2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T44.2X6AUnderdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T36-T50›T44

ICD-10-CM T44.2X6A
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

T44.2X6A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for underdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Underdosing of drugs and medicaments, initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
T44.2X6A
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Underdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs, initial encounter
Short Description
Underdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs, initial encounter
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
T44.2X6
Underdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionT36-T50Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments and biological substances
CategoryT44Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs primarily affecting the autonomic nervous system
This CodeT44.2X6AUnderdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs, initial encounter

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for T44.2X6A.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

Underdosing refers to taking less of a medication than is prescribed by a provider or a manufacturer's instruction. Codes for underdosing should never be assigned as principal or first-listed codes. If a patient has a relapse or exacerbation of the medical condition for which the drug is prescribed because of the reduction in dose, then the medical condition itself should be coded.

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs primarily affecting the autonomic nervous system (T44). Use the following options for the applicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INJ029
Underdosing of drugs and medicaments, initial encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Mecamylamine

    a nicotinic antagonist that is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and crosses the blood-brain barrier. mecamylamine has been used as a ganglionic blocker in treating hypertension, but, like most ganglionic blockers, is more often used now as a research tool.

  • Pempidine

    a nicotinic antagonist most commonly used as an experimental tool. it has been used as a ganglionic blocker in the treatment of hypertension but has largely been supplanted for that purpose by more specific drugs.

  • Trimethaphan

    a nicotinic antagonist that has been used as a ganglionic blocker in hypertension, as an adjunct to anesthesia, and to induce hypotension during surgery.

Table of Drugs and ChemicalsClinical

Substances in the Table of Drugs and Chemicals that reference this code family. Always confirm in the Tabular List before coding.

SubstanceAccidentalSelf-harmAssaultUndeter­minedAdverse
Effect		Under­dosing
Ganglionic blocking drug NECT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
Ganglionic blocking drug NEC::specified NECT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
Hexamethonium bromideT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
MecamylamineT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
PempidineT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
Pentamethonium bromideT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
Pentapyrrolinium (bitartrate)T44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
Pentolonium tartrateT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
Tetraethylammonium chlorideT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
Tetrylammonium chlorideT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
Trimetaphan camsilateT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
TrimethaphanT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6
TrimethidiniumT44.2X1T44.2X2T44.2X3T44.2X4T44.2X5T44.2X6

Patient EducationClinical

Medication Errors

Medicines treat infectious diseases, prevent problems from chronic diseases, and ease pain. But medicines can also cause harmful reactions if not used correctly. Errors can happen in the hospital, at the health care provider's office, at the pharmacy, or at home. You can help prevent errors by:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert T44.2X6A to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
No Map There is no ICD-9 equivalent for this code.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About T44.2X6AOverview

Is T44.2X6A (Underdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report underdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What does the 7th character A in T44.2X6A mean?

The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for underdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

Can T44.2X6A be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because underdosing of ganglionic blocking drugs, initial encounter describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.