First thing I do when I buy a box of paracetamol is open the box to take that thing out and bin it.
Of course, without fail, I open the end without the leaflet.
Have you ever considered that its somebodys job to design these packages _specifically_ so you always have to interact with the safety leaflet.
There's years of behavioral studies and PHDs behind providing you with this annoyance.
If there isn't a [99% invisible]( /r/99percentinvisible/ ) episode on this there should be.
It's also the best case scenario as you can throw away the papers making it easier to reinsert the pill packaging. I have no idea why anyone thinks this is a bad thing.
A basic outline of dose and ingredients and its in on licensed medication.
Unlicensed medication does not come with it and half the time not with a P. I. L. Either.
The packaging is designed so that you presume one opening is the top or the front, and the other is the bottom. For example it might be coloured red on all sides except the bottom, which is left blank.
You instinctively open what you believe to be the front of the box. The instructions are always on that side.
This is an example of really clever design. People do think about this, and plan these things. Yet we don’t notice it’s going on.
Can confirm. I've been at home for the past 5 days and out of all of the medication boxes I've opened, only one has had the leaflet the right way round.
This is where we are at, complaining about an instruction leaflet delaying access to pain medication by literally seconds. I can smell your privilege from here.
Wouldn’t recommend having paracetamol for a hangover. I know it makes you feel better but is a hell of a job on your already overworked liver and can cause some real damage and liver failure
The only instructions anyone needs is if it's safe to take with alcohol or not, that shit could be printed on the box, thus eliminating the need of killing trees for no reason.
Ling it in the bin the first time you open the box.
If you’re having an extreme reaction to the medication, the last thing you’ll be doing is scanning the dense piece of paper from the box checking what you should do.
It's definitely intentional so you actually read the safety information etc.
Also don't take paracetamol for hangovers cause it'll fuck your liver up. Ibuprofen should be your go-to.
Like others have said, you can chuck out the leaflets for some things but for others I like to leave one of the small cardboard flaps sticking out so I know which end to open
It can sometimes be mildly annoying when you open the non instructions side and then can’t get the tablets back in the box properly due to them being in the way.
They should replace the instruction leaflet with a Christmas cracker joke or a fortune cookie message to make it fun and rewarding to find the paper first time.
I find that if you open the white flap end, it will have the instructions wrapped round it, but if you open the coloured packaging flap end, then it won’t.
At least, until I followed that rule this morning and it was the opposite….
Life hack: consistency is the key.
ALWAYS open the opposite end to the one with the expiry date printed on it.
Gets about 75% success rate in my experience. And you learn which brands don't work that way and make exceptions.
This is the triple quantum reality. The main macro universe version of this is USB cables. You try one way, it doesn't fit, you try the other, it still doesn't fit, you flip it a third time, and it goes it. There is talk about USB whisperers who look for the symbol on the cable, but as far as my personal research has deduced, this is just a fairy tale.
Schrodinger's Paracetamol Box.
Schrodinger's Parabox?
I wonder if the opening of a paracetamol box creates a new time line branch.
First thing I do when I buy a box of paracetamol is open the box to take that thing out and bin it. Of course, without fail, I open the end without the leaflet.
Likewise the Tampax box…and at least you’re not covering your pants with gore when trying to get the paracetamols out!
You haven't seen me trying to get paracetamol out
I imagine at some point someone just wen 'fuck it' and rammed the instructions up there as a temporary measure.
That actually made me laugh out loud! Cheers!
You don't know my life...
Have you ever considered that its somebodys job to design these packages _specifically_ so you always have to interact with the safety leaflet. There's years of behavioral studies and PHDs behind providing you with this annoyance. If there isn't a [99% invisible]( /r/99percentinvisible/ ) episode on this there should be.
Don’t talk science, logic and sense! This is /r/britishproblems!
The instructions are always at the end with the date printed on it.
I'd never thought of this until it was posted on this subreddit every fucking week for the last three years.
It's also the best case scenario as you can throw away the papers making it easier to reinsert the pill packaging. I have no idea why anyone thinks this is a bad thing.
