Identifying Prescription Pills: A Visual Guide to Safety

Many people have myriad prescription pills saved from previous illnesses. Unfortunately, pills fall out of bottles, or the container label wears down and is no longer legible. Taking prescription pills without identification is dangerous, and it can be deadly. Ensure your safety by taking a few steps to properly identify a pill before ingestion.

Instructions

• 1

  Look at the shape of the pill. Pills are created in circular, ovular or squared shapes. Additionally, identify if the pill is a capsule.

• 2

  Note any inscriptions on the pill. Inscriptions are normally numeric values indicating the milligram dosage of the pill.

• 3

  Observe the color of the pill. Some drug manufacturers use colors to identify the different milligram dosages.

• 4

  Call Poison Control in your area. Poison control can identify the pill over the phone, and they need the description of the pill noted in Steps 1 to 3.

• 5

  Know the contraindications of any other chemicals before taking the pill. If you take other drugs or even herbal medications, these can be synergistic, creating severe side effects.