Pill Identifier (Pill Finder Wizard) - Pill Identification Tool Using Drug Pictures, Color, Shape, Number, or Imprint (2024)

Having trouble identifying prescription, OTC, generic, and brand name pills and capsules? Quickly identify drugs and medications, including pill identifying pictures, using the RxList Pill Identifier Tool.

Use the imprint, color, or shape of your pill (one, all or any combination of the fields below) and our Pill Identification Tool (Pill Finder) will show you pictures to review and identify your drug.

Need help with the pill finder? Click for instructions.

Pill Identification from a Doctor's Perspective

Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

In the emergency room where I work, I sometimes see patients who have either taken the wrong medication or the wrong dose of medication. It is a common problem. Medication errors can cause serious consequences. Doctors and pharmacists are diligent in making sure patients receive the correct medication. But mistakes happen. As a consumer, you need to protect yourself and ensure you have the correct medication. Know the medication and dose you should have received, and understand your condition.

The RxList Pill Identifier Tool will help you identify prescription, OTC, generic, and brand name drugs by pill color, size, shape, and drug imprint. Match your drug imprint (Pill ID) to the pictures and quickly identify your medications. If you do not find a match, call your doctor or pharmacist.

How To Use the RxList Pill Identifier/Pill Finder Tool

To accurately identify the pill, drug or medication, you can do any one, any combination of or all of the following steps using our pill identifier tool.

Enter or Select from the drop down, the imprint code on the medication, (The imprint is the letters, numbers or other markings on the pill, tablet or capsule. If there are different markings on the front of back, try entering just one side. If you want to enter both, separate them with by using the symbol * (ie: Lupin*10)).
Select the color of the pill in the pull-down menu above.
Select the shape of the pill in the pull-down menu above.

Once you've found a drug id match, you'll be able to link to a detailed description, drug picture, and images in our comprehensive RxList Drug Database. You can also use the drug pictures to help identify pills.

Pill Identifier Examples of Popular Drug Pictures and Images

capsule, white, imprinted with Logo 4381, 100 mg
© Cerner Multum

capsule, green, imprinted with 20 mg, LILLY 3235
© Cerner Multum

Top 10 Drugs Prescribed in the US and Their Side Effects

There are thousands of drugs prescribed every year for many different health problems. Tracking the most frequently prescribed drugs is one way to see what types of health problems predominate in the U.S. You may see some familiar drugs on this list that you, your relatives, and friends may take. People may know what drug they take, but are not sure what the drug is supposed to do or what side effects may occur. Fortunately, the pharmacy industry provides a simple listing of the top 100 drugs prescribed (reference) and most of these drug's functions, side effects, precautions, dosages, and other information are detailed at RxList.com. Listed below are the top 10 drugs prescribed in the U.S. Click on the link to get additional detailed information on the drugs.

Top 10 Prescribed drugs in the US

Rank #	Brand Name	Generic Name	Drug's Major Function
1	Synthroid	levothyroxine sodium	Treats low thyroid levels
2	Crestor	rosuvastatin calcium	Used to lower LDA ("bad") cholesterol
3	Ventolin HFA	albuterol sulfate	A bronchodilator that increases air flow to the lungs
4	Nexium	esomeprazole magnesium	Blocks acid production in the stomach
5	Advair Diskus	fluticasone and salmeterol	Treats asthma and chronic bronchitis
6	Lantus Solostar	insulin glargine	Treats type 1 and type 2 diabetes
7	Vyvanse	lisdexamfetamine dimesylate	Treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
8	Lyrica	pregabalin	Treats pain from diabetes, shingles, and fibromyalgia
9	Spiriva Handihaler	tiotropium bromide	Treats bronchitis, emphysema, or COPD
10	Januvia	sitagliptin	Treats type 2 diabetes

Side effects can occur with any drug; fortunately, only a small percentage of people develop one or more side effects but some side effects may cause people to be unable to take certain drugs. Many of the infrequent but possible side effects of the top ten prescribed drugs are listed below.

Top 10 Prescribed drugs in the US: side effects

Rank #	Brand Name	Drug's Possible Side Effects
1	Vicodin	Sedating, habit-forming, dizziness, N/V*, impaired thinking and function
2	Prinivil	N/V, dry cough, dizziness, drowsiness
3	Zocor	N/V, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, muscle pain
4	Synthroid	chest pain, tachycardia, heat intolerance, nervousness, weight loss
5	Amoxil	Allergic reaction, diarrhea, N/V, itching, rash, confusion
6	Zithromax	N/V, diarrhea, abdominal pain, allergic reaction, abnormal heart beat
7	Microzide	Low blood pressure, electrolyte changes, weakness, rash
8	Norvasc	headache, swelling (legs), palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, N/V
9	Xanax	Allergic reaction, depression, confusion, dizziness, reduced urine, chest pain
10	Glucophage	N/V, diarrhea, gas, bloating, decreased appetite, low glucose

*N/V means nausea and vomiting

REFERENCES: Pharmacy Tech Study. Top 100 Drugs by total prescription.

