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Found an Unknown Pill? Here's Exactly What to Do

Finding an unidentified pill — loose in a drawer, in a child's pocket, on the floor — can be alarming. The right response depends on the circumstances, but the first principle is universal: do not take it, do not give it to anyone, and do not discard it immediately. Take a breath and work through the steps below methodically. In most cases you will have an identification within minutes. In urgent cases, the right phone number is at the top of this page.

Step 1 — Don't Panic, But Do Take It Seriously

The vast majority of unidentified pills found in a home are mundane: generic ibuprofen that rolled out of a bag, an old blood pressure tablet from a different bottle, an over-the-counter antihistamine. Finding an unknown pill does not automatically mean something dangerous is happening. However, it must be treated with care because you do not know its identity — and that uncertainty is the risk.

Stay calm. Do not attempt to identify the pill by tasting, smelling, or crushing it. Tasting medications is never a safe identification method and can expose you to a harmful dose of something you don't recognize. Crushing the tablet can create inhalation risks and destroys evidence that would help with identification (the imprint may be on a coat layer).

Step 2 — Handle It Safely

Place the pill on a clean, well-lit white surface. A sheet of white paper works well. You want to be able to see every marking on every surface clearly. If you are dealing with a pill found in an unusual context — a suspicious package, a substance of unknown origin — you may want to use gloves, though for a standard household find this is usually unnecessary.

Do not handle it over a sink or drain. Set it somewhere stable where it cannot roll away and where children or pets cannot reach it while you work through identification.

Step 3 — Identify It Systematically

Work through these characteristics in order. Each one narrows the search:

1. Imprint: Look for stamped or printed letters, numbers, or symbols on both sides of the tablet, or on capsule bands. This is the single most useful identification feature — record everything exactly as it appears, including any separating slash or dash between characters.
2. Shape: Round, oval/elliptical, oblong/capsule-shaped, rectangular, pentagon, diamond, octagon, triangle, or irregular.
3. Color: Be specific. "White" vs. "off-white" vs. "cream" can matter. Note whether the color is uniform or if there are two-tone halves (a bi-colored capsule, for example).
4. Size: Approximate in millimeters. Your phone ruler app or holding it next to a coin can help.
5. Scoring: Does it have a line (score) pressed into it for splitting?
6. Coating: Is it shiny (film-coated) or matte and chalky (uncoated)?

Step 4 — Use a Pill Identifier

Enter the imprint code, shape, and color into a pill identification database. PillID's identifier cross-references FDA drug data and returns results by imprint, shape, and color simultaneously. The imprint alone is usually sufficient for a positive match — if you have a clear, complete imprint, you can often skip the other fields entirely.

If the imprint returns no results, consider these possibilities: the pill may be a foreign medication (imprint systems differ outside the U.S.); it may be a compounded medication (custom-made by a compounding pharmacy, which is not required to carry standard imprints); or the imprint may be partially worn and you are entering it incorrectly. Try entering only the letters or only the numbers with the shape and color to broaden the search.

Step 5 — Call a Pharmacist If Still Unsure

Pharmacists are an underused resource for exactly this situation. They have access to professional drug identification databases, and a quick description of the pill's imprint, shape, and color is often enough for them to make a positive identification. You do not need to be a customer of that pharmacy to ask — most will help with a brief identification question over the phone. Local pharmacy numbers are easy to find, and this step costs nothing.

When to Call Poison Control Immediately

There are specific situations that require calling Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 without waiting to complete the identification steps above:

• Someone has already taken or swallowed the unknown pill
• A child or infant may have found and ingested it
• The person who may have taken it is showing any symptoms — drowsiness, vomiting, confusion, abnormal breathing, seizure, unresponsiveness
• You suspect the pill may be a controlled substance or a counterfeit
• The pill was found in a location suggesting intentional misuse

Poison Control specialists can advise on exactly what to do based on the specific substance, the dose, and the person's weight and age. They can also tell you whether to call 911, go to an emergency room, or monitor at home. Their guidance is specific and actionable — far more useful than a general internet search in a stressful moment.

Storing Medications Safely to Prevent Future Mix-Ups

The scenario of an unidentified loose pill almost always has the same cause: medications stored outside their original containers. The fix is straightforward, though it requires some household discipline.

Original containers

Keep all medications in their original labeled bottles or blister packs. This preserves the drug name, expiration date, prescriber information, and dosing instructions. If you use a weekly pill organizer, fill it immediately before use rather than weeks in advance, and keep the original bottles accessible.

Locked storage for controlled substances

Opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and other Schedule II–IV controlled substances should be stored in a locked box or cabinet. This is especially important in households with teenagers — prescription drug misuse among adolescents most commonly begins with medications found at home. Locking these medications is a concrete, low-cost intervention that meaningfully reduces diversion risk.

Households with children or elderly members

Keep all medications — not just controlled substances — out of reach of children under 12. Child-resistant caps are a minimum; locked storage is better for any household with young children or grandchildren who visit. For elderly family members with memory concerns, a caregiving setup with pre-sorted blister packs managed by a pharmacist or caregiver can prevent both missed doses and accidental double-dosing.

Disposing of the Unidentified Pill

Once you have identified an unknown pill (or confirmed you cannot), it needs to be disposed of properly — not returned to a medication bottle you are unsure about, and not left loose again.

• Best option: Drug take-back programs. Many pharmacies, police stations, and hospitals operate DEA-authorized drug take-back kiosks that accept any medication, no questions asked. Find one at DEA.gov/takebacks.
• Trash disposal: If take-back is unavailable, mix the pill with an undesirable substance — coffee grounds, dirt, or cat litter — in a sealed plastic bag and put it in the household trash. Remove or black out personal information from any prescription label before discarding the container.
• Do not flush unless the medication is on the FDA's approved flush list (primarily high-potency opioids, fentanyl patches, and certain other controlled substances where the risk of accidental ingestion or diversion is higher than the environmental concern).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first thing you should do if you find an unknown pill?

Do not take it, taste it, or smell it — some substances can be absorbed through mucous membranes. Place the pill on a clean white surface in good lighting and carefully note its imprint code (letters and numbers stamped on the tablet), shape, color, size, and whether it is scored (has a line to split it). This information is all you need for a positive identification.

How reliable are online pill identifiers?

Reputable pill identifiers — including those from pharmacies, the FDA, and specialized databases like PillID — are highly accurate when the pill is a genuine, legally manufactured medication. The imprint code is the single most reliable data point, as the FDA requires all prescription tablets to have unique imprints registered to a specific manufacturer. However, counterfeit pills can be made to look identical to genuine ones and cannot be reliably identified by appearance alone.

What should you do if someone has already swallowed an unknown pill?

Call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 (in the US) — they are available 24/7 and can provide guidance based on the pill's identity and the person's symptoms. If the person is unconscious, having trouble breathing, or having seizures, call 911 first. Bring the pill (or a photo of it) to any emergency evaluation — it significantly helps clinicians determine the right treatment.

How should you safely dispose of unidentified pills?

The safest disposal method is a community drug take-back program, which can be found at pharmacies, police stations, and hospitals. The DEA holds periodic National Prescription Drug Take Back Days as well. If no take-back option is available, the FDA recommends mixing the pills with an undesirable substance like coffee grounds or dirt in a sealed bag before throwing them in the trash, to deter misuse.