Meloxicam Pill Identifier Colors, Shapes, and Imprints

Key takeaways

• Meloxicam is an NSAID used to treat pain and inflammation from arthritis. Official sources describe meloxicam tablets as pale or pastel yellow in color, typically in 7.5 mg and 15 mg strengths. It reduces prostaglandins to ease joint pain and swelling.

• Pill appearance varies by manufacturer. Generic versions and different brands (e.g., Mobic, Vivlodex) may look different – round vs. oval, dull yellow vs. bright yellow. Always compare your pill’s color, shape, and imprint to a trusted reference each time.

• Correct identification is crucial. Checking the imprint, shape, and color ensures dosing accuracy and safety. Misidentifying a pill can lead to taking the wrong dose or the wrong medication entirely, which is dangerous.

• Counterfeits are a serious risk. Fake pills (sometimes laced with fentanyl) are on the rise. The FDA warns that counterfeit drugs may contain the wrong or no active ingredient. In 2024, the DEA seized over 60 million illicit pills hidden as prescription meds[1].

Meloxicam Pill Identification Chart

Why does identifying each pill matter?

Identifying your medication by appearance is not just a precaution; it’s safety. Here’s why it’s important:

Dosing accuracy: 

Ensuring the pill matches your prescription prevents accidental underdose or overdose. Meloxicam doses (7.5 mg vs 15 mg) differ by strength, so taking the wrong pill can greatly change how much drug you get. Checking color/shape/imprint helps you confirm you have the correct strength.

Counterfeit awareness: 

This is perhaps the most urgent issue today. The FDA warns that “Counterfeit (fake or falsified) medicines may be harmful… [they] may contain the wrong ingredients… too much, too little or no active ingredient at all”. 

In practice, people have bought fake pills off the street or online that looked like pharmaceuticals but were deadly. 

The DEA reports that millions of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl or other toxic substances are circulating. 

By carefully examining each pill’s imprint, shape, and color, you reduce the chance of accidentally taking a fake.

Manufacturer consistency: 

Your pharmacy might switch suppliers. One refill, you get a tablet from Manufacturer A (round, pale yellow, imprint “XYZ”), and the next, a tablet from Manufacturer B (oval, slightly brighter yellow, imprint “ABC”). 

These visual changes don’t mean the drug is different – but if you weren’t expecting it, you might worry it’s wrong. Recognizing that multiple valid appearances exist prevents alarm.

If you have multiple medications in your home, or if a pill somehow got mixed, confirming appearance can prevent taking another drug by mistake.

If you or a caregiver notice a new or unusual side effect, checking the pill can verify it’s still your expected medication. For instance, if a yellow meloxicam tablet suddenly looks red, that’s a warning sign.

How can I identify Meloxicam correctly?

When identifying meloxicam tablets, use a systematic approach focusing on four visual identifiers: color, shape, imprint code, and scoring.

Color: 

Meloxicam tablets are almost always some shade of yellow. Think “pale yellow,” “light yellow,” or “pastel yellow.” Brand-name Mobic tablets, for example, are described as pastel yellow.

Generics often call themselves “light yellow” or simply “yellow.” If a pill is pure white, blue, green, or any other color, it is not meloxicam.

Shape: 

Meloxicam tablets come in a few common shapes, usually round or oval/oblong. The shape can depend on the strength or the maker. For instance, many 7.5 mg tablets are round, while 15 mg ones are often oval or oblong.

Imprint Code: 

Every meloxicam tablet legally must have an imprint (a code of letters and/or numbers). This imprint is your biggest clue to identification. 

Meloxicam codes vary by manufacturer. Common imprints you might encounter include numeric values like “7.5” or “15” (matching the dosage in mg), and alphanumeric codes.

Scoring: 

A score line is a groove that may run across a tablet. Some meloxicam tablets have one, but often it is not for breaking the dose. In fact, certain meloxicam tablets are manufactured with a score line solely as a design or imprint alignment, and instructions explicitly say the tablet should not be split.

What do the official colors, shapes, and imprints look like?

In regulated labeling, meloxicam tablets have specific appearances per manufacturer. Below are examples of official descriptions and images to guide you. 

Remember that at least these general traits hold:

Colors

• Example meloxicam tablet (generic) showing light yellow color. Meloxicam tablets are consistently some shade of yellow. 

• In official prescribing information, the color is described as “pale yellow” or “pastel yellow”. Even among brands, you won’t see meloxicam in white, pink, blue, or green – it stays within the yellow spectrum.

• When comparing pills, match the hue: a very pale beige or cream with a definite yellow tint is normal. A bright sunny yellow is also possible. Anything far outside yellow should raise concern.

Shape

• Example meloxicam tablet (15 mg) showing oval shape with imprint. Meloxicam tablets most often come in round or oval/oblong shapes. 

• A meloxicam 15 mg tablet (imprint C 80), which is oval and about 12 mm long. Other meloxicam pills are round, especially the smaller 7.5 mg tablets. 

• Capsule-shaped (elongated with rounded ends) forms also exist. 

Imprints

Each approved meloxicam tablet has a distinctive imprint code engraved or debossed. Common ones include the numeric dose (7.5 or 15) and manufacturer IDs. 

For example:

• “15” on one side of an oval tablet (denoting 15 mg).

• “7.5” on a round pill (for 7.5 mg).

• Alphanumeric codes such as CIPLA 159, ZC 25, B 419, T 152, C 80, MEL 7.5, UL 15, etc. The letters often name the company (e.g., CIPLA, or abbreviations like ZC, B, C), and the number indicates strength or product code.

