How to Find Medications and Their Generic Names
With so many prescription medications on the market today and most of them having generic names, it can be a bit confusing on what medications you have in your medicine cabinet. In many cases, medications are prescribed on an "as needed" basis, so it is easy to forget what they are exactly. Searching Internet sites for medications and their generic names will help you identify what medications are in your home. You should always consult your physician or pharmacist before taking any unknown medications.
Instructions
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Navigate to a prescription medication website such as Drugs.com, RxList.com or Medications.com (see Resources). Another alternative is to use your personal pharmacy's website.
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Type the generic or brand name of the medication into the search box and click "Search." If you are looking for the various medications for a specific condition, you may enter this into the search box instead. If you have an unidentified pill, however, you will need to click on the "pill identifier" option at the top of the page. Input the imprint (letters, numbers or a combination of both) on both sides of the unknown pill, and then click "Search." (You also have the option of choosing the color and shape of the pill in addition to the imprint.)
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Click on the condition or medication name when the results page comes up. If you are searching for a medication, there will be different options available, such as prescribing information. Make sure you choose the link that only has the medication name. In most cases, this is the first choice.
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Locate the name of the medication at the top of the page. You will see the brand name as well as the generic name. On some sites, the generic name will be in parenthesis. Brand names are generally capitalized, while generic ones are not.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not have Internet access, consult a Physicians' Desk Reference (see Resources).
Resources
- Photo Credit opened bottles of medication image by Tom Oliveira from Fotolia.com
