a Subject Medical Headings (MeSH) identifier from the National Library of Medicine (SAB:MSH). |
MMSL_CODE | CD1001 | a derived identifier that combines the Term type (TTY) and the Multum Mediasource Lexicon (SAB:MMSL) numeric code. First two letters represent the term type: BD, BN, CD, GN or IN. |
NDA | NDA021400 | the FDA New Drug Application identifier |
NDC | 00378802505 | the National Drug Code (NDC) from the National Drug Code Directory |
NUI | N0000148200 | the National Drug File Reference Terminology (NDF-RT) Unique Identifier (SAB:NDFRT) |
RXCUI | 202433 | the RxNorm concept unique identifier |
SNOMED ID | 1039008 | the SNOMED CT concept identifier from SNOMED Clinical Terms drug information (SAB:SNOMEDCT). SNOMED International |
SPL_SET_ID | 1C5BC1DD-E9EC-44C1-9281-67AD482315D9 | the FDA Structured Product Label Set Identifier |
UMLS CUI | C0000266 | the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) Concept Unique Identifier |
UNII_CODE | LVX8N1UT73 | the FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier Code. |
VUID Number | 4021359 | the Veterans Health Administration Unique Identifier from the Veterans Health Administration National Drug File (SAB:VANDF) |
Filtering based on concept attributes
To the right of the search box, a filter dropdown list allows users to tailor the graph based on three concept attributes - prescribable drug, human drug and veterinary drug.
Selection of more than one filter means that the displayed concepts contain all the filter conditions. Subsequent searches in RxNav will use the filter settings.
If the filter settings result in no concepts to display, a popup window shown below will be displayed.
Multiple Ingredient Search
The string search allows users to search on multiple ingredients. Starting in September 2010, the RxNorm data set contains multiple ingredient concepts whose names appear in the suggestions list. Alternatively, type the ingredient names separated by plus (+) signs in the search field. For example, "acetaminophen + aspirin". RxNav will display all related concepts which contain at least all of the specified ingredients. Each ingredient will be checked separately for spelling, and alternate suggestions, if any, will be given.
When searching by RXCUI, multiple RXCUIs separated by plus (+) signs can be specified in the search field. For example, entering "161 + 1191" in the search field will display all the related concepts containing acetaminophen (RXCUI=161) and aspirin (RXCUI=1191).
RxNav Display (RxNorm Graph Tab)
When a search term is found in the RxNorm database, the representative concept and all of its related concepts are displayed. The concept found from the search string is highlighted in green. Related terms are found by RxNav using the relationships which are displayed as lines connecting the term type boxes on the RxNav display. Selecting a concept (via single click) will display information for that concept in the "status" shaded box at the bottom of the screen. By double clicking on a concept, that concept string becomes the search term and all of its related components will then be displayed. This provides a convenient way to navigate through the database. There are also navigation arrows located at the top left corner of the screen that allows you to navigation through the terms you searched.
To populate the display, RxNav uses a set of default paths to traverse from the starting concept term type to find related concepts of the different term types. The table in Appendix A shows the default paths used for each starting term type.
Viewing Long Concept Names
Sometimes concept names are longer than the display area in the term type tables. Double clicking on the table header (the # elements row) will provide a popup display of the term type table which can be resized to view the long names. Closing the popup display will restore the original term type table.
Viewing the RxNorm Properties for a Concept (RxNorm Prop Tab)
The tab labeled "RxNorm Prop" allows the user to view the RxNorm properties for the selected concept. These properties include the RxNorm names, codes, attributes, and the vocabulary sources of other synonyms. A sample view is shown below.
Viewing the National Drug Codes for a Concept (NDCs Tab)
The tab labeled "NDCs" allows the user to view the NDCs for a clinical drug, clinical pack, branded drug or branded pack. The tab will be enabled when a clinical drug, clinical pack, branded drug or branded pack concept is selected ( by single-clicking on the concept). To view the NDCs for that concept, simply select the NDCs tab.
Viewing the RxTerms Information for a Concept (RxTerms Tab)
The tab labeled "RxTerms" allows the user to view the RxTerms information for a clinical or brand drug. RxTerms data is not part of the RxNorm data set. For more information, click here.
Viewing NDF-RT Information for a Concept (NDF-RT Tab)
The tab labeled "NDF-RT" allows the user to view the National Drug File - Reference Terminology (NDF-RT) information for an ingredient or clinical drug. The NDF-RT view allows the user to select different graphs for display and has zoom and pan capabilities. For more information, click here.
Viewing Pillbox Drug Images (Pillbox Tab)
The tab labeled "Pillbox" allows the user to view drug images from Pillbox for a clinical drug, branded drug or branded pack,
Viewing MeSH Pharmacologic Actions (Class View Tab)
The tab labeled "Class View" allows the user to view the MeSH Pharmacologic Actions for a selected ingredient or brand.