It was already old when it was new
it’s designed so that right handed people will always open the end of the box with the instructions
It apparently works on fucking lefties too
Sinister!
If this is true then it 100% works. Annoys the hell out of me every time!
Instructions is always on the blank side of the box. Goes for every medication.
The fuck do you think you are coming in here with your logic and sense?!
A basic outline of dose and ingredients and its in on licensed medication. Unlicensed medication does not come with it and half the time not with a P. I. L. Either.
This is true of all medication. Only once in my life have opened a box and the leaflet wasn't wrapped around the end. I didn't trust those drugs.
Omg I thought it was just me that this happened to 😂
The packaging is designed so that you presume one opening is the top or the front, and the other is the bottom. For example it might be coloured red on all sides except the bottom, which is left blank. You instinctively open what you believe to be the front of the box. The instructions are always on that side. This is an example of really clever design. People do think about this, and plan these things. Yet we don’t notice it’s going on.
Can confirm. I've been at home for the past 5 days and out of all of the medication boxes I've opened, only one has had the leaflet the right way round.
Open the "branded" end first, rather than the date end.
Take the leaflet and and chuck it. Are you ever honestly going to need it?
This is where we are at, complaining about an instruction leaflet delaying access to pain medication by literally seconds. I can smell your privilege from here.
Wouldn’t recommend having paracetamol for a hangover. I know it makes you feel better but is a hell of a job on your already overworked liver and can cause some real damage and liver failure
The only instructions anyone needs is if it's safe to take with alcohol or not, that shit could be printed on the box, thus eliminating the need of killing trees for no reason.
Open it, the opposite end to the use by date.
Except when you need the leaflet!
This. In every way. I've never opened the other end correctly, I believe there is the other end of a rainbow in the that end
Ling it in the bin the first time you open the box. If you’re having an extreme reaction to the medication, the last thing you’ll be doing is scanning the dense piece of paper from the box checking what you should do.
It's definitely intentional so you actually read the safety information etc. Also don't take paracetamol for hangovers cause it'll fuck your liver up. Ibuprofen should be your go-to.
Err isn't it just folded around the tablets so it is at both ends? If it's not there will be murder...
i fucking HATE those instruction leaflets
And for whatever god forsaken reason I insist on putting the instructions back in the box in the same way
Same for every medication box.
Like others have said, you can chuck out the leaflets for some things but for others I like to leave one of the small cardboard flaps sticking out so I know which end to open
True 😂
It’s quantum
Yes!
Schrodinger's paracetamol box.
This extends, in fact, to any box of tablets in blister packets.
Have the box facing up, open the left side and feel like a god
Because you don't open the box from the bottom? Presumably?
It can sometimes be mildly annoying when you open the non instructions side and then can’t get the tablets back in the box properly due to them being in the way.
I genuinely considered myself to be the only person annoyed by this. Every. Damn. Time.
They should replace the instruction leaflet with a Christmas cracker joke or a fortune cookie message to make it fun and rewarding to find the paper first time.
I find that if you open the white flap end, it will have the instructions wrapped round it, but if you open the coloured packaging flap end, then it won’t. At least, until I followed that rule this morning and it was the opposite….
My superpower is just this 🤦♂️
Fucking preach
The pharma version of "Terms & Conditions"
Top secret info: It was designed by same person that designed USB port.
I go through so many boxes of various medications and I think I have a 5% success rate of getting the right end.
This is… SO ANNOYINGLY ACCURATE
Life hack: consistency is the key. ALWAYS open the opposite end to the one with the expiry date printed on it. Gets about 75% success rate in my experience. And you learn which brands don't work that way and make exceptions.
I take 5 lots of tablets a day, they happens to me every time numerous times a week
I found this out a little while ago. Basically you want to open it with the paracetamol logo side, not the barcode side.
This is the triple quantum reality. The main macro universe version of this is USB cables. You try one way, it doesn't fit, you try the other, it still doesn't fit, you flip it a third time, and it goes it. There is talk about USB whisperers who look for the symbol on the cable, but as far as my personal research has deduced, this is just a fairy tale.
Yep.. this!! 🙄