How to Identify a Pill by Its Rx Imprint Code

Pills are imprinted with a code so they can easily be identified.

All pills---generic and brand name---are imprinted with a code so they can be identified. This code consists of numbers and letters. If you've had bottles of pills stored for a while and the label has gotten wet or worn off, you can use this code to identify the pills. If you keep loose pills in a pill box instead of their original container, you may have forgotten what they are. Identifying a pill by it's imprint code will ensure you are taking the correct medication.

Instructions

1. Ask your pharmacist or physician, who may be able to look up the imprint code and identify the pills.

2. Do an online search for the imprinted code. You will be asked to enter the code, the shape of the pill and the color of the pill. Sometimes the website will show you a picture of the medication and give you information about it (see Resources).

3. Look up the imprint code in the "Ident-a-Drug" reference book, which can be found at your local library or bookstore (see Resources).

References

• U.S. National Library of Medicine: FAQ: Pill Identification
• RxList: Pill Identification Tool

Resources

• Drugs.com: Pill Identifier
• Ident-A-Drug Reference; Jeff M. Jellin, Timothy Swaim: 2004