In North Carolina, how must a pharmacy handle a returned prescription medication?

In North Carolina, the appropriate handling of returned prescription medications is governed by specific regulations to ensure safety and compliance with laws. When a pharmacy receives a prescription medication that is returned, the correct procedure is to return it to stock only if it is unopened and in its original condition. This approach minimizes the risk of dispensing contaminated or degraded medications to other patients and ensures that the integrity of the product is maintained.

In situations where the medication has been opened, is damaged, or does not meet the criteria for restocking, it must be disposed of according to state guidelines. These guidelines are put in place to protect public health and maintain the safety of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Thus, option A aligns with both best practices and regulatory requirements for handling returned medications in a pharmacy setting.

Options such as selling medications at a discount, keeping them for future use in a separate section, or returning them to the manufacturer do not comply with the regulations in North Carolina and could pose significant risks to patient safety and legal liability. Therefore, the established procedure in option A is the only approach that ensures adherence to regulatory standards regarding the handling of returned prescription medications.