The HCPC supports Congress’ and the FDA’s admission that packaging can play an important role in discouraging opioid misuse by patients and others as noted by the SUPPORT Act of 2018. Unit dose blister packaging can fulfill the CDC’s and the FDA’s requirement to limit initial prescriptions for acute pain by providing pre-packed doses.
Unit dose blister packaging can be designed to contain a 3, 5 or 7 day initial prescription opioid pain treatment for acute care patients. The limited doses in properly designed blisters will not only mitigate overuse by the patient, but limit excess unused doses which are frequently the source of diverted and misused pills. A properly designed blister pack will include messaging to warn patients of addiction risk, provide visible evidence of doses taken and provide child-resistance superior to that offered by standard pharmacy packaging.
