75mg Aspirin - Impossible to Open

[MichaelJH]

In addition to my essential insulin I started regular medication about 20 years ago. First a low dose ACE Inhibitor then a statin and 75mg Aspirin. For many years the Aspirin came in small bottles of 100 before like everything else they came packed in foils. Sometimes foils can be tricky to open so the capsule splits open or the tablet shatters. However, for me this has reached new heights with my latest batch of Aspirin. I just cannot push the tablet out. Initially I resorted to a pointed knife but after an impromptu BG blood test !I now trim around with small sharp scissors. Anybody else experiencing this?

[MaggieSylvie]

Yes, Michael, I have been experiencing this for some time now and often have to rely on something sharp to get in. It's just something else sent to try us.

[Hidden]

Hello

Yes I am !

We were only saying the other day me and my Husband who were both trying to attempt it what on earth are they doing !

You are not on your own struggling even two of us here struggling between us getting into them x

[MrsSuzuki]

Same here, I struggle. Got my hubby to get a tablet out this morning and he made it look easy. Hate him!Lily

[Handel in reply to MrsSuzuki]

😂😂!! xxx

[Hidden]

Thank goodness you posted this, I thought that I had gone as weak as a kitten.

its been a few batches now and after, sweat filled, temper testing moments, I now use a pin to rip around the tablet on the foil side.

Just a note and a repeat of a post I answered a little while ago, is be careful of where you buy your aspirin as they are all not the same.

It started when I refused a prescription for them and the cardiology nurse asked why, I told them that I could afford to buy the aspirin and hopefully it would be a saving for the NHS.

I was then told that the prescription aspirin has to guarantee its strength ie 75, were as shop/Poundland etc don’t, they just can’t be stronger than 75.

The last time this was posted caused a bit of a bun fight, but having asked a few “ medical” personal there seems to be some truth in it.

Let the buns be thrown!

[Heyjude31 in reply to Hidden]

I personally am very grateful to you for posting this. It makes sense to me, thank you. Stay cool in this heat. Judi

[Hidden in reply to Heyjude31]

And you, the feet in a bucket of water is doing the trick, shame that its also tricking the water tablets into action ! Kevin

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Hidden]

I've got a beautiful small river tinkling along at the bottom of my garden and a little tree with a perfect 'sticky-out' branch to sit on to watch it. Never manage to sit too long due to the effects of hearing the running water, but at least I manage to get a bit of exercise running up the garden and upstairs to the loo! 😂😂

[Alison_L in reply to Hidden]

If they're fresh currant buns, please throw them in my direction, as I will toast and butter them and send them back, if required.

Re aspirins, if I break my thumbnail AGAIN trying to get them out, I resort to stabbing the foil with a ballpoint pen. Can get messy, but I haven't had an impromptu blood test yet...

[Maisie2014]

I have arthritic hands so have difficulty with my fingers. I look upon it as another way to exercise them and yet another challenge to keep me going. I find my Ivabradine tablets the most difficult. They are so tiny and if I don’t take care pushing them out of the foil they can land anywhere.

[nellie237]

Yep, I use scissors. I'm glad it's not only me.

[RufusScamp]

I puncture the foil with a thumbnail, then push it through from the back, catching it in a largish plastic tub before the cat chases it round the room.

[HumanZoomieMachine in reply to RufusScamp]

Yeah this I how I do it now after forcing the pills from the back and suddenly watching the Mrs do it this way... Still getting taught stuff after 20 years 🤣🤣

[Crochetwoman]

I use a wee short knife on my Aspirin. I like to live dangerously 😂. But I know when I do eventually stab myself it will bleed continuously. The Aspirin will have won . 🩹

[Cee-Cee1]

I've definitely noticed this with the aspirin lately Michael - they're almost impossible to pop out these days. I've been using my eyebrow tweezers to sort of cut round the edge of the wee pocket they're in. I'm glad you mentioned it, I've been blaming my age!😂

[Fredders]

My husband and I are on a shed load of pills between us and I put them in to pill dispensers. It is very noticeable how much harder it is to get some pills out than others, omeprazole being a particularly bad offender. Like some others have said, I use my thumb nail to puncture the foil and get the pills out, but even that is hard work, especially at night if I need to take some paracetamol, those little buggers definitely put up a fight!!!!!!

