Pharmaceutical colors

When it comes to medicine, people usually pay attention to its name or dosage form. Few realize that the color of pharmaceuticals also carries special and practical significance for both patients and manufacturers.

Pharmaceuticals typically consist of three main components: the dosage form (containing the active ingredient and excipients), which is contained and protected directly by primary packaging (plastic, aluminum, or glass bottles) and indirectly by secondary packaging (cardboard boxes). The color of a pharmaceutical product is related to the color of the dosage form (with colored excipients), the color of the primary packaging, and the secondary packaging; among these, the color of the dosage form and primary packaging plays a crucial role in product quality and safety.

Color's impact on psychology and therapy

Psychologically, one might feel restless in a yellow room or calm and relaxed in a green environment. Artists and designers have long understood how color influences temperament, feelings, and emotions.

The red color spectrum includes the colors red, orange, and yellow. These are "warm" colors that can evoke emotions ranging from warmth and comfort to irritation.

The blue spectrum includes the colors: blue, magenta, and green. These are "soothing" colors that can evoke emotions ranging from calm and sadness to warmth, from comfort to indifference. Many patients often prefer pink pills because they seem sweeter than red ones; they dislike chestnut-colored tranquilizers, preferring blue ones for their calming effect; and they dislike lime-colored antacids for fear of nausea, preferring pink ones for their comforting feeling.

Several studies have shown that color has an influence on humans. For example, medications in the form of pills with "warm" colors have been noted to be more effective than those in the same form with "soft" colors.

Colors can also trigger physiological reactions (some colors are associated with hypertension, increased metabolism, and eye strain). Ancient Egyptians and Chinese used color therapy (chromotherapy, light therapy, colorology). Today, color therapy is also used as an alternative therapy. The theoretical basis of this therapy is that colors vibrate at specific frequencies, and so do the organs and tissues in the human body; colors corresponding to different areas of the body have the same frequency. When a person is ill, the frequencies of the organs and tissues become unbalanced; therefore, the right color can help restore health. Some colors and their therapeutic effects are as follows:

Red: stimulates the body and mind, increases circulation, stimulates the liver, reduces pain, alleviates women's disorders, etc.

Orange: stimulates the lungs and increases oxygen, reduces spasms or contractions, helps relieve menstrual cramps, reduces bloating, etc.

Yellow: stimulates the nervous system and purifies the body, improves appetite, promotes heart health and increases circulation...

Green: stimulates the brain, stimulates the digestive system, helps relax muscles, heals external wounds, creates a state of well-being...

Sea-colored water: provides mild sedation without side effects, reduces headaches, helps harmonize the circulatory system, and helps relieve pain from burns...

Blue: reduces symptoms and soothes pain; treats acne and skin disorders, treats sleep disorders, reduces itching and irritation...

Indigo: reduces pain and swelling, calms and promotes sleep, tightens and alleviates skin problems, stops nosebleeds...

Purple: stimulates hormone activity, boosts overall immunity, stimulates the spleen, relaxes muscles...

A brief history and significance of pharmaceutical colors.

In ancient Egypt, medicinal substances were divided into small pills mixed with clay or bread. For 5,000 years, until the 20th century, these pills remained white. Most solid medications were colorless, except for syrups which were pink. The shift towards colored medications began in the 1960s, and the first colored softgels were introduced in 1975.

Today, thanks to technological advancements, capsules come in over 80,000 different colors. In addition, tablets are also coated in a wide variety of colors.

Beyond their visual appeal, the colors of pharmaceuticals offer benefits to users. Color helps users distinguish between tablets and capsules, and between over-the-counter and prescription medications. Patients respond better to medications with color-coded effects: sedatives are typically blue, painkillers are typically red. Color and color combinations create visual appeal and help reduce medication confusion (patients who take daily medication tend to prefer brightly colored pills; older patients are more prone to confusion with small white pills).

In marketing, the color of pharmaceuticals is equally important. There are three ways a pharmaceutical manufacturer chooses colors:

Use a single color for all products from a manufacturer. For example, Cipla uses white packaging for all its pharmaceuticals, while Himalaya uses yellow packaging for all its pharmaceuticals.

Use one color for each product depending on its nature and based on competing colors (requires ideas and research).

Using colors intentionally: convenient for selecting pharmaceuticals, suitable for printers or pharmaceutical packaging materials.

In addition, some professional associations also issue their own regulations. For example, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the color of the outer cap and label of eye drops should match the active ingredient group as follows:

Antibacterial agents: yellowish-brown cap; steroid anti-inflammatory agents: pink; pupil dilation and ciliary muscle paralysis: red; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: gray; pupil constriction: green; beta-blockers: yellow or blue; sympathomimetic antagonists: purplish-red; carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: turquoise.

Side effects of color in pharmaceuticals

In the past, when the range of pharmaceutical products was limited and market competition was not as fierce, pharmaceuticals...

Colorless pills are generally ideal for several reasons: the absence of colored excipients means no foreign substances are entering the body. White pills make it easier to identify any discoloration of the active ingredient (which usually indicates a decrease in quality).

Today, for the sake of differentiation and competition, the use of color in pharmaceuticals is a necessary practice. The question arises: do these coloring excipients cause side effects for users? Pharmaceutical colors must meet pharmaceutical standards (D: Drug). Colors used in cosmetics (C: Cosmetics) or food (F: Food) are not permitted; however, some colors are used in multiple industries, for example, all three, and are designated as FD&C.

Generally, generic drugs contain more color-enhancing excipients than brand-name drugs; therefore, the risk of side effects from these excipients is increased.

Furthermore, many pharmaceutical color groups are associated with serious side effects. These are issues that will be discussed in detail on another occasion.

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