Child Resistant Caps

[pharmatron]

The Society used to recommend in the MEP that all solid dose and all oral and external liquid preparations were dispensed in reclosable child resistant containers unless:
(i) the medicine is in an original pack or patient pack such as to make this in advisable
(ii) the patient has difficulty in opening child resistant containers
(iii) a specific request is made that the product shall not be dispensed in a CRC
(iv) no suitable CRC exists for a particular liquid preparation
(v) the patient is assessed as requiring a compliance aid.
However, this guidance does not feature in the latest edition of the MEP.

In one pharmacy I worked, staff were told not to place a CRC onto antibiotic liquids as the original bottle and top were classed as a complete system and the child-resistant lids weren't approved tops for the bottles.

When I questioned the manager about this I was referred to an article in the PJ (Child-resistant packaging).

So, what do we do...replace the non-CRC lid with a clic-loc type...or leave the original closure...or pour the mixture into an amber glass dispensing bottle with a CRC. If you choose the latter option - what happens to the patient leaflet...these are usually attached to the bottle and trying to remove them usually rips them.

It's so complicated...why don't they just make them with child-resistant tops!?!?!

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by pharmatron

It's so complicated...why don't they just make them with child-resistant tops!?!?!

All it takes is for the major purchasers is to insist on CRC closures for the products they choose to order.
The RPSGB probably can't get involved because it's a commercial decision, however a new representative body for pharmacist could perhaps do so.

Jeff

[pharmagirl]

I have tried to fit crc on generic antibitoics and they have leaked so i dont anymore.
I recently had a patient complain because his tablets where supplied in amber bottle with a crc. The tablets often come in blisters but this time the only ones we could get were supplied in a bottle with out a child resistant closure so the pharmacist that day transfered them to a bottle with a crc and he wasnt happy. He wanted them in an original pack and was talking about contamination. I tried to explain the reasons for it and we wouldnt in future for him but he did not want to listen.

[happy_bunny]

Originally Posted by Jeff

The RPSGB probably can't get involved because it's a commercial decision, however a new representative body for pharmacist could perhaps do so.

Jeff

Sorry if this is a little off-topic, but all I seem to hear about lately is issues where the RPSGB cannot get involved for one reason or another - is there anything they actually can be involved in? Other than punishing pharmacists that is

[Sir_Dispensalot]

Originally Posted by pharmagirl

I have tried to fit crc on generic antibitoics and they have leaked so i dont anymore.
I recently had a patient complain because his tablets where supplied in amber bottle with a crc. The tablets often come in blisters but this time the only ones we could get were supplied in a bottle with out a child resistant closure so the pharmacist that day transfered them to a bottle with a crc and he wasnt happy. He wanted them in an original pack and was talking about contamination. I tried to explain the reasons for it and we wouldnt in future for him but he did not want to listen.

'the customer is always right...'

This particular situation also being more commonly known as 'the customer is a moany git with too much free time and an overinflated sense of self-worth'.

[SolomonQ]

I once decided to dispense the original sealed container, that didnt have a crc, patient came back saying "shoudnt it be in sealed bottle" my reply was that that was the manufacturers container and if they wanted we can transfer the tablets to a the other one, then I waited for the patient to say yes, before i carried it out.

[PinkGlitter]

Does anyone know where you can order non CRC lids? Apparently AAH doesn't do them anymore?

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by PinkGlitter

Does anyone know where you can order non CRC lids? Apparently AAH doesn't do them anymore?

Have a word with your line manager - and if that fails your professional services manager. I suspect that an inability to provide medicines in a container that your patients can get in to is a professional issue that should be dealt with centrally.

Jeff

[PinkGlitter]

Thanks Jeff, that was my next plan as I've just been forced into not screwing the lids on properly so they don't "click" - not good at all!