Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPill AttributesTools to Help Identify PillsWhat to Do With Unused Pills
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Pill Attributes
Tools to Help Identify Pills
What to Do With Unused Pills
Sometimes you may need to know how to identify a pill. For example, you might find one on the floor and need to figure out what it is. Or maybe you just picked up your new prescription from the pharmacy and want to confirm it’s the right drug.
When identifying a pill, you should look for key features, such as the imprint code, color, or shape. These and other attributes can help you ensure that you don’t mistakenly take the wrong medication or take it the wrong way.
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A pill’s attributes are related to:
Some of the letters and numbers can be hard to distinguish, especially on very small pills. If needed, use a magnifying glass.
Once you have identified these elements of the drug in question, you can use a number of online tools to find out which medication you’re holding.
Options include:
In some instances, the tools and services above may not be able to recognize the pill you have. Most likely, this is because it’s not an FDA-approved drug. This means that you may be looking at an illegal drug, a counterfeit, or even an alternative remedy.
You may want to take it to your pharmacist to ask for help. Never take any medication you cannot positively identify.
If you can’t identify a pill and, thus, cannot take it, do not just let the medication sit on your shelf. Whether it’s an over-the-counter pill or prescription treatment, leaving unused medication around the house is unsafe and unnecessary.
Disposal
If you’re unable to take medication to one of these collection sites, check with your pharmacy. They may be able to take back any unused medication to dispose of it.
Summary
It’s not uncommon to need to identify a pill, whether you want to confirm a prescription or recognize a medication. A number of online tools and services are available to help you identify a drug based on the imprint code, color, and shape.
Never take any medication you cannot identify. And follow recommended guidelines for disposing of unused medication in a way that won’t affect other people or the environment.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.U.S. Geological Survey.Pharmaceuticals in water.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Where and how to dispose of unused medicines.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.U.S. Geological Survey.Pharmaceuticals in water.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Where and how to dispose of unused medicines.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.U.S. Geological Survey.Pharmaceuticals in water.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Where and how to dispose of unused medicines.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.
U.S. Geological Survey.Pharmaceuticals in water.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Where and how to dispose of unused medicines.
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