Prescription Medicine Identification
Finding a single, stray pill in an unexpected place, such as the bottom of a purse, under the bed or in the nightstand drawer is not an unusual occurrence. Finding an unidentified pill in a teen's belongings can be a cause for concern. Any unknown prescription medicine should be identified prior to being administered to anyone. A call to the pharmacist or physician or an online search can help identify the pill in question.
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Significance
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Taking a prescription drug without knowing its identity and purpose can be dangerous. Any unidentified prescription medicine should be discarded appropriately.
Features
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Prescription medication can be identified by size, shape and color. Having this information will help to narrow down the possibilities.
Identification
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Prescription drug manufacturers will often add other unique features to make identification easier. There may be numbers, words or other imprints on the medicine.
Benefits
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Being able to identify medication can be important when filling or refilling a prescription as mistakes can be made. Most pharmacies provide a printout that includes information on prescription-medicine identification.
Considerations
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all pills and tablets bear imprints to aid in visual identification of a prescription medicine. Any new drug that does not meet this requirement will not be approved by the FDA.
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