International Harmonisation of Ingredient Names (IHIN)

Drugs and Prescribers

During 2017, the Therapeutic Goods Administration updated over 200 active ingredient names used in Australia to match the names used for these ingredients internationally. This programme is known as the International Harmonisation of Ingredient Names (IHIN). From 1 February 2018, items whose generic names have been updated to be compliant with the requirements of the International harmonisation of ingredient names (IHIN) display with both the new name and old name (for example, furosemide=frusemide).

Drug Search

You can search for a drug invariably under its new (IHIN-compliant) name or its older name.

For example, if you search for benzhex (to find Benzhexol), the results displays under its new name, Trihexyphenidyl.

The drug also displays under both name when searching from the Main Dispense screen.

Electronic scripts

It will take some time for all prescribing and dispensing software to switch over to using IHIN drug names. When you scan an eRx script, Fred Dispense Plus automatically match the drug, regardless of whether it was prescribed using its old name or its IHIN name.

Wait screen and owing notices

When dispensing generically, the Wait screen and the Owing notice given to your patients display both drug names.

Labels and Repeats

Repeats can now display longer descriptions. The drug description has been extended to two lines when needed.

The layout for labels has been improved to handle longer names.

Patient Receipts

Drugs that have changed names as part of IHIN display their new generic name followed by old generic name.

Script/Claim Numbers

When dispensing generically, Script/Claim Numbers display both names when dispensing generically.

External links