Who Drug Dictionary -

It is not a simple list of drug names. Instead, it is a structured, hierarchical database that assigns unique codes to drugs to allow for standardized data entry, analysis, and reporting across different systems and countries.

| Feature | WHO Drug Dictionary | MedDRA | RxNorm | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Drugs (medicinal products) | Medical conditions / adverse events | Clinical drugs (US-centric) | | Primary Use | Coding drug names & ATC classes | Coding adverse reactions & diagnoses | EHR interoperability in the US | | Global? | Yes (truly international) | Yes (but maintained by ICH) | No (only US drugs) | who drug dictionary

The WHO Drug Dictionary is updated quarterly (March, June, September, December) to include new drugs, generic releases, and safety updates. Access is , typically through the UMC’s online portal (WHO-DD Global) or via data licensing for pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and regulatory authorities. It is not a simple list of drug names

Public health officials use the dictionary to study prescribing patterns. For example, they can track how often a specific class of antidepressants (identified by ATC code) is prescribed in different countries over time. | Yes (truly international) | Yes (but maintained

Note: In pharmacovigilance, MedDRA codes the "reaction" (e.g., nausea), while the WHO-DD codes the "suspect drug" (e.g., chemotherapy).

The WHODrug Global dictionary (formerly the WHO Drug Dictionary) is the international standard for coding medicinal products in clinical trials and pharmacovigilance. Managed by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) on behalf of the World Health Organization, it provides a structured, validated reference for medicines and vaccines from over 130 countries. LinkedIn +5 Core Structure & Formats The dictionary uses a hierarchical system that links trade names to active ingredients and their respective Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes . It is primarily distributed in two key formats: World Health Organization (WHO) +2 10 sites WHO Drug Dictionaries and ATC, WHO-ART and MedDRA Sep 3, 2015 —

: The US FDA and other major health authorities mandate its use for clinical study submissions. Core Structure and Content