A pharmacy technician notices that one of the medications just received in a replenishment order arrived damaged. Pharmacy staff should first:

Donating damaged medications is not permissible as they may pose a risk to patient safety. Medications must be in suitable condition for consumption, and damaged products cannot be donated under any circumstances, especially to vulnerable populations such as Medicaid patients.

While returning damaged products is essential, the immediate action should be to consult with the distributor first. Federal law does require that damaged products be handled appropriately, but contacting the distributor provides the necessary guidance on return procedures rather than assuming direct returns to manufacturers.

While discarding damaged medications is an option, it should not be the first step taken. The priority should be to return the product to the distributor for a proper replacement, as discarding it may lead to financial loss and inventory discrepancies that could affect patient care.