Many pills contain small inscriptions that may be numbers, letters, or a combination of the two. These are usually used to identify the pills. If a person uses a pillbox, for example, they can easily tell which pill is which by the inscription if pills are otherwise similar in color, shape, and size. Inscriptions can be hard to read, especially if you are vision-impaired. You may have to use reading glasses or a magnifying lens. You can also ask someone else to help you.
Pills come in a variety of colors, like blues, whites, and tans. Do not just take note of the color, however, but the specific hue or shade. The more specific information you have, the easier it will be to identify the pill.
Pills come in a variety of shapes. They can be round, oblong, kidney-shaped, bow-tie shaped, and more. If you’re not familiar with geometry, familiarize yourself with different types of shapes. Hexagons, for example, refer to a shape with six even sizes. Octagons have eight even sides. When talking to a pharmacist or using a pill database, you may need to identify a pill in this way. Also, take note of a pill’s size. A pill can be small, large, or medium. You will need to have a rough idea of the pill’s size when trying to identify its type. [2] X Research source
Email the FDA at druginfo@cder. fda. gov with a description of the drug’s appearance, including its size, shape, colors, and any markings it has. [3] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Someone from the FDA will get back to you as soon as possible with information identifying the drug. They may ask you for more information if the drug cannot be identified based on your initial email.
Usually, a database will first ask for any markings the pill has. This is where you would enter the inscription if any. If there’s not an inscription, you will be asked about factors like color, shape, and size. [4] X Research source A catalog of different types of pills will come up when you search, including pictures. You can use this to identify the pill you found. [5] X Research source Using a pharmacy you’re familiar with can be helpful as you know the pills you’re likely to use will be in their database. [6] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source
Much like a pharmacy website, the Pill Wizard asks you for any imprints as well as the pill’s shape and color. After you enter this information and hit “search,” a catalog of potential matches will pop up that includes pictures. [7] X Research source
Mix the pill in with another substance you’re going to throw away, such as cat litter or coffee grounds. Place the mixture in a sealable container and throw it in the garbage. [9] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Certain medications are best disposed of by taking them in on medication collection days, where police departments or government buildings provide bins to throw away unwanted medicine. Find more information on the FDA website here. There are drug disposal services available through most pharmacies.
