Visual Drug Identification: A Pharmacist's Guide to Tablet & Capsule Recognition

It is possible for a pharmacist or a Poison Control Center to identify drugs by their visual characteristics. Manufactured tablets and capsules can be visually identified to determine: medication name, manufacturer, and dosage strength. There are five observable characteristics used to identify medications.

Form

• When identifying medication, it is important to differentiate between tablets and capsules. Tablets are compressed masses of medication. Capsules are gelatin shells containing powdered, granulated or liquid medication.

Shape

• Tablets are usually solid and disc shaped but may be triangular, bullet shaped (caplets) or have a hollow center like a doughnut. Capsules are usually bullet shaped, but may also be round like a ball-bearing or pillow shaped.

Color

• Color is a significant characteristic in drug identification which can be used to differentiate between pills of similar size and shape.

Text/Imprint

• Most pills bear markings on their surface in the form of letters, numbers or company logos that are necessary for drug identification.

Score

• A score is a depressed line through the middle of a tablet that is used to allow the tablet to be divided. A tablet may have more than one score. Capsules are never scored, and any seam on a capsule is not relevant in drug identification.