Pill identification guides
Short, factual guides on reading imprints, handling found pills and understanding the codes on US medicines. Reference information only — not medical advice.
How to Read a Pill Imprint
Learn how to read the letters, numbers and logos stamped on a tablet or capsule, why the FDA requires imprints, and how to use them to identify a pill.
What If a Pill Has No Imprint?
A tablet or capsule with no imprint cannot be identified online. Learn why unmarked pills are a red flag, the few exceptions, and what to do instead.
Found a Loose Pill? What to Do Safely
Found an unknown tablet on the floor, in a bag or in a drawer? The safe steps: secure it, identify it by its imprint, when to call Poison Control, and how to dispose of it.
Front vs Back Imprints: How Two-Sided Pill Codes Work
Many pills carry one code on the front and a different code on the back — and capsules print half on the cap, half on the body. How to read and enter two-sided imprints.
Pill Colors and Shapes: A Guide to Describing a Tablet
White, off-white, round, oval, capsule-shaped — how pill colours and shapes are described on FDA labels, and why colour and shape narrow a search but can never identify a pill alone.
What Is an NDC Number?
The NDC (National Drug Code) is the 10- or 11-digit number on medicine packaging. What its three segments mean, how it differs from a pill imprint, and when each one is used.
Expired Medicine: Safety Basics
What an expiration date on medicine really means, why the FDA advises against taking expired drugs, how storage changes things, and what to do with medicines that are out of date.
How to Dispose of Old Medicines (FDA Guidance)
The FDA's disposal steps: use a take-back programme first; flush only the few medicines on the FDA flush list; otherwise mix, seal and trash. Plus how to protect your details on packaging.
Brand vs Generic: Why the Same Medicine Looks Different
Your refill looks nothing like last month's tablets, yet the pharmacist says it is the same medicine. Why generics look different, and how to check.
How Our Pill Identifier Works — and Its Limits
Our identifier matches imprints against FDA label data from DailyMed and openFDA. How the data is collected, deduplicated and searched — and the honest limits of any online pill identification.