Just got my refill of a high blood pressure pills, and they're a different shape AND color.....is this normal?

[a kennedy]

Have been on this medication for over a year and now today got it refilled and it’s different in shape and color. Is that normal??

[cachukis]

1. Can be.

[lapfog_1]

2. I would double check with the pharmacy

and potentially go online with the drug maker and see.

[Raven123]

3. Different manufacturer, most likely

If in doubt, call your Pharmacy. They should confirm you have received the correct medication.

[Brainstormy]

4. mine changed color too

Losartan.

[a kennedy]

6. Yes....that's mine as well.

Did you check to see if it’s still ok??

[Diamond_Dog]

14. Mine, too. And yes it looks different.

It said right on the label that it may look different in appearance from what I had before. I called the pharmacy just to make sure and it was OK.

[a kennedy]

15. Whoooo, mine didn't say it on the label....but happy it is the same. As others have mentioned,

I am gonna call pharmacy on Friday just to make sure.

[The Blue Flower]

9. Losartan changed both color and shape

nt

[dhol82]

12. I've had several changes in color and shape over the years

Normal for generics

[BComplex]

21. I carry around an epi pen because of Losartan. Almost killed me and my husband's brother

Evidently there were many other people hospitalized because of some of the additives in Losartan. I hope the pharmacy company finally got wise to their mess.

[piddyprints]

5. Is it generic?

Sometimes different brands, different suppliers, etc.

I got my cat’s thyroid meds last week and they were noticeably bigger than the last batch. So I called to ask about it and that’s what they told me. Then I noticed that some were just like the old ones. The lady said they mix in what they have left with the new batch, but they’ll all the same strength.

Just to be sure, you might want to call your pharmacist.

[SheltieLover]

7. Call pharmacist

[Mosby]

8. Some info

50mg: Might be pink/green, round/oval, with imprints like "SZ 213" or "L142".

100mg: Often dark green or white, oval or teardrop, with codes like "E 47" or "93 7366

Images:
https://www.drugs.com/imprints.php?drugname=losartan+potassium

[MIButterfly]

10. A few years back, mine went from pink and round to blue and hexagon-shaped.

You can always call the pharmacist and ask him/her why it changed.

[twodogsbarking]

11. The labels on the old and new bottle may have the manufacturers. Mine got switched. Best be safe.

Whatever you are ok with.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

13. Pharmacy tech here

Unless a specific *brand* name is given and the Rx states “dispense as written,” a script is filled with whatever generic version of a drug is in stock—meaning there’s enough to fill the whole amount of whatever manufacturer’s version was sent by the warehouse. Brand names are more expensive but they all have to meet the same specifications for what’s in them. Sometimes, we get a specific one and sometimes, the warehouse sends more than one manufacturer or form (i.e. pills versus capsules).

The shape, size, and colour can vary between manufacturers, but it’s the same medication. Unless you’ve had an actual reaction to a specific brand name--extremely rare, and I find people who complain about that are generally demanding hypochondriacs who rarely have a genuine reaction to a specific version--it’s a nothingburger. I’ve had a couple patients who insist they won’t accept a drug made in a specific country as they don’t “trust” them, not because of an actual allergy or side effect from a certain manufacturer’s version. It doesn’t matter where they’re made; they’re all required to meet the same standards of ingredients.

You can do an image search in google for your med and see what the pills/capsules should look like, and see that they’re all over the place as far as appearance. The drug and dosage are the same for all of them, though.

Nothing to worry about, I’m sure. You can always call your pharmacy and ask for the pharmacist if you’re really concerned about the change in appearance or if you think it isn’t working the same as you’re used to.

[a kennedy]

16. Thanks, and will call the pharmacy just to be sure, but your info was great, and informative,

so thanks so much.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

17. You're very welcome!

[area51]

19. Hello, fellow pharmacy tech.

[riversedge]

20. I have done an image search on both of my drugs last year twice. I was

wondering the color change myself but both showed up as the same drugs. Vit D and cholesterol drugs.

[question everything]

18. Thanks to another DUer I found that WebMD provides guide to identify drugs by shape, color, etc

https://www.webmd.com/pill-identification/default.htm