G 037 White Oval Pill: Identification, Risks, and Safety Warning

It’s a scenario more common than you might think.

You are cleaning out your (or a relative’s) medicine cabinet, organizing a junk drawer, or perhaps digging around in the bottom of a travel bag or the pocket of a coat that hasn’t been used in some time, when it happens: you find a loose tablet.

When you see a white, oval pill imprinted with G 037, your first instinct is likely to search for its uses and see if it is still safe or effective to take.

Before identifying the pill, it is important to understand that when dealing with controlled substances like opioids, finding and taking medication (that may have belonged to someone else) is a major health risk, regardless of whether or not that sample was left from an old prescription, and a major legal issue.

About the G 037 White Oval Pill

The G 037 pill, a white and oval tablet, has “G 037” on both sides. It was previously used to identify Lortab 10/325, a potent Schedule II controlled substance that has historically been used for moderate to severe pain relief. It contains 10 mg of hydrocodone bitartrate and 325 mg of acetaminophen.

Important Note: Watch for Discontinued Substances

Please do not take a G 037 white oval pill if you find one. Lortab was discontinued between 2011 and 2014.[1] If you find a G 037 white oval pill, it could either be:

• Expired for some time, making it potentially chemically unstable.
• Counterfeit: Pills sold on the street may have G 037 on the imprints and are sold to appear authentic, but these counterfeit pills often contain lethal quantities of synthetic opioids or fillers that have not been identified.

Medical Alert: If you see the imprint G 037 on a white oval pill, do not ingest. If an unknown pill has been ingested by someone, contact 911 immediately or call Poison Control.

Ingesting G 037 Risks

Though some prescription medications (Vicodin, Norco) use the combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, G 037 is not used in any modern medicine or prescription of any type. There are several hazards associated with ingesting expired or “found” G 037 pills, such as:

The Danger of Counterfeit Medications

The DEA has issued urgent warnings about the rise of counterfeit prescription pills. Because the G 037 imprint was once widely recognized, illegal labs still use pill presses to replicate its exact appearance.

The primary danger is that these fakes are rarely what they seem. They are frequently laced with fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.[2] Because there is no quality control in illegal manufacturing, you could have two pills that look the same, but one contains no fentanyl while the next one has a lethal dose.[3] These fakes may also contain other dangerous fillers like xylazine, which is a veterinary sedative.

Liver Damage

The G 037 imprint signifies the presence of 325 mg of acetaminophen. While this might be a standard dose if prescribed, the risk of ingesting 325 mg of acetaminophen from a “found” medication is substantial, primarily for the following reasons:

• Chemical Incompatibility: Acetaminophen will continue to break down chemically with age, especially with exposure to ambient humidity (like the environment of a bathroom cabinet).
• Combination with OTC Medications: Many individuals unknowingly combine “found” medications with OTC cold remedies or sleep aids, which also contain acetaminophen. This will frequently result in an “accidental stacking” of acetaminophen, resulting in exceeding the maximum daily limit of 4,000 mg.
• Alcoholic Beverages: The co-ingestion of acetaminophen with an alcoholic beverage can result in a staggering increase in the production of NAPQI (a highly reactive, toxic metabolite of acetaminophen formed in the liver),  which can cause irreversible liver cell death (necrosis).

Acute liver failure can progress with remarkable speed, often starting with symptoms that are easily overlooked like nausea or abdominal pain before it rapidly escalates into more serious issues like jaundice, mental confusion, or eventual organ failure.[4]

Respiratory Distress

As a central nervous system depressant, the hydrocodone found in a G 037 pill is intended to slow down specific bodily functions as a way to manage pain. However, when you are dealing with a pill that is expired or has an unverified dosage, that slowing effect can quickly become fatal.

If the body takes in more of the opioid than it is able to handle, it triggers respiratory depression (where breathing becomes too shallow or slow to get enough oxygen to the brain). Without getting medical help immediately, this often leads to hypoxia, permanent brain damage, or even death.[5]

What Is the Most Effective Way to Dispose of Expired Medication?

If you find a G 037 pill in a medicine cabinet, the best thing to do is to dispose of it immediately. Leaving expired opioids in the home increases the risk of accidental ingestion or misuse.

In order to safely dispose of your expired medications, here are some options:

1. Drug Take-Back Sites: Because the best method of disposal is through a DEA-authorized collector, you can take your expired prescriptions to one of the many local pharmacies or police stations that have “drop-off” boxes for expired medications.
2. The FDA Flush List: Because G 037’s active ingredient, hydrocodone, is a potent opioid, it is included on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Flush List. The FDA recommends that when a take-back program is not available, you should flush the G 037 pill down the toilet so that a child, pet, or other person may not find it and accidentally poison themselves.
3. Dispose in Trash: If neither of the preceding two options is available, you can mix the expired pills with a substance that most people would find repulsive (for example, used coffee grounds or kitty litter), put them in a bag, and throw them away. After throwing the expired pills in the trash, you should scrape your name and any other personal information off of the original prescription bottle before recycling it.

When to Seek Help for Opioid Use

Pain management can be complicated, and sometimes that struggle can lead to a substance abuse problem. If you or someone you love finds yourself going through your old medicine cabinet looking for prescription medications, searching the streets for illicit pills, feeling willing to take any unidentified pills if it will relieve them from their pain, or going through withdrawal symptoms when they cannot find a medication to take, those are significant clinical red flags that may indicate you have an Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).[6]

Alpas Wellness is here to provide you with compassionate, evidence-based care while you navigate through the complexities of opioid dependence.

Whether you have questions about the safety of your loved ones or are in need of support for yourself, our team is here to listen without judgment. Reach out to Alpas Wellness today to learn more about our treatment options and take the next step toward a safer, healthier future.