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It happens to all of us at least once: we have a pill or capsule we can't identify. Perhaps we did the dastardly deed ourselves-and dumped the pills into an envelope so we could use the container for a craft project. Maybe Grandma needs to take her pills with her to a doctor's or hospital visit and she's transferred them to one of those sectioned daily reminder pill dispensers. Now, nobody knows exactly what they are. One woman was very upset to find that her mother had transferred her dog's antibiotics to her own prescription pill container because she didn't like the paper envelope they came in. Or, horrors, we find it in our teen's room. The first thing we want to know is what IS this pill?

In the days before the internet, we'd have been stumped completely. Now, identifying the stray pill is relatively simple. Many sites for drug identification are available on the web. Some are subscription services and cater to pharmacology students. Two free sites that are easily accessible and cater to the general public are the RX List Pill Identification Tool and Drugs.com's pill identification pictures. Both of these websites are easy to use and both come with clear explanations of how to use the tools.

Both tools listed above identify pills and capsules by imprint, color and shape. As long as you enter the imprint in completely, you should be able to identify the pill. Luckily, both websites furnish you with a picture or pictures of any matching pills, so it your mystery pill is obviously not a match, you will know it immediately.

Even if you imperfectly match your pill, you will still be provided with a list of probably choices so you know you're on the right track. A little further digging should come up with a complete ID. Once your errant pill is identified, you can use other parts of both websites to look up what the drug is prescribed for, what side-effects may be listed, contra-indications and any other pertinent information necessary.

Obviously, the way to avoid this worry and hassle is to always leave all prescription medications in their original containers. Children should be taught that drugs, both over-the-counter and prescription are dangerous when used in a manner other than as prescribed. One reason today's teens are so nonchalant about taking prescription drugs from their peers is that we as parents have not behaved as though drugs are worthy of highly-cautious respect. If you can instill this respectful fear in your children, you may never need to identify a suspicious pill on their bedroom floor. As for Grandma? Just keep the websites bookmarked!

Learn more about this author, Linda Sunkle-Pierucki.
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