Strange packaging

[pusillanimous]

Is this a new packaging that has only just reached Africa and is there a reason why? I have just opened my new box of Eliquis, and instead of every pocket in the foil strips containing a tablet, some are empty. The box still contains 60 tablets, but why these empty pockets ?

[jeanjeannie50]

I have some Metoprolol Tartrate 25mg tablets made by Zentiva that are packaged exactly the same. There's space for 10 tablets, but only 7 in plastic see through bubble packaging. The remaining 3 spaces not used do not have the plastic bubble that contains a pill, but instead is flat.

I've no idea why this is happening.

Jean

[pusillanimous in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes it's odd - for a moment when I went to take out a day's supply and saw the empty spaces, I thought I had finally gone mad and taken them already ! then I saw each foil was the same, and at least I felt relieved I was not insane !!!!

[mjames1 in reply to pusillanimous]

Maybe the mail carrier has afib and needed a couple more

Jim

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to pusillanimous]

Like you, I was a bit puzzled when I first saw the packaging and was relieved when I worked out that I still had the same amount of tablets I've always been prescribed. Most are issued now with 28 pills (14 per 2 silver strips) for each box prescribed and usually cover 4 weekly doses. I wonder if drug companies have subtly changed from issuing a higher amount to 28 pills per pack? Confusing myself here. 🙄

[pusillanimous in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Xarelto always came in a box of 28, which I thought was silly as except for February, September, April, June and November, all the rest of the months have 31 days-maybe pharmas use a different calendar !!!!!

[Buzby62 in reply to pusillanimous]

All my meds in UK come as 28 or 56 and the pharmacy calendars work on 4 or 8 weekly (28 days or 56 days) rather than calendar months. Sometimes the packaging has gaps to get the multiples of 7 to work out on the strips.

[Obis891 in reply to pusillanimous]

Yes we do 13x 28 is the year .

[Qualipop in reply to Obis891]

Of course. Penny just dropped. I've always wondered how 28 could equate to a month.

[Finvola]

Existing packaging design being used for more than one medication?

[pusillanimous in reply to Finvola]

I thought maybe they had run out of the correct packaging and were using some other that the factory had in stock, This packing is 10 tablets in a foil designed for 14, maybe it is cost cutting who knows?

[BobD Volunteer]

Seriously does it even matter?

[pusillanimous in reply to BobD]

Yes, I think there should be an explanation!

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

Matters to me as outlined in my reply below. Matters to anyone with sight loss if they use touch.

[Threecats]

I have exactly the same experience with my cat’s OTC flea tablets. There are six blisters on each foil strip, all sealed but only three contain tablets. Thought I’d dropped a tablet at first and spent ages looking for it until I twigged😀

[pusillanimous in reply to Threecats]

Glad I'm not the only dizzy blonde on here !!!!👍

[BenHall1 in reply to Threecats]

3 cats ...... I'm thinking of registering with my cats vet for medical treatment and not bothering with the GP I'm registered with. 😱😂😱😂

[Threecats in reply to BenHall1]

😂😂 well, if the treatment my cats have received is anything to go by, I would suggest that’s a good idea. Not to mention the option of a peaceful way out at the end!

[Qualipop in reply to Threecats]

Exactly what I've said for years about my dogs' vet. I can see them in person same day, get immediate tests and as you say, the peaceful way out without being left suffering for months.

[CDreamer]

I hate the new packaging - the old 7x2 strip was really easy to see if you had or not taken your tablet but with these new strips - no hope! I have 3 different versions at the moment - WHY indeed?!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to CDreamer]

Use a seven day box . Simples

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

No it’s not - takes up far too much space and they are not big enough to take all my pills for one day. Just had this conversation with Hubble - if it works why try fix it?

[BenHall1 in reply to BobD]

Absolutely Bob ... just like this ... brill, unless u r colour blind of course 😂😂

Weekly pill centre.

[pusillanimous in reply to BenHall1]

It probably works well if your dose is the same each day, but that is not always the case, so it is better to organise your pills on a daily basis.

[BenHall1 in reply to pusillanimous]

each day has three small compartments inside it so you can cater for the three usual times of day for taking meds ... morning, midday and evening. so I put in the morning compartment 5 different pills still in blister wrap. Still room for a few more. Each person can use it how they need.

[Tarikor]

this shows once again, that many companies, and big pharma are not immune to this, do not do proper studies/tests to determine the best user experience (what we call UX in IT). I have experienced the same thing with many other medicines, including antibiotics, and it is so confusing. I still do not know what the reason for this is to be honest. But it definitely does not help us, the consumers/clients.

[pusillanimous in reply to Tarikor]

As reported here, at least two of us have had a slight scare when confronted with the new packaging. I was concerned I had already taken at least one pill which I had no recollection of doing, and put the second one in my pill box for later. Three Cats, spent time crawling around the floor thinking she had dropped her cat's tablet. Imagine the confusion for a person who may well be in the early stages of Dementia, given the elderly represent the greatest market for this type of medication, it could result in disaster!

[fibnum]

Perhaps they send out varying amounts and rather than spend money and time dealing with different-sized packs, simply use the largest pack and put in only whatever is prescribed, leaving the unneeded ones empty. I know it is always concerning when a med has a new look. You want to be sure it is the right one!

[Brad43]

Just some kind of marketing decision. They don't always make sense. As long as it's the right number of pills, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Singwell]

Sounds like they've forgotten there's 7 days in a week however long or short the month is. I've not had this happen but will look out for it when opening a new pack. I think that's the only solution - notice it when younopen the pack and cut out the blank blisters. I always decant my levothyroxine for the week by cutting up the blister steps anyway. Used to do the same with my heart meds. The anticoagulants seem to have a harder surface so I decant those directly. It's a faff but at least I know where I am!

[paolina]

Olmesartan are like that, only the empty ones are flat, so you can see that it is empty. I don't know why they don't all do 28 packs, at least then you would be able to order all the tablets at the same time.

[Qualipop in reply to paolina]

It must be cheaper to only make one size of packaging.

[Obis891]

Possibly the manufacturer is cutting costs by one buying one size of blank foil which will be suitable for both 7 and 10 strips ie 28 day and 30 day

[ibuputih]

Seems dumb to me that something that was created to improve patients’ tablet taking experience, is now actually hampering those with sight difficulties.

The reason for the empty blisters is manufacturing costs, as the same equipment can be set up in factory for different doses, with just the number of tablets changing and no need for a new tooling up of machines.

[Desanthony]

I get this with some of my packs of tablets though not Eliquis yet. I imagine it's a manufacturing thing.

[Auriculaire]

My husband's Exforge have been like that for ages. For years my Levothyrox came in 28 day strips. Then when Merck reformulated the tablets so the fillers suited the Chinese market they changed to 30 day strips. I get a six monthly prescription. Usually the chemist gives me 3 months worth of the 75mcg Levothyrox in a box of 90 but only 1 month worth of the 25mcg pills - I take 87. 5mcg five days a week and 100mcg the other two days. They don't seem to take into account that I am breaking the 25 mcg tablets in half so I always end up with a surplus of the 25mcg pills.