Naproxen is one of the most widely used pain relievers there is, sold over the counter as Aleve and by prescription in higher strengths. That popularity means dozens of manufacturers make it, in different colors, shapes, and markings. Color will not tell you what a tablet is. The imprint code will get you most of the way there, and a pharmacist will finish the job.
What Is Naproxen?
Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Unlike opioids, which act on pain receptors in the brain, NSAIDs work by reducing inflammation, lowering fever, and making pain-signaling nerve endings less sensitive.
Providers recommend it for arthritis, menstrual cramps, headaches, back pain, tendon injuries, and other conditions involving pain and swelling. Most people notice an effect within about an hour, with the strongest effect arriving several hours later.
Naproxen is generally considered safe, and like every medication it carries potential drug interactions and side effects.
What Does Naproxen Look Like?
Naproxen tablets come round, oval, oblong, and capsule-shaped. Some are film-coated for easier swallowing. Some carry a score line so the tablet can be split.
White is the color most associated with naproxen, and blue, orange, pink, and yellow all appear across products. Naproxen sodium, the form sold over the counter at 220 mg, is frequently blue.
The printed marking is where identification actually happens. Most imprints combine letters and numbers, though some manufacturers print their company name instead.
Naproxen Pill Identifier by Imprint
Start with the marking. It separates tablets that share a color and shape but hold different medications or strengths.
This is not an exhaustive list. Record the marking exactly as it appears, check both sides of the tablet, and include spaces, letters, numbers, and any score line. Every detail should agree: imprint, color, shape, and whatever the packaging says. If one of them does not fit, keep investigating rather than assume.
Why Color Alone Fails
White and blue are common on naproxen tablets, and they are common on hundreds of other medications. A white tablet may be naproxen. It may equally be an antibiotic, a blood pressure medication, an opioid, or a different pain reliever. Blue is no better, appearing across prescription and over-the-counter products alike.
So a color-based search only works alongside the marking and shape. Databases such as Drugs.com and the WebMD Pill Identifier both let you search on all three together.
Generic Naproxen
Generic naproxen contains the same active ingredient as the brand-name versions, made by a different company. People know naproxen through names like Aleve, Anaprox, Anaprox DS, and Naprosyn, which builds an expectation that every naproxen tablet should look a certain way.
Multiple manufacturers produce it, each with its own tablet design, imprint system, and packaging. A tablet can look nothing like the one in your medicine cabinet and still be the same medication at the same strength.
Over-the-Counter Versus Prescription
Over-the-counter naproxen is meant for temporary relief of everyday aches and pains. Prescription products cover conditions needing higher doses, longer courses, or ongoing management with a provider watching.
Side Effects and Warnings
Naproxen is not a controlled substance and is not associated with prescription drug addiction. It still causes side effects, and it is not right for everyone.
Serious complications are less common and real: stomach bleeding, ulcers, kidney problems, elevated blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and severe allergic reactions. Risk climbs with older age, a history of ulcers, blood thinners, taking more than one NSAID at a time, or heavy drinking while on the medication.
Call 911 for chest pain, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, vomiting blood, or black or tarry stools.
What to Do With an Unidentified Pill
Loose tablets separate from their packaging easily, which is how most identification questions start. Check the tablet for markings and compare them against the bottle, the prescription label, or a pill identification database.
If that does not settle it, do not take it. A pharmacist can usually identify a tablet in minutes. Keep unidentified pills away from children and pets until they are verified.
Getting Help for Prescription Drug Misuse
Naproxen is not addictive and produces none of the euphoria associated with opioids. Many people who eventually seek treatment for substance use, though, started out taking medication for real pain and a real medical condition.
If you are worried about how you are using prescription medications, taking them differently than prescribed, or unable to stop despite consequences, support exists. Treatment can include medical detox, inpatient care, outpatient programs, counseling, and ongoing recovery support. Better Addiction Care connects people with treatment providers across the country, with no obligation.
Related Topics
Naproxen Identification Questions People Ask Most
What does naproxen look like?
Round, oval, oblong, or capsule-shaped, depending on the manufacturer and formulation. White is common, and blue, orange, pink, and yellow all appear as well.
Is there a white naproxen pill?
Several. Verified white naproxen imprints include IP 190 500 (500 mg oval), IP 189 375 (375 mg oval), 250 IP188 (250 mg round), and I15 (500 mg oblong).
Is there a blue naproxen pill?
Yes, most often naproxen sodium. Blue imprints include L368, L490, 144, 141, and RDY 273 at 220 mg, and IP 193 at 275 mg.
What are common naproxen pill markings?
Verified examples include IP 190 500, IP 189 375, 250 IP188, I15, RDY 107, RDY 108, L368, L490, 141, 144, RDY 273, IP 193, G 32 500, G32 375, MOVA 500 M50, SG 435, S G 436, T 20, and I G 342.
Can you identify naproxen by color alone?
No. Many medications share the same colors and shapes, so color only helps alongside the marking.
Is naproxen addictive?
No. Naproxen carries none of the dependence risk associated with opioids or benzodiazepines, and it is not a controlled substance.
What should you do if you find an unidentified pill?
Do not take it. Confirm what it is through a pill identification database or a pharmacist, and keep it away from children and pets in the meantime.