Viewing ATC Classes (Class View Tab)
The tab labeled "Class View" allows the user to view the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classes for a selected ingredient.
Viewing Drug Label Information
To view the drug label information from DailyMed for a clinical drug, clinical pack, branded drug or branded pack, select the corresponding row in the clinical drug or pack table or the branded drug or pack table and select the "Drug Label" button. (Grey/Inactive "Drug Label" button indicates drug label information is not available yet; Active "Drug Label" button indicates there is current label information on DailyMed.) The DailyMed web page will be displayed containing the drug label information.
Viewing MedlinePlus Drug Information
The button labeled "MedlinePlus" allows users to view MedlinePlus drug information using the MedlinePlus Connect API. When the MedlinePlus button is selected, the MedlinePlus results web page is displayed.
Using the Copy Button
Next to the Status area in the RxNorm Graph view is the Copy button. The Copy button can be used to copy concept information to external sources such as a spreadsheet.
The copy button saves the highlighted concepts and prepends the RxCUI and a tab character to each concept name. The copy buffer can then be pasted into another document.
Viewing the RxNorm Data Set Version
The version of the RxNorm data set is displayed in the upper left corner above the forward and backward arrows in the RxNorm Graph tab. The version contains the date of the monthly release, and the date of the last weekly update to the monthly release.
The first and third columns indicate the starting term type associated with the selected identifier
and the ending term type.
The second and fourth columns are the list of term types in order (the path) to get the related concepts
of the ending term type from the starting term type.
Abbreviations:
BN - brand name | SBD - branded drug |
BPCK - branded pack | SBDC - branded drug component |
DF - dose form | SBDF - branded dose form |
DFG - dose form group | SBDG - branded dose form group |
GPCK - generic pack | SCD - clinical drug |
IN - ingredient | SCDC - clinical drug component |
MIN - multiple ingredients | SCDF - clinical dose form |
PIN - precise ingredient | SCDG - clinical dose form group |
Start to End | Path | Start to End | Path |
BN => IN | BN => IN | IN => BN | IN => BN |
BN => PIN | BN => PIN | IN => PIN | IN => PIN |
BN => SBD | BN => SBD | IN => SCDC | IN => SCDC |
BN => SBDC | BN => SBDC | IN => SCDF | IN => SCDF |
BN => SBDF | BN => SBDF | IN => SCDG | IN => SCDG |
BN => SBDG | BN => SBDG | IN => SBDC | IN => BN => SBDC |
BN => SCD | BN => SBD => SCD | IN => SCD | IN => SCDC => SCD |
BN => BPCK | BN => SBD => BPCK | IN => DF | IN => SCDC => SCD => DF |
BN => SCDC | BN => SBDC => SCDC | IN => GPCK | IN => SCDC => SCD => GPCK |
BN => SCDF | BN => SBDF => SCDF | IN => SBD | IN => BN => SBD |
BN => SCDG | BN => SBDG => SCDG | IN => SBDG | IN => SCDG => SBDG |
BN => DFG | BN => SBDG => DFG | IN => DFG | IN => SCDG => DFG |
BN => DF | BN => SBD => SCD => DF | IN => BPCK | IN => BN => SBD => BPCK |
BN => MIN | BN => SBD => SCD => MIN | IN => MIN | IN => MIN |
BN => GPCK | BN => SBD => SCD => GPCK | IN => SBDF | IN => BN => SBDF |
BPCK => DF | BPCK => DF | GPCK => BPCK | GPCK => BPCK |
BPCK => GPCK | BPCK => GPCK | GPCK => DF | GPCK => DF |
