Finding an unidentified prescription pill can be troubling, especially if you think that the pill has come from some other member of your household. There is no universal identifying system for pills (i.e. the identity of the pill is not written on the pill itself and does not correspond to shape or color). However, prescription pills can be identified by using prescription databases that allow you to find a pill based on its imprint, shape and color.
Step 1
Write down all of the identifying details of the pill. This includes its color, shape and any markings or imprints found on the pill. Imprints can be letters, numbers or shapes. Make sure that you look at both sides of the pill for imprints.
Step 2
Enter the information from Step 1 into the search function of an online pill database. Drugs.com and Rxlist.com both have pill databases that are searchable. Enter the imprint data, shape and color of your pill into the database to search it.
Step 3
Compare your search results to your pill. The Drugs.com identifier shows images of each pill in the results page, so look at their images to see if you can find one that is a match.
Step 4
If you can't find a match using the online databases, take your prescription pill to your pharmacist. Pharmacists have access to the most current databases and can also check their own pill stock to help you identify your prescription pill. They may also be able to find out, based on the pill's appearance and other details, if the pill was manufactured outside of the United States.
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