Vague Pharmaceutical Imprints

Submitted by TeamPharmer on July 9, 2005 - 4:25pm.

All FDA approved pharmaceuticals must have a unique imprint. An imprint is any marking on the pill such as an engraved logo, numbers and/or letters, or a raised or debossed symbol. Some pill imprints are quite simple. Maybe the imprint is only a logo; other times it's one letter or number. We have assembled a list of some unusual imprints that are hard to identify and which are commonly mistaken for street drugs such as ecstasy.

These drug imprints are the hardest to find in the databases because there is so little information to go on. It's a lot easier to identify a pill marked with a letter and three or four numbers than a drug imprint consisting of only one letter, number, logo or shape. Pills with simple imprints make positive pill identification difficult. Look through any imprint database, and you're likely to find many different medications marked with an identical letter or number.

Pills in the OTC (over the counter) category are the worst offenders. This category has the most pills thought to be ecstasy because it's so hard to identify these vague imprints.

	Acetaminophen 500 mg - Leiner Health Products Red circle imprinted Z, N
	Anacin (400 mg aspirin, 32 mg caffeine) - Insight Pharmaceuticals White circle described as arrow, Christmas tree
	Aspirin 81 mg - Time Cap Labs Yellow circle described as heart, raised heart, yellow heart Same tablet is available in peach.
	Aspirin 81 mg - PDK Labs Yellow circle described as K, K with arrow, special K
	Aspirin 81 mg - LNK International Peach circle imprinted L, 7
	Aspirin 81 mg - LNK International Yellow circle imprinted L, 7
	Aspirin 81 mg - Time Cap Labs Yellow circle described as raised figure 8, infinity sign, double circle
	Aspirin 81 mg - Bayer Yellow circle imprinted 81, 18
	Aspirin 325 mg - Time Cap Labs Orange circle described as anchor, hammer, crazy T, orange top Same tablet is available in red.
	Aspirin 325 mg - Walsh Distributors White circle imprinted N or Z Same tablet is available in orange.
	Aspirin 325 mg - PDK Labs Orange circle described as K, K with arrow, special K
	Bisacodyl 5 mg - Walgreens Health Initiatives Orange circle imprinted 5
	Bufferin (325 mg aspirin) - Novartis Consumer Health White circle imprinted B
	Calcium Carbonate 420 mg - Tellus Medical Products Pink circle imprinted S on one side
	Chaser Plus (homeopathic ingredients) - Distr. Living Essentials Orange oblong with plus sign imprint
	Claritin RediTab (10 mg loratadine) - Schering OTC antihistamine described as C, U
	Excedrin Extra Strength (250 mg acetaminophen, 250 mg aspirin, 65 mg caffeine) - Novartis Consumer Health Described as white E, often confused with ecstasy
	Excedrin Migraine (250 mg acetaminophen, 250 mg aspirin, 65 mg caffeine) - Novartis Consumer Health White oblong with E imprint
	Excedrin Migraine (250 mg acetaminophen, 250 mg aspirin, 65 mg caffeine) - Novartis Consumer Health Green and white bilayered tablet imprinted E
	Fergon (27 mg ferrous gluconate) - Bayer OTC iron supplement imprinted F
	Hydroxycut - Iovate OTC dietary supplement described as circle with lightning bolt, circle with slash, bisected O
	Jet-Alert (100 mg caffeine) - Bell Pharmaceuticals White circle with 100 imprint
	Jet-Alert (200 mg caffeine) - Bell Pharmaceuticals Yellow oblong with 200 imprint
	Nuprin (200 mg ibuprofen) - Advanced Healthcare White circle with underlined N
	Nytol (25 mg diphenhydramine) - GlaxoSmithKline OTC sleeping aid imprinted N
	One-A-Day Essential - Bayer OTC multivitamin described as red circle imprinted 1
	Pepcid Complete (10 mg famotidine, 800 mg calcium carbonate, 165 mg magnesium hydroxide) - Johnson & Johnson - Merck Consumer OTC heartburn remedy marked P
	Prilosec OTC (20.6 mg omeprazole magnesium) - Procter & Gamble OTC heartburn remedy described as underlined P
	Primatene (12.5 mg ephedrine, 200 mg guaifenesin) - Wyeth Consumer Healthcare OTC bronchodilator and expectorant described as yellow P in a circle
	Remifemin (20 mg black cohosh) - GlaxoSmithKline OTC menopause supplement described as butterfly, angel wings, white angel
	Robitussin Cough Gels (15 mg dextromethorphan) - Wyeth Consumer OTC cough suppressant described as red gelcap marked with a white R
	Senokot (8.6 mg sennosides) - Purdue Products OTC laxative described as an S, snake, squiggle
	Senokot-S (8.6 mg sennosides, 50 mg of docusate sodium) - Purdue Products OTC laxative described as P, P-Bo
	SenokotXTRA (17.2 mg sennosides) - Purdue Products OTC laxative described as vague X, stylized X
	Sominex (25 mg diphenhydramine) - GlaxoSmithKline OTC sleeping aid described as an S, snake, squiggle, blue superman Sominex caplet with 50 mg diphenhydramine is available with same S imprint.
	Uristat (95 mg phenazopyridine) - McNeil-PPC OTC urinary tract analgesic described as U, lowercase N
	Vivarin (200 mg caffeine) - GlaxoSmithKline OTC alertness aid often mistaken for Valium, described as V, yellow V, yellow arrow V imprint is on both sides of tablet. Same tablet is available in an oblong shape.