BPCK => SBD | BPCK => SBD | GPCK => SCD | GPCK => SCD |
BPCK => SBDC | BPCK => SBD => SBDC | GPCK => SBD | GPCK => SCD => SBD |
BPCK => SBDF | BPCK => SBD => SBDF | GPCK => SCDC | GPCK => SCD => SCDC |
BPCK => SBDG | BPCK => SBD => SBDG | GPCK => SCDG | GPCK => SCD => SCDG |
BPCK => DFG | BPCK => DF => DFG | GPCK => DFG | GPCK => SCD => => SCDG => DFG |
BPCK => BN | BPCK => SBD => SBDF => BN | GPCK => SCDF | GPCK => SCD => SCDF |
BPCK => SCDG | BPCK => GPCK => SCD => SCDG | GPCK => SBDG | GPCK => SCD => SBD => SBDG |
BPCK => PIN | BPCK => SBD => SCDC => PIN or BPCK => SCD => SCDC => PIN | GPCK => IN | GPCK => SCD => SCDC => IN |
BPCK => SCD | BPCK => SBD => SCD or BPCK => SCD | GPCK => SBDC | GPCK => SCD => SBD => SBDC |
BPCK => SCDC | BPCK => SBD => SCDC or BPCK => SCD => SCDC | GPCK => SBDF | GPCK => SCD => SBD => SBDF |
BPCK => SCDF | BPCK => SBD => SCD => SCDF or BPCK => SCD => SCDF | GPCK => BN | GPCK => SCD => SBD => SBDF => BN |
BPCK => IN | BPCK => SBD => SCDC => IN or BPCK => SCD => SCDC => IN | GPCK => PIN | GPCK => SCD => SCDC => PIN |
BPCK => MIN | BPCK => SCD => MIN or BPCK => SBD => SCD => MIN | GPCK => MIN | GPCK => SCD => MIN |
SBD => BN | SBD => BN | SCD => DF | SCD => DF |
SBD => BPCK | SBD => BPCK | SCD => GPCK | SCD => GPCK |
SBD => SBDC | SBD => SBDC | SCD => SBD | SCD => SBD |
SBD => SBDF | SBD => SBDF | SCD => SCDC | SCD => SCDC |
SBD => SCD | SBD => SCD | SCD => SCDF | SCD => SCDF |
SBD => SBDG | SBD => SBDG | SCD => SCDG | SCD => SCDG |
SBD => SCDC | SBD => SCDC | SCD => BN | SCD => SBD => BN |
SBD => DF | SBD => SCD => DF | SCD => BPCK | SCD => SBD => BPCK |
SBD => GPCK | SBD => SCD => GPCK | SCD => IN | SCD => SCDC => IN |
SBD => IN | SBD => SCDC => IN | SCD => SBDC | SCD => SBD => SBDC |
SBD => SCDF | SBD => SCD => SCDF | SCD => SBDF | SCD => SBD => SBDF |
SBD => PIN | SBD => SCDC => PIN | SCD => PIN | SCD => SCDC => PIN |
SBD => SCDG | SBD => SCD => SCDG | SCD => SBDG | SCD => SBD => SBDG |
SBD => DFG | SBD => SBDG => DFG | SCD => DFG | SCD => SCDG => DFG |
SBD => MIN | SBD => SCD => MIN | SCD => MIN | SCD => MIN |
SBDC => SBD | SBDC => SBD | SCDC => IN | SCDC => IN |
SBDC => SCDC | SBDC => SCDC | SCDC => SBD | SCDC => SBD |
SBDC => BPCK | SBDC => SBD => BPCK | SCDC => SBDC | SCDC => SBDC |
SBDC => IN | SBDC => SCDC => IN | SCDC => SCD | SCDC => SCD |
SBDC => SBDF | SBDC => SBD => SBDF | SCDC => BPCK | SCDC => SBD => BPCK |
SBDC => SCD | SBDC => SBD => SCD | SCDC => DF | SCDC => SCD => DF |
SBDC => SBDG | SBDC => SBD => SBDG | SCDC => SBDG | SCDC => SBD => SBDG |
SBDC => SCDG | SBDC => SBD => SBDG => SCDG | SCDC => SCDG | SCDC => SCD => SCDG |
SBDC => BN | SBDC => SBD => SBDF => BN | SCDC => GPCK | SCDC => SCD => GPCK |
SBDC => DF | SBDC => SBD => SCD => DF | SCDC => SBDF | SCDC => SBD => SBDF |
SBDC => GPCK | SBDC => SBD => SCD => GPCK | SCDC => SCDF | SCDC => SCD => SCDF |
SBDC => SCDF | SBDC => SBD => SCD => SCDF | SCDC => BN | SCDC => SBD => SBDF => BN |
SBDC => DFG | SBDC => SBD => SBDG => DFG | SCDC => DFG | SCDC => SCD => SCDG => DFG |
SBDC => PIN | SBDC => SCDC => PIN | SCDC => PIN | SCDC => PIN |
SBDC => MIN | SBDC => SBD => SCD => MIN | SCDC => MIN | SCDC => SCD => MIN |
SBDF => BN | SBDF => BN | SCDF => IN | SCDF => IN |
SBDF => SBD | SBDF => SBD | SCDF => SBDF | SCDF => SBDF |
SBDF => SCDF | SBDF => SCDF | SCDF => SCD | SCDF => SCD |
SBDF => SBDG | SBDF => SBDG | SCDF => SCDG | SCDF => SCDG |
