What Does Phentermine Look Like?

Phentermine is a prescription drug that promotes weight loss by suppressing appetite, according to the National Institutes of Health. Available in different brand names and generic formulations, phentermine comes in so many different shapes, sizes and colors that it can be difficult to identify. Phentermine is a controlled substance, meaning that it is illegal to use or possess the drug---no matter what it looks like---without a doctor's prescription.

Tablets

• Pictured here is a generic brand of phentermine in tablet form. Chemically, it resembles Adipex-P, manufactured by Gate Pharmaceuticals.

  These phentermine tablets are readily identifiable by their speckled blue-and-white color. They are oblong and have a score line for breaking into half-doses on one side. This particular generic brand has the manufacturer's name embossed on the opposite side.

Capsules

• Phentermine is often found in capsules, which have two separate halves fitted together that contain the active ingredient. The capsules come in various colors, and contain small beads that are released into the stomach when the capsule dissolves.

  Blue and clear in coloration, the capsules in this photograph resemble the discontinued brand-name drug Fastin. According to Phentermine.com, these particular capsules are manufactured by Sandoz, and are imprinted with "E5000" in red lettering.

  Care should be taken in identifying capsules such as these, as they resemble anything from a nasal decongestant to a diuretic. Usually, the imprint lettering or numbers can be looked up on the Internet to identify the pill as phentermine.

Resin Matrix Capsules

• The only brand of phentermine to come in a resin matrix capsule, Ionamin is a slow-release form of phentermine.

  Ionamin capsules of the 30mg strength, as pictured, are yellow, oblong and appear more sturdy than their faster-acting counterparts. "IONAMIN 30" is imprinted in black lettering on the pill.

  You can also recognize Ionamin pills in their 15mg strength by their dark gunmetal-grey and yellow design, slightly reminiscent of a bee or hornet in coloration. These are imprinted with "IONAMIN 15" in black lettering.

Other Types

• Click on the "Phentermine Pictures" link for more images of different pills that contain this drug.

  When in doubt as to whether a particular pill is phentermine, or any other pill for that matter, consult your doctor. Be safe---never take a pill based on appearance alone.