20 . May , 2012 - Sunday
Check todays hot topics or new products

Find a Drug: Advanced

Please Sign in or Register

Pill Identifier: Why and How to Identify Your Medication

Big Image

   Pharmacists and other health care professionals are diligent about ensuring that patients receive the correct medication. However, they are human, and once in a while they make mistakes. The doctor may prescribe the wrong dose or the wrong medication. Pharmacy staff may misinterpret the prescription or the wrong medication may be dispensed. There are several checks and balances to minimize medication errors, but sometimes the checks and balances fail. Medication errors can cause serious consequences.

What should you, the prudent consumer do to protect yourself? You should make sure that you have the correct medication. Before the Internet age, pill identification was accomplished by calling a pharmacy or using pill identification books at the local library or bookstore. The Internet has made it possible for anyone to use pill identifiers (pill finder), such as the Drug Index Online Pill Identifier, to ensure that they have the correct medication. You can identify drugs by imprint, color, shape, and brand or generic name. If you do not find a match, you should call your pharmacist. Some generic drugs are manufactured by several manufacturers, and pill identification databases may not have images of all the generic versions.

For pill identifiers to be valuable, you have to know the medication and strength you should have received. Therefore, start by understanding your condition and the medication and dose your doctor has prescribed for you. Using pill identifiers and knowing what medications your doctor has prescribed will prevent you from taking the wrong medication. Pharmacists are no longer the last line of defense against medication errors; consumers are.

Find a picture of your pill using the RxList Pill Identifier Tool. We've also provided Pill Identifier examples of commonly abused drugs and popular medications.

Below is a list of commonly searched medications, click on a link to read patient information on this drug, see pictures of the different pills prescribed, understand the potential side effects, how to take the medication, and what to do if you miss a dose.

REFERENCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Recent Drug Updates at DrugIndexOnline:



Adapalene Pads Adapalene Pads
Generic Name: Adapalene Pads (ADE-ah-PAH-leen) Brand Name: DifferinAdapalene Pads is used for:Treating acne. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor. Adapalene Pads is a retinoid-like medicine. It works by decreasing acne formation. Do NOT use Adapalene Pads if:you more...

Epivir Epivir
Generic Name: lamivudine (la MIV yoo deen) Brand Names: Epivir, Epivir HBV What is lamivudine? Lamivudine is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body. The Epivir brand of lamivudine is used to treat HIV, which causes the more...

Fluanxol Fluanxol
Some commonly used brand names are: In the U.S.— Navane 3 Taractan 1 Thiothixene HCl Intensol 3 In Canada— Fluanxol 2 Fluanxol Depot 2 Navane 3 Note: For quick reference, the following thioxanthenes are numbered to match the corresponding brand names. This information a more...

Hydroxyurea Hydroxyurea
Pronouncation: (high-DROX-ee-you-REE-uh) Class: Antisickling agent Trade Names: Droxia - Capsules 200 mg - Capsules 300 mg - Capsules 400 mg Trade Names: Hydrea - Capsules 500 mg Gen-Hydroxyurea (Canada) Mechanism of Action Pharmacology Inhibits DNA synthesis, interferes with conversion of ribonucl more...

K-Phos Neutral K-Phos Neutral
Some commonly used brand names are: In the U.S.— K-Phos M. F. 2 K-Phos Neutral 2 K-Phos No. 2 2 K-Phos Original 1 Neutra-Phos 2 Neutra-Phos-K 1 Uro-KP-Neutral 2 In Canada— Uro-KP-Neutral 2 Note: For quick reference, the following phosphates are numbered to match the correspo more...

Namenda Namenda
Generic Name: memantine hydrochloride Dosage Form: Tablets/oral solution Rx Only Namenda Description Namenda® (memantine hydrochloride) is an orally active NMDA receptor antagonist. The chemical name for memantine hydrochloride is 1-amino-3,5-dimethyladamantane hydrochloride with the follow more...

Occlusal-HP Occlusal-HP
Generic Name: salicylic acid topical (sah lih SIH lick AH sid) Brand Names: Compound W, Duofilm, Duoplant, Fungi-Nail, Ionil Shampoo, Keralyt, Mediplast, Neutrogena Acne Wash Oil Free, Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Dandruff Shampoo, Occlusal-HP, Oxy Clean Maximum Strength, Oxy Clean Medicated, more...

Pindolol Pindolol
Generic name: Brand names: Pindolol Why is Pindolol prescribed? Pindolol, a type of medication known as a beta blocker, is used in the treatment of high blood pressure. It is effective alone or combined with other high blood pressure medications, particularly with a thiazide-type diuretic. Beta more...


© Copyright 2007 - 2012 DrugIndexOnline - 2nd Edition.