This resource is primarily used for the identification and definition of a medication. It covers the ingredients and the packaging for a medication.

A code (or set of codes) that specify this medication, or a textual description if no code is available. Usage note: This could be a standard medication code such as a code from RxNorm, SNOMED CT, IDMP etc. It could also be a national or local formulary code, optionally with translations to other code systems.

Depending on the context of use, the code that was actually selected by the user (prescriber, dispenser, etc.) will have the coding.userSelected set to true. As described in the coding datatype: "A coding may be marked as a "userSelected" if a user selected the particular coded value in a user interface (e.g. the user selects an item in a pick-list). If a user selected coding exists, it is the preferred choice for performing translations etc.

A code to indicate if the medication is in active use.

This status is not intended to specify if a medication is part of a formulary.

Set to true if the item is attributable to a specific manufacturer.

Set to true if the medication can be obtained without an order from a prescriber.

Describes the details of the manufacturer of the medication product. This is not intended to represent the distributor of a medication product.

Describes the form of the item. Powder; tablets; capsule.

When Medication is referenced from MedicationRequest, this is the ordered form. When Medication is referenced within MedicationDispense, this is the dispensed form. When Medication is referenced within MedicationAdministration, this is administered form.

Identifies a particular constituent of interest in the product.

The ingredients need not be a complete list. If an ingredient is not specified, this does not indicate whether an ingredient is present or absent. If an ingredient is specified it does not mean that all ingredients are specified. It is possible to specify both inactive and active ingredients.

The actual ingredient - either a substance (simple ingredient) or another medication.

Indication of whether this ingredient affects the therapeutic action of the drug.

True indicates that the ingredient affects the therapeutic action of the drug (i.e. active). False indicates that the ingredient does not affect the therapeutic action of the drug (i.e. inactive).

Specifies how many (or how much) of the items there are in this Medication. For example, 250 mg per tablet. This is expressed as a ratio where the numerator is 250mg and the denominator is 1 tablet.

Information that only applies to packages (not products).

The kind of container that this package comes as.

A set of components that go to make up the described item.

Identifies one of the items in the package.

The amount of the product that is in the package.

Information about a group of medication produced or packaged from one production run.

The assigned lot number of a batch of the specified product.

When this specific batch of product will expire.

Photo(s) or graphic representation(s) of the medication.

Note that "image" is only applicable when the medication.code represents a physical item (e.g. Amoxil 250 mg capsule) and not an abstract item (e.g. amoxicillin 250 mg).