How to Identify Pills

What's that pill? You found an unidentified medicine tablet or capsule in your travel bag, and you're not sure what it is. Or you found something in the pocket of your kid's jeans, and he says "it's nothing". Is it? Here's how to find out what that unknown pill really is.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Your surest source of information is your pharmacist or doctor. Bring any unidentified medicines or pills to them for a positive ID.

2. 
    

   You can use the online Pill Identification Wizard at Drugs.com or the Pill Identifier at RxList.com. Enter the pill's shape, color, and any identifying letters or numbers, and pull up pictures of possible matches.

3. 
    

   The Division of Drug Information at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can help with identification via email. Send DDI your drug description at [e-mail]. They usually respond within one working day, and can be very helpful with substances that don't show up in routine pill identification systems.

4. 
    

   The California Department of Justice has pill identification tools for both medicines and street drugs at the StopDrugs.org website(see resources, below).

Resources

• Pill Identification Wizard
• Pill Identifier
• FDA Division of Drug Information
• StopDrugs.org Identify medicines and street drugs
• Professional Health Research Service

[sallyemaycreate]

on 8/30/2009 Great article with helpful information. Thanks 5*****

[fitzcents]

on 8/29/2009 Yeah, not exactly what I expected, but using the information and resources you can do exactly what it says, Identify Pills. 5* from subscription

[evgnspaces]

on 7/21/2009 It is getting harder to identify pills now with all the generics out there. thanks for the resource sites.

[luv2blog]

on 12/21/2008 Good information.

[MidniteWriter]

on 12/13/2008 This is what I am dealing with now - heart medication, and some look the same, so this article will help tell them apart. Great "medical" article - 5*!