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Clinical storage and distribution Falsified medicines directive Packaging services

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Different Pharmaceutical Packaging Methods

Falsified medicines directive

You have likely been exposed to many different medication packages. Cold medications seem to come in blister packaging designs. Cough medication, however, always seems to come in a bottle in liquid form. Prescribed medications tend to come in small orange bottles, with labels printed onto them. Drug sourcing involves a lot of planning and design when it comes to choosing the best packaging for a new medication. The following are the most common types of drug sourcing packaging you are likely to see on the market today.

Liquid bottles

Liquid bottles are usually cough syrups or children?s medications. They are easier to take than traditional larger pills and are usually flavored with some type of a fruit, which appeals to young children. Liquid medications also often come with a serving cup that is premeasured. The directions on the outside of the box allow you to look up recommended dosage instructions and then easily pour them into the serving cup. Liquid bottles are a popular medication packaging type not only for children, but also for adults who prefer not to swallow large pills.

Bluster packaging

Blister packaging is usually reserved for over the counter medications. You rarely see prescribed medications in this form. Blister packaging has many drug sourcing benefits, including a longer shelf time. When you open the package, you are only exposing one of the medications to light and air, leaving the others properly enclosed. Clinical storage is important for many highly sensitive pharmaceuticals.

Blister packaging may be used in either over the counter or prescribed medications. However, carded blister packaging tends to be more popular in over the counter medications. Carded blister packaging is common in the pharmaceutical industry because it offers the ability to give information and advertisements about the product, while also keeping it safely and securely packaged. The information and advertisements are an important part in creating brand awareness for the supplier.

Bottle packaging

Bottle packaging is the most common form of medication packaging. Bottle packaging companies do not put a lot of extra design or features into the traditional bottle. In most cases, it is used for large quantities of medications or for prescribed medications. The pharmacist or medical professional will place a printed instruction and informative sticker on the bottle anyway. One of the best medical packaging techniques that are used in this type of drug sourcing is the ability to have child proof packaging.

While a large percentage of people have young children in the home, many people do not take necessary precautions to prevent them from getting into medications. Traditional bottle filling methods have difficult to open lids, making it harder for small children to access. Bottle packaging for pharmaceuticals provides a wide array of cap options including child safe, snap off, and twist off.

Injectable medications

Some medications require refrigerator and the usage of a needle. Anyone who has dealt with diabetes is familiar with injectable medications. The analytical and research services involved in creating a medication that can be injected from home are advanced. Many pharmaceutical companies require customized packaging for injectable products that include auto injector pens and sterilized bottles. It is difficult to create one generic type of packaging for injectable medications, because each medication contains different ingredients and must be injected in a different method.

Pharmaceuticals and drug therapy is extremely common in the United States. In fact, three quarters (75.1%) of medical visits involve some kind of drug therapy. The traditional consumer has physically tried many different types of medications. They have also seen numerous packaging types. A lot of thought and planning went into each one of the medical packaging options. Pros and cons were weighed and a final design was chosen, based on security, health, and safety. Other factors were also taken into consideration including child safety features, contamination possibilities, and shelf life.