Packaging of Medicines
8 minute read
What you will learn
- State the functions of packaging
- Distinguish primary, secondary and tertiary packaging
- Describe the common packaging materials and their strengths and weaknesses
- Describe the types of closures
- Choose suitable packaging for a given product
- Calculate numbers of packs and cartons
Key points
- Packaging protects the medicine, holds it, identifies it, informs the user and makes it convenient to use.
- Primary packaging touches the medicine. Secondary packaging holds primary packs. Tertiary packaging is for transport.
- Materials include glass, plastics, metal, paper and board, and rubber.
- Amber glass protects against light. Plastics are light and unbreakable but may let in water or react with the drug.
- Closures may be child-resistant or tamper-evident.
- The pack must be compatible with the drug, protect it, and be safe, convenient and affordable.
- Labels and leaflets are part of the packaging.
Functions of packaging
| Function | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Protection | From light, moisture, air, heat, germs, damage and spillage |
| Containment | Holds the medicine in the correct amount |
| Identification | Name, strength, batch number and expiry date |
| Information | Directions, warnings and storage on the label and leaflet |
| Convenience | Easy to open, handle, measure and carry |
| Safety | Child-resistant and tamper-evident features |
| Compliance | Unit-dose and blister packs help patients take their medicines correctly |
The lesson on unit-dose dispensing and packaging materials in BDT 251 covers packaging at the dispensing level. This lesson looks at it from the manufacturing side.
Levels of packaging
| Level | What it is | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | In direct contact with the medicine | Bottle, blister, strip, ampoule, vial, tube, sachet |
| Secondary | Holds and presents the primary pack | Carton, box, leaflet |
| Tertiary | For storage and transport | Shipping cartons, pallets, shrink wrap |
Materials
| Material | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Glass | Clear and inert, airtight, can be sterilised, does not let in water. Amber glass blocks light | Heavy and breaks |
| Plastics (such as polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, PET) | Light, unbreakable, cheap, many shapes | Some let in water vapour or air, can react with drugs, soften with heat, and may absorb ingredients |
| Metals (aluminium, tin) | Strong, airtight, light-proof. Used for tubes, cans and foil | Can react with some products, so tubes are lined |
| Paper and board | Cheap, easy to print on. Used for cartons and leaflets | Not protective against moisture on their own |
| Rubber | Used for stoppers in vials and droppers | May react with or absorb ingredients |
Blister packs combine a plastic or aluminium formed pocket with an aluminium foil lid. They protect each dose, help identify tablets, and support adherence.
Closures
- Screw caps, with or without liners, for bottles.
- Child-resistant closures, which need two actions to open, to prevent poisoning.
- Tamper-evident closures, which show if the pack has been opened, such as foil seals or break-away rings.
- Droppers and pumps, for drops and sprays.
- Rubber stoppers and crimped caps for vials.
Choosing packaging
Ask:
- Is the container compatible with the medicine, so that nothing reacts, leaks or is absorbed?
- Does it protect against the light, moisture, air and germs that the medicine needs protection from?
- Is it safe, with a child-resistant or tamper-evident closure where needed?
- Is it convenient for the patient to open, measure and use?
- Is it affordable and available?
- Is there room for the full label and leaflet?
| Product | Suitable pack |
|---|---|
| Light-sensitive liquid | Amber glass bottle with a tight closure |
| Tablets that absorb moisture | Tight container with a desiccant, or a foil blister |
| Cream | Lined metal tube or plastic tube |
| Vaccine | Glass vial with a rubber stopper, kept in the cold chain |
| Eye drops | Dropper bottle with a tamper-evident seal |
| Syrup | Glass or plastic bottle, with a measure |
Labels and leaflets
The label and leaflet are part of the pack. They carry the name, strength, form, quantity, batch number, expiry date, storage, directions and warnings. They must be clear, accurate and durable.
Calculating packs
Example. 10 000 tablets, in blisters of 10, with 10 blisters in each carton.
- Tablets per carton = 10 × 10 = 100
- Cartons = 10 000 ÷ 100 = 100 cartons
Example. A 10-litre batch is filled in 100 mL bottles.
- Bottles = 10 000 ÷ 100 = 100 bottles
Exam focus
- State the functions of packaging.
- Differentiate primary, secondary and tertiary packs, with examples.
- Give advantages and disadvantages of glass and plastic.
- Common mistake: choosing clear glass for a light-sensitive drug.
Quick check
Test yourself before you move on. Pick an answer to see the explanation.
1.Primary packaging is the packaging that:
2.Which is the best container for a light-sensitive liquid?
3.Which of these is an advantage of plastic containers?
4.10 000 tablets are packed in blisters of 10, with 10 blisters in each carton. How many cartons are needed?
5.A tamper-evident closure is designed to: