Arizona MPJE (Pharmacy Jurisprudence) Practice Exam

A drug's strength, quality, or purity differs from what is presented in the official compendium or from what it purports to represent. How would it be classified?

1. Adulterated

2. Misbranded

3. Outdated

4. Recalled

The correct answer is: Adulterated

When a drug's strength, quality, or purity does not align with what is specified in an official compendium, it is classified as adulterated. Adulteration refers to the addition of inferior substances, or a reduction in the strength or effectiveness of a drug. This condition raises concerns about the safety, efficacy, and overall integrity of the medication. The focus is on how the drug fails to meet established standards for its formulation and quality. In this context, misbranding pertains to labeling issues or misleading information regarding the product, which is distinct from the actual composition or quality concerns addressed by adulteration. Outdated refers to products that have passed their expiration date, and while they may not be effective any longer, they do not inherently indicate a difference in strength or quality as defined by the compendium. A recalled drug is one that has been withdrawn from the market due to safety issues or defects, but this classification does not specifically address the discrepancies in strength, quality, or purity as mentioned in the question. Therefore, the classification of adulterated is accurate in this scenario.