Found a pill? What to do if you can’t identify it
Found a loose pill at home, in a car or on the floor? Keep it away from children and pets, try to identify it by its imprint, and never take it until you know what it is.
If you find a pill and don’t know what it is, keep it out of reach of children and pets, try to identify it by the letters and numbers on it, and don’t take it or give it to anyone until a pharmacist has confirmed what it is.
If someone may have swallowed it
Act now, even if they seem fine. Some medicines take hours to cause symptoms.
- Call your local emergency number if the person is very sleepy, hard to wake, struggling to breathe or having a seizure.
- Otherwise, call your poison center. In the US, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222, free and confidential, or you can get help online at PoisonHelp.org.
- Keep the pill and any packaging to show the medical team.
The yellow button at the top of every page on this site shows the emergency number for your country.
Step 1: Put it somewhere safe
Put the pill in a sealed bag or a small container and store it up high, out of sight. Children and pets find loose pills quickly. Wash your hands after handling it, especially if the pill is broken or crumbly.
Step 2: Look for clues
Think about where you found it. Does anyone in the household, or a recent visitor, take medicine? Check nearby pill organizers, bags and bottles for a matching pill. Pill organizers are one of the most common sources of loose pills.
Step 3: Search by imprint
Look at both sides for letters, numbers or a logo, and type them into our pill imprint search. Add the color and shape to narrow the results. If you can’t read anything, try the color and shape search. Our step-by-step guide on how to identify a pill has tips for hard-to-read imprints.
Step 4: Ask a pharmacist
Even when you find a match, have a pharmacist confirm it. Bring the pill in its sealed bag. Many pharmacists will identify a pill on the spot.
If you still can’t identify it
Treat it as unknown. A pill with no readable imprint, or one that doesn’t match any result, could be a supplement, a medicine from another country or an illegally made pill. Fake pills can look exactly like real medicines and may contain fentanyl. Our guide to fake pills explains the risks.
Don’t keep a pill nobody can identify. Get rid of it safely, ideally at a drug take-back location. See how to get rid of unused medicines.
Common questions
Should I call poison control if my child swallowed a pill but seems fine?
Yes. Call straight away, even if there are no symptoms. Some medicines cause harm hours later, and poison specialists can tell you whether to watch at home or go to a hospital.
Can a pharmacist identify a pill for me?
Yes. Pharmacists identify pills regularly and usually do it for free. Bring the pill in a sealed bag.
Can I flush a pill I can’t identify?
No. Only medicines on the FDA’s flush list should be flushed. Take an unknown pill to a drug take-back location, or ask your pharmacist what to do.
The pill matches a medicine nobody in my home takes. What now?
Keep it away from children and pets and ask a pharmacist. If you’re worried someone is taking pills that weren’t prescribed to them, a doctor or pharmacist can give you confidential advice.