• The image above shows an imprint C 80 on an oval tablet. If you see C 80 on a yellow oval, that matches one official meloxicam product.

• Note that “MEL” may appear on some (e.g., “MEL 7.5” for 7.5 mg) or the brand name “MOBIC” might be on older pills.

Every approved meloxicam tablet includes a unique imprint—letters, numbers, or both—that identifies the dose and manufacturer. Examples include:

Why might my pills look different between refills?

It’s common for the appearance of meloxicam to change from one refill to the next, and there are benign reasons for this:

Different manufacturer or generic supplier: 

Pharmacies source generics from multiple companies. A bottle of 15 mg tablets might be filled with one company’s product today and another’s next month. 

Each manufacturer designs its own look, so one generic might make a round tablet, another an oval one. The active drug is the same, but the shape, shade of yellow, and imprint can be completely different.

Dosage form changes: 

Sometimes a pharmacy might substitute tablets for capsules if you only need a low dose for a few days. For example, 10 mg capsules (if available) versus 7.5 mg tablets look different. Always verify the strength and form.

Packaging or scoring updates: 

On occasion, even the brand or a generic maker will update a tablet design (a new logo, a slight color tweak, or adding/removing a score line). These do not indicate a different medicine.

Pharmacy or insurance switch: 

If you changed insurance or pharmacy, they might carry different stock.

Over-the-counter mixing: 

Inadvertently buying vitamins or other pills and mixing them with your prescription is another cause of confusion (though meloxicam itself is prescription-only).

What are the warning signs of counterfeit pills?

Counterfeit or misidentified pills can be life-threatening. Watch for the following red flags with any medication:

Appearance changed drastically: 

The pill’s color, shape, size, or imprint is very different from what you normally receive. 

For example, if your yellow oval meloxicam suddenly shows up as greenish and round with a different code, that’s suspicious. The FDA advises consumers to ask: “Does the drug or packaging look different than what you normally receive?”.

Imprint looks wrong or poorly stamped: 

Genuine tablets have crisp, precise imprints. Blurry, off-center, or inconsistent letters/numbers can indicate a fake. Also watch for spelling errors (no FDA-approved drug will have a misspelled imprint).

Unusual texture or taste: 

Legitimate tablets have a firm, consistent texture. Counterfeits might be crumbly, soft, or have an unusual odor. (Never cut into a pill to taste it – this is just a sensory clue.)

Packaging oddities: 

Check the box and bottle, too. Missing lot numbers, broken seals, poor-quality printing, or wrong stock bottle (e.g., meloxicam in a pill bottle labeled for another drug) are big red flags.

Unexpected side effects: 

If you develop a new, unusual reaction after taking the pill (headache, severe nausea, allergic symptoms, etc.), it could be adulterated or a different drug altogether. The FDA specifically warns: “Have you experienced a new or unusual side effect after using the drug?”.

High-risk sources: 

Pills bought online from unverified pharmacies, from friends, or on the street are riskier. The DEA bluntly advises that you should never trust your eyes alone and only take medication prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.^[3]

Price and supply anomalies: 

If your pill was formerly inexpensive and now costs much more (especially without insurance changes), or if your medication is suddenly out of stock nationwide, confirm with your pharmacist whether the drug itself is in shortage.

What should I do if I suspect a counterfeit or wrong pill?

If your pill could be wrong or fake, act quickly and cautiously:

1. Stop taking it. Do not take any more of the questionable tablet. If you have already taken one, do not take the next dose until you verify.

2. Quarantine the pill. Keep the suspected pill in its bottle (or in a safe place) and do not ingest it. Save its packaging, blister, or anything that came with it. This sample may be needed for analysis.

3. Check with your pharmacist or doctor. Show them the pill (or a clear photo) and the prescription label. They can confirm whether the appearance matches the intended medication. Pharmacists have reference tools and experience with various generics.

4. Verify imprint/identifier. You or your pharmacist can use a reputable pill-identification resource (like the FDA’s RxImage or DailyMed) by entering the imprint and comparing images. Do not rely on Google image search alone.

5. Substitute if needed. If it’s confirmed wrong, your doctor or pharmacist should quickly provide the correct medication. This might involve calling the pharmacy or prescribing a new refill. Your health condition is the priority, so ensure you get the real drug you need.

6. Dispose safely. If the pill is confirmed fake, do not consume it. Check FDA guidance for drug disposal, or return it to the pharmacy. You can also use community drug take-back boxes or mix the tablet (crushed) with an undesirable substance in a sealed bag before trashing it, if no take-back is available.

7. Report it. Consider reporting the incident. You can inform the FDA (MedWatch, 1-800-FDA-1088) or your state board of pharmacy about the counterfeit or dispensing error. ^[4]

Conclusion & Next Steps

Accurately identifying your meloxicam tablet is a key part of safe medication use. By checking the color (yellow), shape (round/oval), and imprint against trusted information, you protect yourself from dosing mistakes and counterfeit risks. 

Remember that legitimate meloxicam will always be some shade of yellow and carry an FDA-approved imprint code for its strength and maker. If something about the pill doesn’t match, do not hesitate to verify with a pharmacist.

Stay proactive: keep the medication bottle handy, refer to this guide or official drug databases when in doubt, and ask questions whenever you refill.

Always obtain meloxicam from a reliable pharmacy and only take medications prescribed for you. 

If you ever feel uneasy about a pill’s appearance or your response to it, reach out to your healthcare provider immediately.

Your vigilance is the best safeguard. By combining this knowledge with professional advice, you can confidently take meloxicam safely and effectively. If you need further help, you can contact us and our experts at Better Addiction Care can guide you further.