SBDF => SCDG | SBDF => SBDG => SCDG | SCDF => SBDG | SCDF => SCDG => SBDG |
SBDF => DFG | SBDF => SBDG => DFG | SCDF => DFG | SCDF => SCDG => DFG |
SBDF => BPCK | SBDF => SBD => BPCK | SCDF => BN | SCDF => SBDF => BN |
SBDF => IN | SBDF => SCDF => IN | SCDF => DF | SCDF => SCD => DF |
SBDF => PIN | SBDF => SBD => SCDC => PIN | SCDF => GPCK | SCDF => SCD => GPCK |
SBDF => SBDC | SBDF => SBD => SBDC | SCDF => SBD | SCDF => SCD => SBD |
SBDF => SCD | SBDF => SBD => SCD | SCDF => SCDC | SCDF => SCD => SCDC |
SBDF => DF | SBDF => SBD => SCD => DF | SCDF => BPCK | SCDF => SCD => SBD => BPCK |
SBDF => GPCK | SBDF => SBD => SCD => GPCK | SCDF => PIN | SCDF => SCD => SCDC => PIN |
SBDF => SCDC | SBDF => SBD => SCD => SCDC | SCDF => SBDC | SCDF => SCD => SBD => SBDC |
SBDF => MIN | SBDF => SBD => SCD => MIN | SCDF => MIN | SCDF => SCD => MIN |
PIN => IN | PIN => IN | MIN => IN | MIN => IN |
PIN => SCDC | PIN => SCDC | MIN => SCD | MIN => SCD |
PIN => SBD | PIN => SCDC => SBD | MIN => BPCK | MIN => SCD => SBD => BPCK |
PIN => SBDC | PIN => SCDC => SBDC | MIN => SCDC | MIN => SCD => SCDC |
PIN => SCDG | PIN => SCDC => SCD => SCDG | MIN => SCDG | MIN => SCD => SCDG |
PIN => SBDF | PIN => SCDC => SBD => SBDF | MIN => SCDF | MIN => SCD => SCDF |
PIN => BPCK | PIN => SCDC => SBD => BPCK | MIN => SBD | MIN => SCD => SBD |
PIN => SCD | PIN => SCDC => SCD | MIN => SBDC | MIN => SCD => SBD => SBDC |
PIN => DF | PIN => SCDC => SCD => DF | MIN => SBDF | MIN => SCD => SBD => SBDF |
PIN => GPCK | PIN => SCDC => SCD => GPCK | MIN => DF | MIN => SCD => DF |
PIN => SCDF | PIN => SCDC => SCD => SCDF | MIN => GPCK | MIN => SCD => GPCK |
PIN => MIN | PIN => SCDC => SCD => MIN[2] | MIN => BN | MIN => SCD => SBD => BN |
PIN => BN | PIN => SCDC => SBD => BN[1] | MIN => PIN | MIN => SCD => SCDC => PIN[2] |
PIN => DFG | PIN => SCDC => SCD => SCDG => DFG | MIN => DFG | MIN => SCD => SCDG => DFG |
PIN => SBDG | PIN => SCDC => SCD => SBD => SBDG | MIN => SBDG | MIN => SCD => SBD => SBDG |
SBDG => BN | SBDG => BN | SCDG => IN | SCDG => IN |
SBDG => SBD | SBDG => SBD | SCDG => SCD | SCDG => SCD |
SBDG => DFG | SBDG => DFG | SCDG => DFG | SCDG => DFG |
SBDG => SBDF | SBDG => SBDF | SCDG => SCDF | SCDG => SCDF |
SBDG => SCDG | SBDG => SCDG | SCDG => SBDG | SCDG => SBDG |
SBDG => DF | SBDG => SBD => DF | SCDG => DF | SCDG => SCD => DF |
SBDG => IN | SBDG => BN => IN | SCDG => MIN | SCDG => SCD => MIN |
SBDG => SCD | SBDG => SBD => SCD | SCDG => SBD | SCDG => SCD => SBD |
SBDG => SBDC | SBDG => SBD => SBDC | SCDG => SCDC | SCDG => SCD => SCDC |
SBDG => BPCK | SBDG => SBD => BPCK | SCDG => GPCK | SCDG => SCD => GPCK |
SBDG => SCDC | SBDG => SBD => SCD => SCDC | SCDG => SBDC | SCDG => SCD => SBD => SBDC |
SBDG => SCDF | SBDG => SBD => SCD => SCDF | SCDG => SBDF | SCDG => SCD => SBD => SBDF |
SBDG => MIN | SBDG => SBD => SCD => MIN | SCDG => BN | SCDG => SCD => SBD => BN |
SBDG => GPCK | SBDG => SBD => SCD => GPCK | SCDG => BPCK | SCDG => SCD => GPCK => BPCK |
SBDG => PIN | SBDG => SBD => SCD => SCDC => PIN | SCDG => PIN | SCDG => SCD => SCDC => PIN |
Default Paths Table Notes
[1] There is a direct path from PIN to BN, but this is not used as it results in many brands that are not linked to the PIN on the generic side.
[2] There is a direct path between MIN and PIN, but that direct path is not used because it only applies to cases where there are PINs of the same ingredient.
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