--- a
+++ b/rx_classes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+from umls.rxnorm import RxNormLookup
+
+def get_rx_classes(drug_str, include_name=False):
+    rxclasses = []
+    lookup = RxNormLookup()
+    try:
+        rxcui = lookup.rxcui_for_name_approx(drug_str)
+        if rxcui:
+            rxclasses = lookup.rxclass_for_rxcui(rxcui)
+            if include_name:
+                name = lookup.lookup_rxcui_name(rxcui)
+        else:
+            rxclasses = []
+            name = None
+    except Exception:
+        rxclasses = []
+        name = None
+
+    if include_name:
+        return (name, rxclasses)
+    else:
+        return rxclasses