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How Do You Identify a Pill by Its Number?

Reviewed on 1/10/2023

A senior man holding his daily pills
You can identify a pill by looking at its imprint code, color, and shape.

The number, letters, or other text on a pill is called its “imprint code” which can be used to help identify it. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires most prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug tablets and capsules to have an imprint code. 

The imprint code combined with the pill’s color and shape can help identify a pill. You can find the imprint code right on the pill. Check the front and the back of a pill because some drugs have a code on both sides. 

There are a number of online pill identifiers, such as the WebMD Pill Identifier, where you can type in the number on the pill to identify it.

What Do Numbers or Letters on a Pill Mean?

  • The imprint code on a pill can contain any combination of numbers or letters in addition to marks or symbols, including words, the drugmaker’s name, and other details. 
  • Different drug companies often make the same kinds of medicines, and different imprint codes can distinguish one company’s version of a drug from another’s. Imprint codes can also help you tell apart different doses of a drug made by the same company. 
  • It is possible for different pills to have the same imprint, but each drug’s overall appearance and physical features including the combination of the size, shape, and color, along with the imprint is unique from all other drugs so they can be correctly identified. 

What If There Is No Number on a Pill?

In some cases, a pill’s imprint code may have worn away over time if the medicine is older.

Some pills may be exempt from needing an imprint such as: 

  • The physical qualities of the pill make an imprint impossible
  • The pill is only given by healthcare providers in a controlled healthcare setting
  • The drug is not intended for a patient to take on their own

A pill without an imprint code might also not be FDA-approved. This means it could be a:

  • Vitamin
  • Supplement
  • Illegal drug
  • Medication from a foreign country

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Reviewed on 1/10/2023
References
Image source: Getty Images

https://www.webmd.com/pill-identification/default.htm