How to Identify a Canadian Pill

Few things are more frustrating than when pills spill out of their containers. How can you be sure of each pill's identity? Online resources abound to identify medications, but most of them are U.S.-based databases. Although many drugs in the U.S. and Canada have the same imprint codes (the letters or numbers stamped into the pill), Canadian drug manufacturers' codes will not show up in a U.S. database, and some U.S. manufacturers change codes for Canadian versions of the drugs. Currently there is no free Canadian resource to identify drugs specific to Canada. Identifying a Canadian pill can provide a moderate challenge, but research and tapping various resources can help.

Instructions

Identify a Canadian pill

• 1

  Ask a pharmacist for help in identifying a Canadian pill. Although most U.S. pharmacists may not be able to identify a Canadian pill by sight, they would have access to resources that could help identify the drug or, at least, determine if the drug's imprint codes are the same as U.S. versions of the drug. They also may be able to tap professional networks across the border to identify a Canadian pill.

• 2

  Use U.S.-based databases such as the Pill Identifier on drugs.com. Although some kinds of Canadian pills may not be in the database, it is worth searching these databases anyway, just in case, as many Canadian pills have the same imprint codes as U.S. versions of the drug.

• 3

  Search online resources developed by the Canadian Pharmacists Association, but a paid subscription is required. The CPhA's Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties is a searchable online database featuring every drug that is available in Canada, no matter the country of manufacture. Medical libraries, members of the CPhA and other health professionals may have access and might be a good resource as well.