How to identify a pill by its imprint, shape and colour
A loose tablet with no container is identified by the marks the manufacturer is required to put on it: the imprint code first, then shape, colour and score line. This guide walks through the same sequence a pharmacist uses, how to confirm a match against a reference picture, and what to do when a pill simply cannot be identified. If you have the container, it is faster to scan the label instead.
Researched by DoseRoutine Research TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSE, SO, PMPLast updated Educational reference only — not medical advice. Always confirm dosing and safety decisions with a licensed clinician.
The four features that identify almost any pill
A loose tablet or capsule is identified the same way a pharmacist does it: by the marks manufacturers are required to put on it. Work through these four in order and most pills resolve to a single product.
- Imprint code — the letters, numbers or logo stamped or printed on the surface. In the United States this is required on prescription and most over-the-counter solid oral medicines, and it is the single most identifying feature.
- Shape — round, oval, capsule-shaped, oblong, triangular, diamond, shield. Describe what it is closest to rather than searching for the perfect word.
- Colour — including two-tone capsules; note both halves separately (for example white body, blue cap).
- Score lines and coating — a single or cross score line, a gel coating, or a film coat narrows the list further, as does the size in millimetres if you can measure it.
Step by step: identifying a pill you found
Do this in good light on a plain background. Do not taste, crush or take anything you cannot name with certainty.
- Wipe the pill gently with a dry cloth so the imprint is readable; a worn or chipped tablet may only show part of the code.
- Read the imprint on both sides — many products have different codes or a logo on one face and digits on the other.
- Note colour and shape, then any score line, then approximate size against a ruler or a coin.
- Search the imprint in a reputable pill identifier, or photograph it with DoseRoutine's pill identifier, which reads the imprint and matches it against the drug product database with a reference picture to compare against.
- Compare the reference picture to what is in your hand — same imprint, same shape, same colour. If they do not all agree, treat it as unidentified.
- Check the container it came from and any pharmacy label: the label name and strength should match what the identifier found.
When a pill cannot be identified
Some pills will not resolve, and that is a safety result, not a failure. Compounded medicines, imported products, veterinary drugs, supplements without an imprint and illicit tablets frequently have no database entry.
- Supplements and vitamins are not required to carry an imprint in the same way, so many have no searchable code at all.
- Medicines bought abroad use different imprint systems — a code that means one product in the US can mean another elsewhere.
- Counterfeit tablets copy real imprints, so a match is never proof of contents; this matters most for anything obtained outside a pharmacy.
- Your pharmacist will identify a pill in person, usually for free, and this remains the most reliable option for an unlabelled tablet.
- For a suspected poisoning or an accidental dose, contact your local poison control centre or emergency services immediately rather than searching first.
Stop guessing next time: label and track what you take
Most identification problems start with a pill separated from its container — a pill organiser, a travel bag, a loose tablet in a drawer. A tracked list means you can always match what you are holding to what you take.
- Keep medicines in their original labelled containers where possible, and label organiser compartments with the name and strength.
- Photograph each label into DoseRoutine's scanner once, and the name, strength and schedule are recorded with the official product picture attached.
- When something is identified but not yet in your list, add it by hand so the record stays complete and interaction checks stay accurate.
- Review the list at least yearly and dispose of anything expired or discontinued through a pharmacy take-back rather than leaving loose pills around.
Frequently asked
How do I identify a pill?
Use four features in order: the imprint code stamped or printed on the surface, the shape, the colour (both halves for a capsule), and any score line or coating. The imprint is the most identifying feature and is required on prescription and most over-the-counter solid oral medicines in the United States. Search that imprint in a pill identifier, then compare a reference photograph of the product against the pill in your hand before trusting the match.
Can I identify a pill by a photo?
Yes, if the imprint is legible in the photo. DoseRoutine's pill identifier reads the imprint, shape and colour from a photograph and matches them against the drug product database, then shows the official reference picture beside the result so you can confirm the imprint and shape agree. If the photo is blurred or the imprint is worn, it will say it cannot identify the pill rather than guess.
What if a pill has no imprint?
Pills without an imprint are usually dietary supplements, compounded medicines, veterinary products, or medicines made outside the United States — none of which are required to use the US imprint system. They generally cannot be identified visually with confidence. Take the pill to a pharmacist, who can often identify it in person, and do not take anything you cannot name.
Are pill identifier results reliable?
A match from a reputable identifier is reliable when the imprint, shape and colour all agree with the reference product, and it is the same method a pharmacist uses. It is not proof of contents: counterfeit tablets copy genuine imprints, and worn or partial imprints can match several products. For anything obtained outside a pharmacy, or in a suspected poisoning, contact a pharmacist, poison control or emergency services instead.
Is it safe to take an unidentified pill?
No. An unidentified tablet may be a different medicine, a different strength, or a counterfeit, and the risk of an interaction with something you already take cannot be assessed. Set it aside, have a pharmacist identify it, and dispose of it through a pharmacy take-back programme if it cannot be named.
References
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DoseRoutine is educational and does not diagnose, prescribe, or recommend a dose. Never take a pill you cannot identify with certainty — ask a pharmacist, and contact poison control or emergency services for a suspected poisoning.