Bottles and blisters are two popular tablet packaging formats. Both protect from moisture, temperature fluctuations, oxygen exposure and light, but which option offers the greatest advantages?
Plastic bottles are cost-effective and weigh the least per dose, with several childproof caps available. Blister packs don’t offer this safety feature and should, therefore, not be given to children as a means of medication administration.
Plastic
Pharmpac NZ tablet bottle packaging is made of different materials such as PET, HDPE or LDPE and features lightweight and shatterproof construction that makes them suitable for transporting medications safely. They also boast superior moisture and oil-proof properties.
Plastic packaging materials that can withstand chemical reactions with solvents are an attractive choice for pharmaceutical packaging; however, not all formulations may be compatible. Therefore, conducting scientific testing on stability, compatibility and performance before selecting one as tablet packaging material should always be done first.
Fifty-one percent of medicines taken orally come in pill form and are typically packaged in blister packs, bottles or strip packages. This blog post will highlight the pros and cons of these popular formats for packaging tablets based on protection, cost, safety and sustainability against four key criteria.
In our current inventory of white HDPE plastic OTC pharmaceutical bottles with induction lined child resistant caps ranging in sizes from 75cc to 500cc, the induction seal provides a tamper-proof and airtight seal that keeps contents secure until consumers consume. These medicine bottles are an economical yet sustainable packaging option available on the market.
Glass
Pharmaceutical packaging should be constructed from materials that will withstand various environmental factors and protect its contents against moisture intrusion, light damage and other forms of environmental impact. Furthermore, its primary packaging should not interact with its contents physically or chemically, changing their properties significantly – this is particularly relevant for medicines containing direct contact with packaging material.
Glass containers have an outstanding track record as one of the primary packaging materials for pharmaceutical products. Being nonporous and impermeable to gases and liquids, they’re easily sterilizable while resisting abrasion; plus, their flexibility allows for a range of shapes. Plus, they come in various colours that protect their contents against photodamage!
Glass bottles are an excellent way to package pharmaceuticals for several reasons, including lightweight protection and moisture barriers. Furthermore, they’re perfect for storing dry syrups or other solid dosage forms.
Pharmpac NZ tablet bottle packaging is suitable for most non-parenteral and parenteral preparations, including both parenteral and non-parenteral medications. Their composition includes 10% calcium oxide, 15% sodium oxide, and 75% silica, with little magnesium or aluminium oxide. Boric oxide in this glass type makes it highly hydrolytically resistant and an excellent option for packing acidic and alkali substances.
Blister Packs
Though bottle packaging remains prevalent in the United States, blister packs have quickly become the preferred format for prescription and over-the-counter tablet pharmaceutical products. Blister packs offer multiple advantages for manufacturers, pharmacies, patients and themselves, such as improved child safety, higher product quality and medication adherence.
Unlike bottles that may break easily or be compromised, blister packs protect each pill individually, making it easier for patients to monitor drug consumption and reduce medication errors. They also facilitate better adherence by offering an opportunity to read and follow dosing instructions, while calendarized blister packs may even help combat forgetfulness by clearly marking each day of the week that a dose must be taken.
Blister packages are produced using vacuum or pressure-forming machines to heat plastic films above their glass transition temperature, softening them but not fully melting them. Different thermoforming machines exist that produce various shapes, sizes, and thicknesses.
Plastic can be printed or coated with a heat-seal coating to form airtight packages resistant to moisture and oxygen that are airtight enough for the long shelf lives of medications needing protection from chemical migration or degradation. This type of packaging is commonly seen with products like toothpaste.
Strip Packs
Strip packs are tablet packaging made of aluminium-PE laminated film to protect medications or drugs. Pharmpac NZ tablet bottle packaging shares similar protective properties to cold-form aluminium in terms of moisture, light and oxygen protection while being childproof and tamper-resistant – perfect for protecting tablets or capsules!
Packaging pills separately makes it easier for patients to identify and administer the right dose and helps ensure fewer chances of overdosing. A patient can quickly inspect each dose cup to see how many pills remain after taking a dose; all cavities in this package are clear, so you can easily count up how many more pills remain.