This is a very common irritation. You open a new packet of paracetamol or ibuprofen and it always happens the same: the leaflet is wrapped around the pills. But it turns out that this is no coincidence and there is a clever way to avoid it.
Steve Brownett-Gale, an expert at pharmaceutical packaging company Origin, explained that research has shown that more than half of Britons (56 per cent) take prescription drugs. In addition, one in eight of us takes a painkiller every day. As a country, 1.08 billion prescription drugs were dispensed last year alone, Gloucestershire Live reports.
Steve said: “But despite the huge volume of medicines dispensed and consumed every day, most people surprisingly don’t know the correct way to open medication packets. One Reddit user, under the handle r/BritishProblems, expressed frustration at opening pill packets and always finding the medication leaflet wrapped around the blister pack, making it difficult to remove and reinsert the medication.
“However, they are not alone. Other commenters on the post, which garnered more than 6,500 votes, responded with similar complaints. One commented: “I do this every time I take my medication. It drives me crazy,” while another described the experience as “The nightmare of my life at work.”
How to open paracetamol or ibuprofen tablets correctly
Steve revealed a helpful tip for those who have trouble with medication packaging: “It may feel like a coin toss, but it doesn’t have to be. A little-known trick is to look for the medication expiration date printed or engraved on one of the flaps of the box. Whichever side it is on, it will be the opposite flap that you need to open to access your medication without having to read the leaflet.
“Medication packaging is strategically designed to make the patient open it the ‘wrong’ way first. For safety reasons, packaging designers will try to get patients to interact with the patient information leaflet by encouraging them to remove it from the package, which increases the likelihood that the patient will read this important information.”
He went on to explain that the design is intentional: “For this reason, it’s common for the correct opening of the medication packet to be where you’re least likely to suspect. People also tend to instinctively open the packet with the leaflet facing up, as its weight makes it feel like the logical choice, leading them to mistakenly think that’s where the medication is.”
Steve concluded by urging patience when accessing medications: “While it can be annoying to receive the wrong end of the pill bottle, it’s important not to get frustrated and throw away the leaflet and packaging altogether. The information provided in the leaflet can be crucial to understanding dosing instructions, potential side effects, and other important details about your medication. Throwing it away without checking it could lead to misunderstandings or even potential health risks.
“However, following this trick will help ensure you never have to struggle with accidentally wrinkling the leaflet when trying to reinsert the blisters, making your medication routine simpler and more hassle-free.”
