It’s a common annoyance to open a pack of paracetamol or ibuprofen and find that the medicine leaflet is upside down. But a hidden trick could put an end to the error that causes this frustration for good.
Steve Brownett-Gale, packaging expert at pharmaceutical packaging company Origin, said research showed more than half of Britons (56 per cent) take prescription drugs, while one in eight takes a painkiller every day. As a country, 1.08 billion prescription drugs were dispensed last year alone.
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 said: “It may seem like a coin toss, but it doesn’t have to be. A little-known trick is to look for the medicine’s expiry date printed or stamped 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 medicine without having to read the leaflet.
“Medication packaging is strategically designed to try to get patients to 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 patients will consult this important information.
“For this reason, it is common for the correct opening of the medicine packet to be the least likely to be suspected. People also tend to instinctively open the packet with the leaflet facing up, as its weight makes it seem like the logical choice, leading people to mistakenly think that is where the medicine is.
“While reading the wrong leaflet can be annoying, 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 fight accidental wrinkles in the leaflet when trying to reinsert the blisters, making your medication routine simpler and more hassle-free.”
