# Numbers on prescription drugs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 30, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132 "2003-03-30T02:13:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jplacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/1 "2003-03-30T02:13:25Z")
I got a presciption for Lortab yesterday and I noticed “M357” imprinted on the pill. I have noticed this on other prescription pills. What do the numbers and letters mean? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/2 "2003-03-30T02:23:04Z")
The prescriptions are numbered. For tracking purposes. That’s most likely what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/3 "2003-03-30T02:33:58Z")
Tracking? 😕 Who’s tracking them? And how? My WAG is that it’s just the manufacturer’s “model number”, the same as your Sony TV. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/4 "2003-03-30T02:34:33Z")
Prescriptions are numbered (on the bottle), both for the pharmacy’s records, and for tracking purposes, in case a bad batch of drugs makes it to market (the lot number on the original bottle). The number on the pill itself is simply an identifier put on the pill (or capsule) by the manufacturer so the drug can be readily identified should it be separated from its original container. My father, who is a pharmacist, has had to identify pills put into unmarked containers (such as those daily pillboxes). (He deals with a lot of elderly people, and nursing home staff needed to know what meds the patient was taking on admission. The pills had been removed from their original, labelled bottle and into a plastic pillbox.) He does so by the color, shape and the aforementioned number (if there is one). Since the color, shape and numbers are unique to each drug, he can identify the drug, strength and probably the manufacturer. The numbers themselves aren’t standardized, but there are references that list medicines, and these have descriptions of the pills. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Jplacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/5 "2003-03-30T02:41:36Z")
Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/6 "2003-03-30T02:56:43Z")
The numbers also allow the FDA and DEA to monitor the distribution of psychoactive and addictive drugs plus the class C narcotics. Each prescription is individually numbered so as to provide accurate data that reflects the retail distribution and correct remaining inventory secured in a given pharmacy’s drug storage area. Over the years, many doctors and pharmacists alike have “prescribed” for themselves. The real danger happens when a drug dependent or greedy pharmacist dilutes or reduces the dose of prescriptions in order to conceal their pilfering. A recent case dealt with a pharmacist who intentionally diluted critical cancer treatment doses for financial gain. The sickest thing of all was that he did so to meet contribution commitments TO HIS CHURCH. Thank goodness he is in jail for decades right now. Without tracking numbers the violations mentioned above would be everyday occurrences. ---
**Author:** ![trustno1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@trustno1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trustno1)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/7 "2003-03-30T03:00:52Z")
Got a plastic jar of 1000 that say “Rorer 714” just taking up space. Anybody want 'em? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/8 "2003-03-30T03:07:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by trustno1 \* > \*\*Got a plastic jar of 1000 that say “Rorer 714” just taking up space. Anybody want 'em? \*\* Do they even make 'ludes any more? ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/9 "2003-03-30T03:17:30Z")
Er … **trustno1** , I would neither recommend that you profer controlled substances to members of these boards nor indicate your personal possession of them. Both actions seem quite unwise and more than likely against policy. Mkay? ---
**Author:** ![kgriffey79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@kgriffey79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kgriffey79)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/10 "2003-03-30T03:19:18Z")
Umm, the pills are not individually numbered. IANAP, but I think it has to do with what companies make the drugs. I have two Hydrocodone Bitartate/Acetominophen 5/500 pills right here, and they also have M357 written on them. Just throwin that out there… ---
**Author:** ![Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f17d59/32.png) [@Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/11 "2003-03-30T03:30:59Z")
You can go to the public library and look the drugs up by these numbers (shapes and sizes) in a very large book called the PHYSICIAN’S DESK REFERENCE. Ask for it at the reference desk. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-prescription-drugs/165132/12 "2003-03-30T21:41:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by trustno1 \* > \*\*Got a plastic jar of 1000 that say “Rorer 714” just taking up space. Anybody want 'em? \*\* Strangely, that [714 imprint](http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/rxlistid.cgi?drug=*714) doesn’t show up with a match. Generally, you can get drug info [here](http://www.rxlist.com) and avoid having to buy or finagle some access to a PDR.