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FAQ: Pill Identification

Pills in bottles

Question: How can I identify a pill?

Answer:

These Internet resources may help you identify pills sold in the United States. A pharmacist or health care provider may also help you.

  • NLM Pillbox (beta) enables rapid identification of unknown solid-dosage medications (tablets/capsules) based on physical characteristics and images.
  • NLM DailyMed® is a partial listing of labels for approved prescription drugs to help users identify solid dose form products (tablets and capsules) by description, and assist in identifying medications by pictures.
  • Drugs.com Pill Identifier sources can help you match the imprint, size, shape, or color and lead you to the detailed description in a drug database derived from Micromedex™, Cerner Multum™, Wolters Kluwer™ and others.
  • AARP Pill Identifier will search by imprint, shape, or color.
  • FDA Center for Drug Evaluation & Research (CDER) Division of Drug Information (DDI) staff can identify drugs for you based on physical appearance (color, shape, size, etc.) and markings. E-mail DDI your drug description.
  • Poison Control Center staff provide confidential, free pill identification 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
    In the case of an emergency, please contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

 

Note: NLM is not responsible for the availability or content of external sites, and does not endorse, warrant or guarantee products, services or information described or offered at other Internet sites.

Related Information from the NLM

Drug Information from the National Library of Medicine®

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http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/drug_id.html