Drug Class Analysis¶
Runs a complete drug classification workflow: normalizes a drug identifier to an RxCUI, retrieves its drug classes from selected classification systems, and optionally includes mechanism of action data. Returns formatted JSON strings for easy downstream consumption and a status message.
Usage¶
Use this node when you have a drug name or NDC and need to identify its RxNorm classes and, optionally, mechanism of action. Typical workflow: provide a drug identifier, choose identifier type and classification system filter, enable mechanism data if needed, then route the JSON outputs to reporting, filtering, or downstream analytics nodes.
Inputs¶
| Field | Required | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| drug_identifier | True | STRING | The drug to analyze, either as a free-text drug name or an NDC code depending on identifier_type. | atorvastatin |
| identifier_type | True | COMBO | Specifies how to interpret drug_identifier. Choose 'drug_name' for a name string or 'ndc' for an NDC code. | drug_name |
| classification_system | True | COMBO | Filter for classification source. Options come from RxClass source/relationship values (e.g., ALL, ATC, MEDRT, SNOMEDCT, VA, etc.). | ALL |
| include_mechanism | True | BOOLEAN | If true, includes mechanism of action data associated with the RxCUI, when available. | true |
Outputs¶
| Field | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| drug_classifications | STRING | A JSON string with the normalized RxCUI, a list of class entries (id, name, type, URL), and a summary (total classes, classification systems, inferred therapeutic categories). | {"drug_identifier":"atorvastatin","rxcui":"83367","classifications":[{"class_id":"D000123","class_name":"HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors","class_type":"ATC","class_url":"https://rxnav.nlm.nih.gov/REST/rxclass/class/D000123"}],"summary":{"total_classes":1,"classification_systems":["ATC"],"therapeutic_categories":["HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors"]}} |
| mechanism_data | STRING | A JSON string with mechanism of action information related to the RxCUI and a note about data sources. | {"rxcui":"83367","mechanism_analysis":{"mechanism":"Inhibits HMG-CoA reductase"},"note":"Mechanism of action data may require integration with additional databases like DrugBank or MeSH"} |
| status | STRING | A human-readable status message indicating success or describing the error encountered. | Successfully analyzed drug classes for atorvastatin (RXCUI: 83367) |
Important Notes¶
- Identifier handling: The node first normalizes the input to an RxCUI using either a drug name lookup or NDC-to-RxCUI mapping. If normalization fails, outputs will be empty JSON strings and the status explains the failure.
- Classification filter: The classification_system dropdown is populated from RxClass source/relations. Selecting a specific system limits the returned classes; using ALL returns all available systems.
- Case sensitivity caveat: The internal filter check compares against "all" (lowercase) while the default option is "ALL". If you see unexpected filtering, try selecting a specific system explicitly.
- Mechanism data availability: Mechanism of action content depends on available sources and may be limited. The output includes a note indicating that additional integrations (e.g., DrugBank or MeSH) may be needed for completeness.
- Output format: All outputs are JSON strings suitable for downstream parsing. The classifications output also includes a simple summary and inferred therapeutic categories (e.g., entries containing 'inhibitor', 'agonist', 'antagonist').
Troubleshooting¶
- No RxCUI found: Ensure identifier_type matches your input (use 'ndc' for NDC values and 'drug_name' for names). Try a more specific name or validate the NDC format.
- Empty classifications: Switch the classification_system to ALL or a different system. Confirm the RxCUI corresponds to the intended drug/strength/form.
- Mechanism data is empty: This may be due to source limitations. Consider enabling additional data sources upstream or using a different RxCUI that better represents the active ingredient.
- API error in status: Retry later or check network/API access. If persistent, try a different identifier or classification system.
- Unexpected filtering behavior: Because of case sensitivity in the internal check, selecting ALL may behave like a specific filter. Manually choose a target system to verify results.