What should be done if a medication is suspected to be tampered with?

When a medication is suspected to be tampered with, the appropriate action is to report it to a supervisor immediately. This is crucial for several reasons. First and foremost, patient safety is at the forefront of pharmacy practice; tampered medications pose significant risks to patients, including potential harm or ineffective treatment. Reporting the incident allows for a thorough investigation to take place, which is essential to safeguard the integrity of the medication supply and to prevent further issues.

Additionally, notifying a supervisor ensures that proper procedures are followed in responding to the situation and that the incident can be documented according to the pharmacy's policy, which is vital for regulatory compliance. Taking swift action helps maintain the standards of care expected in a pharmacy setting and allows for appropriate measures to be implemented, whether that be removing the product from circulation, notifying law enforcement if necessary, or alerting other healthcare providers.

Taking any other actions, such as dispensing the medication, storing it in a safe location, or simply making a note and continuing with other tasks, would jeopardize patient safety and could lead to more significant consequences, both for the patients involved and for the pharmacy staff.