Blister Packaging May Overshadow Bottles In Medical Packaging

Children are taught at a young age that a hospital, doctor's office or dentist's chair is a safe place to be. I don't always agree. And I'm not just saying that because I still cringe at the thought of going to the dentist. My conclusion is based on a simple fact; people make mistakes, even medical professionals. Read about how packaging prescribed medications in blister packs instead of bottles may be the key to keeping patients safer, healthier and happier.

Bottles over blister packs. The U.S. pharmaceutical industry packages vitamins, supplements and other over the counter goods in packer bottles of all sizes. Most Americans have seen blister packs before, small plastic shells enclosing contents with a sheet of metal or paperboard backing, but users still prefer bottles.

Over the years, specific bottle styles have become correlated with certain types of medication. For instance, often times, cough syrups are packaged in modern round bottles. Vitamins and other health supplements are easily to identify in packer bottles as well. This system of recognition through bottles has worked well for us, but hasn't really developed in other countries.

80% of all pharmaceuticals in this country are packaged in bottles, leaving only 20% to represent blister packaging growth. The details in other countries are staggeringly different. Nearly 80% of the rest of the world's packaging is represented through blister packs and bottles only account for 20%.

Blisters on the rise, for a good reason. U.S. retailers and consumers are slowly but surely catching up with the rest of the world when it comes to packaging prescribed medications. The demand for blister packaging is rising. Though such a move could be expensive (blister packs are slightly more costly than bottles), for some the benefits greatly outweigh the costs.

Someone has a medical problem, so they go the doctor. The doctor prescribes a treatment for the individual. At this point it's up to the individual to follow the doctor's orders, but this is difficult for some individuals to follow through with. It's been researched and proven that the calendar-based, prescription blister packs assist people in staying on their medication and following through with treatment. Just consider that a one-up for blister packs in comparison to bottles.

There's always room for improvement when it comes to safety. Prescriptions packaged in bottles have worked for decades, but it's not the most fool-proof manner to handle powerful goods. The advent of blister packs has allowed pharmaceuticals to experiment with packaging not only single medications in small capsules, but multiple doses of a variety of prescriptions, specialized for each and every individual. Imagine not having to worry about whether you took all of your medications for the day or not having to worry about an elderly family member taking too much medication, personal prescription blister packs could make that happen.

Chances are, the debate over whether bottles or blister packs are more suitable to package prescriptions will continue for a while before any actions are made. Bottles are the traditional standard and have served our communities well, but obviously the rest of the world sees a little something in packaging in blister packs. Maybe one day the U.S. will be able to experience what it's all about.

By: Kayla Holman

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Bottles are the standard container for prescriptions. Read Kayla Holman's article about the role bottles and blister containers play in the pharmaceutical industry.