Vague imprints confuse even the best pill ID experts like the DEA. For example, the "raised heart" aspirin was thought to be MDMA. After testing, the DEA published the following information in the Drug Enforcement Administration's Microgram Bulletin:

MDMA "MIMIC" ASPIRIN TABLETS IN EASTERN OHIO

The DEA North Central Laboratory (Chicago, Illinois) recently received 60 yellow tablets with a raised heart logo on one side, suspected Ecstasy (MDMA) (see Photo 4). The tablets were purchased in and nearby Warren, Ohio, by agents from the DEA Youngstown Resident Office, and were round and biconvex, measuring 7.5 mm x 4.5 mm x 2.1 mm, weighed 185 milligrams each, and were film coated with a white interior. Analysis by MS and IR, however, indicated not MDMA but rather aspirin (not quantitated). (image of yellow tablets with a raised heart logo on one side, suspected Ecstasy (photo 4)

Microgram Bulletin Editor's notes:

[Editor's Notes: DEA/Youngstown indicates that these tablets are frequently sold as Ecstasy in eastern Ohio and neighboring regions. Interestingly, this product does not appear to be listed in the FDA database for approved Over-the-Counter medications. However, an inquiry on a national pharmacists' list server indicated two manufacturers of this or highly similar products, Smart Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Vancouver, Washington), and TimeCap Labs, Inc. (Farmingdale, New Jersey). In both cases, the tablets contain 81 milligrams of aspirin, and are intended for use as "preventive medicine" against heart attacks (this information courtesy of Dr. Donald H. Williams, Executive Director, Washington State Board of Pharmacy).]

Information from Drug Enforcement Administration Microgram Bulletin - January 2003

We'll continue to add unusual OTC imprints when they are found.

Some prescription drug imprints are as vague as many OTC medications, making positive pill identification very difficult. Following are some unusual RX pill imprints:

