How to Identify a Sleeping Pill

Not getting the proper amount of sleep can be detrimental to a person's health. Sleeping pills are often prescribed to those suffering from insomnia. There are many different types of sleeping pills. Each pill is a different dose that works in a different manner. Taking the right pill is key to improving your sleep. When you pick up a prescription it is important to identify the pills to ensure you have received the correct prescription.

Things You'll Need

• Medication reference guide

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Instructions

• 1

  Medication powder pressed into a compact shape is a tablet.

  Identify the type of pill. A tablet is pressed powder. A capsule is a gelatin pill that contains smaller pills or powdered medication. As an example, the widely prescribed drug Ambien is a tablet. Another popular sleeping pill, Sonata, comes in capsule form.

• 2

  Identify the size and thickness of the pill. Vitamins and pain pills tend to be thick. Sleeping pills are usually smaller tablets.

• 3

  Identify the shape of the pill. Xanax ,a benzodiazepam that is prescribed as an anti-anxiety and sleeping aid, is shaped as a bar. Many other sleeping aids such as Lunesta and Ambien are spherical.

• 4

  Identify the color of the pill. Pills come in a variety of colors. Some manufacturers use color to differentiate between dosages. Some studies done in India have shown that pill color might have a psychological impact on patients.

• 5

  Identify the imprint on the pill. The imprint is the most definitive way to identify a sleeping pill. The imprint might be a symbol, number or a word. The imprint on the pill is unique to the pill and will be listed with the pill's information in a pharmacology reference book.

• 6

  Use a pharmacological reference guide to identify the pill using the information you have obtained.