[Becksagogo]

It's a bug bare of mine too. I have longer nails so am able to stab the pack but quite often resort to knives.The worst thing for me are the tops of plastic sports bottles full of still water. I have to get a knife to them to "knock" the top off. One day I'll lose my fingers 😪

[maureensmith40]

How lovely to read, I thought it was only me who couldn’t get them out the packet, drives me nuts!

[stitch13]

The trick is to push from the side of the tablet through the foil, this usually works for me. Had plenty of practice as was a Pharmacy Technician for many years,popping pills for dosette trays!

[cakesandbakes]

Yes mine are exactly the same. I discovered the foil on back peels off easy.

[Wooodsie in reply to cakesandbakes]

Gonna try that one. I pop them ALL with a knife at the same time, then only have to do it once per blister pack.

[GrannyE]

It is not only tablets in foil it is those pill (or bleach) bottles you have squeeze and turn at the same time, some bottle tops and some ring pulls etc. I have said to my husband that really old age will have me surrounded by medication, food and drink none of which will I be able to get to. They make things childproof nowadays but it is also elderly proof!

[VelvetSky]

I have Arthritic hands so I start off at a disadvantage, I have a small pair of very pointy scissors to get at my tablets. And don’t get me started on bleach bottles!

[Beejaysee]

Hi Michael, same here! I now peel off all of the foil strip at the back (quite easy), releasing all the tablets at once and pour all the aspirin into an empty pill bottle so can just take one each day without the daily tussle with the pack👍

[CyclingTime]

Yes mine is the same no matter which brand I try. It takes a really forceful push and wiggle to get them out

[Hidden]

😀and me ! Can never get the washing pods packs open. !!!

[Hidden]

Yes! Aspirin are a nightmare to push out. I’d like to know WHY!?

[Handel]

Hopeless isn't it Michael! I've got carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture and a bit of arthritis so popping out any pills is ridiculous!!! I use a wooden toothpick to break the foil!!! Hope you're doing OK. All the very best. Jan xxxx

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Handel]

That's a good idea Jan - think I'll try the toothpick trick. Sometimes when I use the tweezers I manage to squash the tablet a bit as well!😆

[Handel in reply to Cee-Cee1]

Good luck!! I found that trick worked well when I first tried it on my 25mcg Levothyroxine tablet which you need a magnifying glass to see!!!!Lots of love. Jan xxx

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Handel]

I'm so glad MichaelJH started this post - I was honestly putting it down to my age that everything's so flippin' fiddly these days! 😂 xox

[Handel in reply to Cee-Cee1]

😂😂 xxx

[MountainGoat52]

Mine come in a bright green box and have always been harder to eject from their recess than the other pills I take. Puncturing the foil with the edge of my thumb nail does the trick. If this isn't done, the tablet can explode into lots of pieces, most of which miss the glass of water. All good fun!

[Newcastle53]

Hi Michael yes when we sort out my husbands tablets into docket boxes each fortnight i always do the morning tablets which includes aspirin. Despite being a nurse and dispensing thousands of tablets i cannot get the aspirin out of the ever increasingly thick and rigid foil which always ends with me ranting how old people are supposed to do this if they live alone etc etc always hand them to hubbie to try to chisel them out. Ridiculous situation and pressure needs to be applied to manufacturer to improve packaging. Glad im not the only one who has such difficulties!

[Qualipop]

Yes, aspirin is by far teh w orst of mine to get out of the foil. Maybe ask your chemist if there's a different brand that's easier

[Hidden]

I just need one of these, but i think in will end in my “ seemed like a good idea at the time” drawer along with my apple spiralling thing and my sock puller on things { snapped on those bloody compression tights } and a host of other plastic wonderments that will take forever to biologically break down !

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

First fortnight done and only six more weeks supply of these beasties...

Aspirin and trashed foil!

[Frootbat]

yes I did but no longer as am on anticoags instead! Every cloud …