It's important for those studying medications and also the average consumer to know identify pills. For example, you should be able to find the name and dosage of a pill if you find a pill that you own that is by itself and not labeled in a container. There are several online resources, but the most reliable references for identifying pills can be found in medical books. One book that is published for consumers and used by medical experts for reference is the aptly named "The Pill Book," which provides all pertinent information concerning oral medication .
Instructions
1. Locate the imprint code on the pill. This should consist of numbers or letters on either side of the pill. Write down the labeling and refer to the index in the back of your medical book. Look for the letter that the code starts with, since the index is in alphabetical order.
2. Go to the page in your medical book where the index says the information on the pill is located. Make sure you go to a page that has a picture and description of the pill. Compare the pill to the picture in the book. If you're using "The Pill Book," the picture should be located just below the name of the pill.
3. Determine the color of the pill. It's possible that the color of the pill may be different than the color shown in the picture. You will need to read through the description of the pill to find out if there are variations of color for the pill and what those colors indicate. You may have a pill that isn't approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if you don't see this information in the description.
4. Determine the shape of the pill the same way you did with determining the color. It's possible that the shape might not match that of the picture. Read through the description to make sure there is a shape variation of the pill that matches the one you have. There may also be more pictures to show these varieties.
5. Read the description and all other pertinent information about the pill thoroughly. For example, you should write down the drug type, brand name, generic name and dosage. Also, read through the instructed usage of the pill, purpose and side effect. Put the pill in a plastic bag or bottle along with the recorded information from the medical book.
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