When we take the drug, we can clearly see that although most of the pills are white, there are many pills in other colors. Why do pills have so many different colors?
1. The color of the tablets is mostly the primary color of the drug. Their color depends on the concentration of the chemical substance in it. Berberine tablets are yellow, because its active ingredient is yellow. Other similar ones are blue anti-inflammatory gallbladder tablets, red dipyridamole tablets, and black medicinal carbon tablets.
2. Easy to distinguish. The shape and color of tablets and capsules are important markers for distinguishing among different drugs. Pills of different colors and shapes can be quickly distinguished when multiple drugs are taken.
3. There seems to be an implicit correlation between color and drug expectations based on drug color. Studies have found that red, yellow and orange drugs produce a more intense irritating effect, while blue and green produce a stronger tendency to calm.
In the face of different color drugs, patients are more preconceived to think that red and black drugs will be more potent, while white drugs will be weaker.
4. The choice of the pharmaceutical company. When choosing the appearance of a drug, there is no specific meaning or uniformity for color. Pharmaceutical companies will choose the most attractive color for their customers to color coated or capsule drugs.
5. Avoid deterioration. Pigments have more or less shading. Colorants and opacifiers are often added to the capsule to prevent light from passing through, which stabilizes the ingredients in the contents and is beneficial for improving the stability of the light-sensitive active ingredient. The pigment on the sugar coating of the tablet can also act as a light-shielding effect to avoid deterioration of the drug.
