Topic: Anyone else hate the new Arimidex packaging as much as I do?

I also agree that the new packaging is incredibly difficult to open.  If they wanted to blister pack it, why not stick with the "free sample" packaging blister pack?  I remember that being easy to use.

So, when I finallly struggled with it this morning to get the stupid, tiny pill out, it went flying on the floor and under the bed!  So, as I am under the bed trying to find it, the dog comes under the bed with me, also looking for it (thinking it was her toy we were searching for--not much else we go under the bed for).  Thankfully I found it before she did. 

Note to self:  take pills out of this horrible contraption over the sink from now on.  Not sure what an ingested arimidex would do to our pets--could be very toxic.

I am going to e-mail and telephone Astra Zenica today and make a complaint--for those of us with achy fingers/joints from the tiny pill, this is adding insult to injury.

The more complains they get, the more quickly they may change the packaging.

Ok I just got off the phone with Astra Zenica (1-866-992-9276), Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, excluding holidays.

I spoke with a lovely woman who took my complaint about the packaging, and took it quite seriously, and thanked me for the call.  She said they were having lots of complaints about the packaging and were working on a solution. 

She also asked if she could ask me a few confidential questions regarding my experience with Arimidex, my side effects, how long I was taking it, etc.  I said  of course and answered her questions.

When I told her about the pills either disintergrating or flying on the floor when trying to remove them, she asked me for my address to send a voucher to reimburse me for this month's medication.  First they send a request for the pharmacy receipt and when they receive that, you get your reimbursement.  Not sure just how that will happen, but I will keep everyone updated.

She said they had tested arimidex on dogs at 1 mg per kg in a study on the effects of arimidex on fertility on dogs.  Which means a 30 lb. dog would have received 15 mg per day.  I asked her if there were any fatalities on the dogs treated at this level, and she put me on hold and did some checking and said there were no reports of deaths at this dosage in the dogs.

Please, everyone who hates this packaging, take a moment out to call them and let them know. 

I also told her that if this packaging were to continue, I and I am sure others would probably reconsider and possibly change to Femara or Aromasin, since they all do basically the same thing and that would alleviate the packaging problem for me should Astra Zenica continue with these blister packs.  She thanked me for that info and said she would certainly pass it along.

Wow.  This packaging change is not good news.  I just had my Arimidex script filled a week ago, for the next 46 days.  The pharmacy couldn't give me the full 90 days' worth, so they said I should come back in a few days to get the rest.  I'll bet they were waiting for the pills in the new packaging to come in.

I have mild arthritis in my hands (pre-Arimidex), and I've always had trouble with the blister packs unless the layers are really thin.  I had some BP meds once that had such thick cardboard over the pills, I needed scissors or a knife to cut away the layer to get at the pill.  My BP went up at least 15 points just trying to get the danged pill out.

Why did Astra Zenica do something that stupid?

otter 

I've been taking Arimidex for over 9 years now and have NEVER received it in blister packs. I just got a refill yesterday (90 days) and the pills are loose in a regular pill bottle. Is it possible for you all to request loose packaging from your pharmacies??

YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!!! Just got my first blister pack yesterday & I too had to attack it with a paring knife - I was convinced during the whole 20-minute ordeal that I'd either 1. stab myself in my right (surgery) side & wind up with a whopping case of lympedema, or 2. send a pill flying into oblivion & not be able to find it (at $30 per pill, mind you!), or 3. crush one beyond repair & have to figure out how to make up the rest of that day's dose. I finally managed to get them all into my previous Arimidex bottle & am already dreading next month's supply! I do intend to protest, as suggested!

I will be calling Astra Zeneca today to complain about this new package. What were they thinking? My fingers hurt after trying to punch all the pills out to put into a bottle. I found two on the floor and was almost in tears when I was done. It's frustraing enough to have a daily reminder of breast cancer without having to go through getting the darn pills out of the package. We all need to call them. Thanks to whoever started this thread.    Susan

Just spoke with a representative from AZ.  The packaging problems have been reported and the team is working on new packaging since there have been sooo many complaints.

When I picked mine up, the pharmacists explained the new packaging which I knew would be a pain b/c one of dh's meds come in those danged blister packs.  I've never had meds before BC and Thyroid dx in oct/07, so I've used the little weekly reminder container.  OMG!  I got one OUT to fill it and it went flying!  I quick got on the floor b/c of course the kitties thought it was  treat for them, so they were running for it too!  One of us, not sure which of the 2 kitties or me, pushed it under the frig!  Hope that a mouse is NOT eating it!  Isn't this type of thing used in fertility too?  Can you imagine if mice get into it! UGH! Of course, I'd thought of chewing through it at that point too!  Stupid construction.  I've not tried again, b/c I'm not out, but  I wanted to mention 2 things:

1), the pharmacists did mention the reason for this packaging was to insure pt's were taking it every day!  I said, excuse me?  What are we?  Imbeciles?  NUTTY!

2), is it possible to take the cardboards and split them apart?  I notice the little perferation and wondered if maybe it's possible to break open the seal and get them all out at once? Just a thought anyway...

WishIwere....so funny...I'm sorry but I was laughing with the vision of you and the cats chasing the pills....so funny....then the knife to pry open the package...this is so funny if it wasn't so pathetic!  They want to be certain that we take our medicine every day....next thing the marketing department will come up with is a little knife that slits open the package...this too will be packaged in a safety package that needs another "kinda knife" to open that one...and so on and so on...and the pamphlets will say many brilliant things but tell us nothing about how to open the packages!

I've been on my hands and knees too looking for the little white dot...cranking down the joints ever so carefully...stretching an arm to keep the dog away from stepping on my hair...he thinks that it's time to play...did I forget that I took it? or did it fall on the floor?  then pulling myself up to a standing position again....

Best wishes

So hope that you find relief from this soon.  

Bumping

I did call Astra Zeneca yesterday. The woman who answered the phone said there have been several complaints. I also told her I did not need a reminder package to take my pill each day as I was not dealing with Alzheimers. I told her I found it insulting that the company thought we were idiots that needed to be reminded each day. I have been on Arimidex for almost two years and I have never missed a dose. however, my personal routine is to have the bottle out each night and I take it in the morning. I do this even when i travel. At least give us the option of a bottle or a punch pack but whoever designed the punch pack should be strung up.

I have a funny story.  I get my RX by mail.  Ihad ordered it and when I returned from being away saw the envelope there.  I thought i must have ordered Fosamax by mistake as it comes in the foler too.  Mind you I didn't even open it up!  I called the mail order company and said I never recieved the Arimidex. 

Then I thought I would look to see what date the Fosamax was ordered in case the company mixed it up and to may surprize it was Arimidex!  Did I feel silly.

 Then I followed the wrong pattern for the days and now am really off so a lot of good that did me.  I am not a fan of this packaging either. 

Candyce

Just started Arimidex and was stunned by the awful packaging. I cut them out and keep in another bottle. It works. Jude