Examples of Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the three types of drugs that are misused or abused most often are:

Opiates or Opioids – prescribed for pain relief
Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants – prescribed for anxiety or sleep problems (also called sedatives or tranquilizers)
Stimulants – prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and obesity

Drug Types: Opiates/Opioids
Generic Names	Brand Names
codeine	Empririn With Codeine, Fiorinal with Codeine, Robitussin A-C, Tylenol with Codeine
fentanyl	Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze
hydrocodone	Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet
hydromorphone hydrochloride	Dilaudid
meperidine	Demerol
methadone	Methadose, Dolophine
morphine	Roxanol, Duramorph
oxycodone:	Oxycontin, Percocet, Percodan, Tylox
oxymorphone	Opana, Numorphan, Numorphone
propoxyphene	Darvon, Darvocet-N

Drug Types: Depressants
Generic Names	Brand Names
barbiturates	Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital,
benzodiazepines	Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Valium, Xanax
sleep medications: zolpidem, zaleplon, eszopiclone	Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta

Drug Types: Stimulants
Generic Names	Brand Names
amphetamines	Adderall, Biphetamine, Dexedrine
cocaine	Cocaine hydrochloride
methylphenidate	Concerta, Ritalin

source: www.drugabuse.gov

Pill Identification of Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

oval, white, imprinted with M 357
© Cerner Multum

round, white, imprinted with OC, 10
© Cerner Multum

round, white, imprinted with 54 782, 15
© Cerner Multum

pink, imprinted with DARVON
© Cerner Multum

round, white, imprinted with West-Ward 450
© Cerner Multum

oval, white, imprinted with XANAX 0.25
© Cerner Multum

round, white, imprinted with 2 VALIUM, ROCHEROCHE
© Cerner Multum

round, blue, imprinted with AD, 5
© Cerner Multum

oblong, yellow, imprinted with alza 18
© Cerner Multum

round, yellow, imprinted with CIBA, 7
© Cerner Multum

oval, white, imprinted with BTG, 11 11
© Cerner Multum

Please note that any drugs that show an expired or past expiration date should be discarded.

Didn't find what you were looking for with our Pill Finder? Try these additional search resources or use our Drugs A-Z listing

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References

Disclaimer: Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First DataBank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

Pill Identifier (Pill Finder Wizard) - Pill Identification Tool Using Drug Pictures, Color, Shape, Number, or Imprint (2024)

FAQs

What is the imprint code of a drug? ›

Why Do Drugs Have Imprint Codes? The imprint code, when used in conjunction with the product's size, shape, and color, permits the identification of the drug product, the active ingredient(s), strength, and the manufacturer or distributor of the product.

Read On ›

Is there a way to identify a pill by picture? ›

FDA's Drug Identification: The Food and Drug Administration will identify a pill if you email them a picture of it. Medscape Pill Identifier: This site is aimed at healthcare professionals, but offers a free online search tool that you can use to find medication based on attributes.

How do I identify a pill with no imprint? ›

All prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in the U.S. are required by the FDA to have an imprint code. If your pill has no imprint it could be a vitamin, diet, herbal, or energy pill, or an illicit or foreign drug. It is not possible to accurately identify a pill online without an imprint code.

What does klonopin look like? ›

Klonopin is exclusively manufactured by Roche Laboratories, which uses blue, orange, and white colors to indicate the medication's strength. Roche also marks the tablets with a distinctive K-shaped cutout, the dosage, and the company's name. The color coding is: 0.5 mg Klonopin pill: Orange, round and scored.

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What is a white pill with 5 on it? ›

Pill with imprint 5 is White, Round and has been identified as Donepezil Hydrochloride 5 mg. It is supplied by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited. Donepezil is used in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and belongs to the drug class cholinesterase inhibitors.

Read On ›

Can I identify a pill by taking a picture? ›

Drugs.com's Pill Identification Wizard uses drug pictures to help consumers identify pills by their appearance, using a database of over 10,000 images of prescription drugs. The drug identification pictures are sourced from Micromedex, a leading provider of health and medical information.

What is the pill identifier by drugs.com app? ›

The Pill Identifier App is a searchable database of pill images which includes more than 14,000 Rx/OTC medications found in the U.S. You can search based on imprint, drug name, color and shape. The app requires an internet connection to view the pill images.

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What is a pink pill with 20 on it? ›

Generic Name: oxycodone

Pill with imprint OP 20 is Pink, Round and has been identified as OxyContin 20 mg. It is supplied by Purdue Pharma LP. OxyContin is used in the treatment of Chronic Pain; Pain and belongs to the drug class Opioids (narcotic analgesics).

Find Out More ›

What does imprinting mean in medicine? ›

People usually inherit two copies of each gene—one from the egg cell and one from the sperm cell. Both copies of each gene are usually active, or “turned on,” in cells. In some cases, however, only one of the two copies is turned on.

Learn More Now ›

Why do drugs have unique imprint codes? ›

Different imprint codes can help you tell apart one company's version of a drug from another's. Drug companies sometimes make the same kind of medicine. They might make it in varying strengths or by using different inactive ingredients.

What is the product code for drugs? ›

The national drug code is a unique 10 or 11 digit, 3-segment numeric identifier assigned to each medication listed under Section 510 of the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The segments identify the labeler or vendor, product (within the scope of the labeler), and trade package (of this product).

Learn More ›

What code is used to code drugs? ›

the National Drug Code (NDC), total quantity of the drug that was administered, expressed in the unit of measure applicable to the drug or biological, and. the date the drug was administered.”

Find Out More ›