	Ambien CR Extended Release (6.25 mg zolpidem) - Sanofi-Synthelabo Sedative/hypnotic Described as pink A~, A-
	Ambien CR Extended Release (12.5 mg zolpidem) - Sanofi-Synthelabo Sedative/hypnotic Blue circle imprinted A~, A-
	Axert (12.5 mg almotriptan) - Ortho McNeil Acute migraine remedy White circle with blue A logo, triangle with dot logo
	Benzonatate 100 mg - Zydus Antitussive Yellow ball imprinted with stylized Z
	Benzonatate 200 mg - Zydus Antitussive Yellow ball imprinted with beta symbol or B
	Citalopram 10 mg - Caraco SSRI antidepressant Peach circle imprinted C
	Citalopram 10 mg - Caraco SSRI antidepressant Peach circle imprinted 5 (discontinued)
	Colestid (1 gram colestipol) - Pfizer Cholesterol lowering drug Yellow oval imprinted U, lowercase N
	Colestipol 1 gram - Global Cholesterol lowering drug White oval imprinted G
	Detrol LA Extended Release (2 mg tolterodine) - Ortho McNeil Treatment for overactive bladder Described as walking man, stickman, line man, dancing man
	Detrol LA Extended Release (4 mg tolterodine) - Ortho McNeil Treatment for overactive bladder Described as walking man, stickman, line man, dancing man
	Fexofenadine 180 mg - Prasco Antihistamine Described as peach tablet imprinted with underlined 018 or overlined 810. Round tablet imprinted underlined 03 and oblong tablet imprinted underlined 06 are different dosages made by Prasco.
	Fluconazole 100 mg - Glenmark Antifungal Pink trapezoid imprinted 100 White trapezoid imprinted 200 is also available
	Liquibid-D (600 mg guaifenesin, 40 mg phenylephrine) - Capellon Decongestant and expectorant Described as star 1200
	Liquibid-PD (275 mg guaifenesin, 25 mg phenylephrine) - Capellon Decongestant and expectorant Described as blue and white triangle with star
	Lisinopril 5 mg - Lupin ACE inhibitor Described as pink circle imprinted 5
	Maxalt MLT Orally Disintegrating (5 mg rizatriptan) - Merck Acute migraine remedy Described as a triangle
	Maxalt MLT Orally Disintegrating (10 mg rizatriptan) - Merck Acute migraine remedy Described as a square
	Meloxicam 7.5 mg - Lupin Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory Described as yellow circle imprinted 7.5
	Meloxicam 15 mg - Lupin Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory Described as yellow oval imprinted 15
	Metoprolol 25 mg - Caraco Beta-blocker Described as white circle imprinted with 1
	Mirtazapine 7.5 mg - Caraco Tetracyclic antidepressant Orange circle imprinted C
	Mirtazapine 30 mg - Caraco Tetracyclic antidepressant Reddish brown oval imprinted with 500
	Mobic (7.5 mg meloxicam) - Boehringer Ingelheim Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory Described as tower, house, design with vertical and horizontal lines, design with lines and arrow (image side 1) Described as bubble M or W logo (image side 2)
	Myfortic Delayed Release (180 mg mycophenolate sodium) - Novartis Immunosuppressive Lime green circle imprinted C
	Nephrocaps - Fleming & Company RX renal vitamin Described as black gel cap with F in a triangle
	Pergolide 0.05 mg - Teva (Ivax) Antiparkinson agent Ivory modified rectangle imprinted G, two squares on reverse side (discontinued)
	Prandin (0.5 mg repaglinide) - Novo Nordisk Treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus Described as a deer
	Prandin (1 mg repaglinide) - Novo Nordisk Treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus Described as a deer
	Prandin (2 mg repaglinide) - Novo Nordisk Treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus Described as a deer, red bull
	Quinaglute Duratab (324 mg quinidine) - Berlex Antiarrhythmic agent Described as beaker and clock
	Sanctura (20 mg trospium) - Esprit Pharma Treatment for overactive bladder Described as S, snake, squiggle
	Serophene (50 mg clomiphene) - Serono Fertility drug Described as S, white snake
	Terbinafine 250 mg - Sandoz Antifungal White circle imprinted with T
	Tessalon Perle (100 mg benzonatate) - Forest Antitussive Described as T-ball
	Visicol (1.5 gram sodium phosphate) - Salix Laxative Described as II, double I
	Xanax XR Extended Release (0.5 mg alprazolam) - Pfizer Treatment of anxiety White pentagon tablet imprinted X/05, X05, X0.5
	Xanax XR Extended Release (1 mg alprazolam) - Pfizer Treatment of anxiety Yellow square tablet imprinted X/1, X1
	Xanax XR Extended Release (2 mg alprazolam) - Pfizer Treatment of anxiety Blue round tablet imprinted X/2, X2
	Xanax XR Extended Release (3 mg alprazolam) - Pfizer Treatment of anxiety Green triangle tablet imprinted X/3, X3
	Xyzal (5 mg levocetirizine) - Sanofi-Synthelabo Antihistamine White oval tablet imprinted YY in red
	Zanaflex (2 mg tizanidine) - Acorda Therapeutics Muscle relaxant Blue capsule imprinted 2 mg
	Zanaflex (4 mg tizanidine) - Acorda Therapeutics Muscle relaxant Blue and white capsule imprinted 4 mg
	Zanaflex (6 mg tizanidine) - Acorda Therapeutics Muscle relaxant Blue capsule imprinted 6 mg
	Zegerid (20 mg omeprazole, 1100 mg sodium bicarbonate) - Santarus Heartburn remedy Light blue and white capsule imprinted Santarus Logo 20 40 mg Zegerid capsule is dark blue and white imprinted Santarus Logo 40
	Zyprexa Zydis Orally Disintegrating (5 mg olanzapine) - Eli Lilly Antipsychotic Same round yellow tablet is available in 10, 15 or 20 mg dosage strength. Each tablet is imprinted with the milligram amount.