If you take several medications, it can become difficult to tell each pill apart. They may have been mixed and are no longer in the original packaging. If you need to recognize an unfamiliar pill, here are some methods that can help you.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Check the Pill
Step 1. Look closely at the pad to see if there is anything written or engraved
Each drug has characteristics that differentiate it from the others. Are there any specific marks on your pill?
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Look for embossed letters or numbers.
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The writings can be of the same color of the pad, of a contrasting one, or engraved.
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Step 2. Check the color of the drug
Also determine its hue, whether it is a light or dark color.
Step 3. Look at the shape
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Is it oval, round, triangular or does it have some particular shape?
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Evaluate its thickness.
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Step 4. Check the dimensions
Step 5. Determine the type of medication
Some medicines are in the form of a pill, capsule or gel tablet. The pills are solid one-piece pieces, the capsules are a two-part, powder-filled shell, while the gel pads are liquid-filled ovals.
Part 2 of 3: Search for the Pill in a Database
Step 1. Search online for a drug identification tool
There are many sites that can help you. Just enter the characteristics of the tablet to get an answer on the matter.
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Enter the inscriptions on the drug, its shape and color by filling in the various categories that the search engine asks you for.
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Step 2. Consider using a drug picture book
If you prefer not to use the internet, you can buy a book that contains photographs of all the medications and compare them to your pill. Ask your local bookstore or library.
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Find the image that matches your unknown drug.
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Step 3. Call or go to a pharmacy
If you are still not sure which drug it is, you can describe it to your pharmacist or take it directly to him. Store the pill in a closed clear bag.
Part 3 of 3: Check Drug Packaging
Step 1. Check if the pill is from some medicine pack you have at home
Open each container to check if the tablets contained resemble yours.
Step 2. Read the drug leaflet
It is mandatory in all medicine packs and, at times, carries the physical description of the pill. This will help you figure out which bottle the unknown drug is from.
Warnings
- Don't limit yourself to a search by brand. Most often the generic drug is prescribed or sold.
- If you cannot find the pill in the online database, there is a possibility that it is an illegal drug.
- Don't handle the pill too much when you find it. If you touch it persistently, you could remove any writing, change its shape and even absorb the active ingredient through the skin.
