Expired drugs must be removed from a dispensary's inventory and stored where?

Expired drugs must be removed from a dispensary's inventory and stored in a dedicated area to ensure that they are clearly segregated from active medications. This practice is vital to prevent the potential for dispensing expired medications to patients, which can lead to ineffective treatment and present safety risks.

Maintaining a dedicated area for expired drugs also facilitates easier tracking and management of these items, as it allows staff to routinely check, document, and dispose of them responsibly. This practice reflects adherence to pharmacy regulations and supports the overall safety and effectiveness of pharmaceutical care provided to patients.

In contrast, storing expired drugs with active medications could lead to confusion and possible misdispensing, while placing them in the main storage unit or outside the pharmacy does not comply with standard pharmacy practices and might compromise safety and regulatory compliance.