topic Re: Child Proof Lids in Community Chat

Child Proof Lids

occasionalrain — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 23:48:51 GMT

I occasionally take a multiple vitamin. Today, I needed to open a new bottle and it was a challenge. I tried using various methods, one after the other, and was considering a hammer or saw when I finally had success. I don't have arthritis, but those who do would never have succeeded. Once opened, I would not risk putting the lid completely back onto the bottle which, for those with young children, defeats the purpose.

At one time, once opened, the lid could be turned over and replaced making it no longer child proof.

I don't have an answer. Perhaps, making them easier to open but not easy enough for a young child.

Re: Child Proof Lids

spumoni99 — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 23:53:04 GMT

I agree sometimes its near impossible!

Re: Child Proof Lids

deepwaterdotter — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 23:54:35 GMT

I keep a supply of empty pill bottles with non-childproof lids for just this situation. When I come across lids like the one you describe, I place the pills in one of my easy-to-open bottles.

Re: Child Proof Lids

Cakers3 — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:21:48 GMT

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
I keep a supply of empty pill bottles with non-childproof lids for just this situation. When I come across lids like the one you describe, I place the pills in one of my easy-to-open bottles.

@deepwaterdotter Great suggestion. We do the same in order to take some of our scripts with us. We take the bottles with the labels and keep a few in them and put extras in the empty bottles to leave at home.

That way we have them to take on time or if we get stuck trying to get home

@occasionalrain I take it you were trying to open one of those push down and twist type of lids. Those can be a pain and even the inside seal can be hard to remove. I've had to stick scissors in some of these in order to cut the seal off.

All our scripts come with the reversible caps but the OTC bottles are a challenge.

Re: Child Proof Lids

SilleeMee — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:29:08 GMT

I have saved my regular screw-on bottle caps forever. I have a stash of them in all sizes. Whenever I get one of those push-down-and-twist bottles then I remove it and replace it with one from my stash which fits.

I've been living with severe dexterity issues for 20 years. I've learned some things along the way.

Re: Child Proof Lids

occasionalrain — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:39:04 GMT

Thanks for the suggestions to save lids and non-childproof bottles. Why hadn't I thought of that.

Re: Child Proof Lids

Sage04 — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 01:07:22 GMT

@occasionalrain wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions to save lids and non-childproof bottles. Why hadn't I thought of that.

@occasionalrain when I read your Post I was about to suggest the same as some of the Posters. I have so many prescription bottles so I took the labels off and use them for different things such as pins, paper clips, buttons and so on.

To add to this, if I transfer say vitamins to one of these bottles, I take the label off of the vitamin bottle and tape it to the prescription bottle. That tells me exactly what is inside.

Re: Child Proof Lids

judianne — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 01:29:26 GMT

l get so frustrated trying to open pill bottles ! l have had to take a pliers and break it off sometimes . Labels are so hard to get off , so hard to transfer to other bottles . l have started opening stuff up as soon as l get it so it's not a big problem when l need it , like pepto bismol , tylenol, even the Voltarin l use for arthritis is impossible without a sharp knife . They put a hard little cap on the small end of the tube that's stuck so tight it has to be wedged off with a knife ! l often leave the caps loose on pills just so l don't have to fight with it .

Re: Child Proof Lids

occasionalrain — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 01:42:40 GMT

@judianne

What are they thinking making arthritis medication impossible to open? It seems we should have the choice of bottles and their lids with prescription medication.

Re: Child Proof Lids

Kachina624 — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 01:44:24 GMT

@occasionalrain. The answer is, you need to befriend a child who can help you open your meds. They have no problem

Re: Child Proof Lids

MezzieStarr — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 01:53:27 GMT

My mother has rheumatoid arthritis and I've purchased her easy open pill bottles from Amazon.

They have quite the variety.

Re: Child Proof Lids

sunshine45 — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 01:53:54 GMT

another great reason for lock n lock and a label maker!!!!

Re: Child Proof Lids

on the bay — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 01:57:45 GMT

@occasionalrain wrote:
@judianne
What are they thinking making arthritis medication impossible to open? It seems we should have the choice of bottles and their lids with prescription medication.

@occasionalrain,

You can ask your pharmacy to just put non childproof caps on and they will note that in the computer with your name.

It is really hard to open the childproof ones!

Re: Child Proof Lids

occasionalrain — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 15:01:18 GMT

@on the bay

Thank you. I don't take prescriptions so I didn't know there was that option and saw a problem where none existed.

Re: Child Proof Lids

frenchie — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 14:30:49 GMT

I always thought you should have to ask for child proof caps. Or your doctor could note on your script that you don't want one. I got one from CVS. Should have asked for all sizes. They are a pain. We reuse other bottles and tape the new paper to it. I don't even think my cat could open those. lol

Re: Child Proof Lids

ROMARY — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 15:09:20 GMT

I like the Amazon idea, too!

Many, many years ago, my mom would have to leave the lids barely attached.

Then, a few years later, the pharmacy offered non-child proof lids, which she opted when calling in her prescriptions. (It could be that they always had that option, but we weren't aware of it for a couple of years or so.)

Thank goodness there weren't any pets in the house at that time.

Again, thank goodness for Amazon. They have just about everything........

Re: Child Proof Lids

Bookplate — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 16:55:03 GMT

If it's any consolation, I was practically brought to tears trying to open a small plastic tub of refrigerated pesto, of all idiotic things! Won't buy that brand again.

I did ask our pharmacist to indicate non-child-proof bottles for our RX's years ago and boy was that a good decision.

Re: Child Proof Lids

on the bay — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 04:54:39 GMT

The pharmacist told me that she would add to my "account"-non child proof caps and also

that next time in store could ask for a bunch of their non child proof caps!

This would be great because all their rx bottles have a different shape and size than others I've had in the past from other pharmacies.

Also this was the 3rd time I've requested this but this time it was with the pharmacist who answered the phone.

So if it doesn't work the first time, try again and with the pharmacist, not a pharmacy tech.

Re: Child Proof Lids

CJC — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 12:24:00 GMT

Our pharmacy does not offer the option of non-childproof lids. Was told they have used only childproof lids for many years. Once I manage to get my bottles open I replace the lids very loosely. Difficult and inconvenient for us in our 80's. Don't want to use empty replacement bottles because we need the originals with script info printed on the labels.

Re: Child Proof Lids

Cakers3 — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 14:19:34 GMT

@CJC wrote:
Our pharmacy does not offer the option of non-childproof lids. Was told they have used only childproof lids for many years. Once I manage to get my bottles open I replace the lids very loosely. Difficult and inconvenient for us in our 80's. Don't want to use empty replacement bottles because we need the originals with script info printed on the labels.

@CJC Maybe a pill sorter could help? The ones with the days and times to sort the pills?

I've taken labels off and placed on other bottles but I understand it can be difficult. Ours peel off easily.

Take care.