Pill Appearance: How to Identify Medications by Shape, Color, and Markings

When you pick up a prescription, you might not know what the pill is just by looking at it—unless you understand pill appearance, the visual characteristics used to identify medications, including shape, color, size, and printed markings. Also known as pill identification, it’s a basic but vital skill for avoiding dangerous mistakes. A white oval might be aspirin. A blue diamond could be sildenafil. A round yellow pill with "20" stamped on it? That’s not the same as one with "50"—and mixing them up can have serious consequences.

Doctors and pharmacists rely on these details every day. But so should you. pill markings, the letters, numbers, or symbols printed on tablets and capsules. Also known as imprints, they’re unique codes assigned by manufacturers and tracked by the FDA. These aren’t random. They’re like barcodes for your medicine. A pill with "L484" is acetaminophen. One with "V 36 01" is hydrocodone. Without knowing this, you’re guessing—and guessing with pills is risky.

pill color and shape, the physical traits that help distinguish one drug from another, even when markings are faded or missing. Also known as pill morphology, these features are chosen deliberately to reduce confusion. Why is metformin often green? Why is amoxicillin white and oval? It’s not by accident. Manufacturers design them so similar drugs don’t look alike. But over time, generics change, brands switch suppliers, and pills get repackaged. That’s why you can’t rely on memory alone.

Think about your medicine cabinet. Do you know what each pill is? What if your child finds a loose tablet? What if you’re traveling and your prescription bottle gets lost? Knowing how to read a pill’s appearance isn’t just helpful—it’s a safety net. You don’t need a pharmacy degree. You just need to know where to look: the imprint, the color, the shape. And you need to check it every time you take something new.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides that help you connect the dots. From how heat changes fentanyl patches to why generic meds look different than brand names, these posts give you the tools to spot what’s real, what’s safe, and what’s not. Whether you’re managing your own meds, helping an older parent, or just trying to avoid a mix-up, this collection turns confusion into confidence.