What are considered distressed drugs?

Distressed drugs refer specifically to pharmaceuticals that have been adversely affected by significant environmental factors that compromise their safety, efficacy, or integrity. In this context, drugs exposed to fire, flood, or extreme temperatures are classified as distressed. Such conditions can alter the chemical structure or potency of the medication, potentially rendering it unsafe for patient use.

While unused drugs, expired drugs, and recalled drugs might all raise concerns regarding their quality or safety, they do not fit the specific criteria of being distressed due to physical damage or environmental hazards. Unused drugs may simply be those not utilized within a certain timeframe, expired drugs are those past their designated shelf life but may still be in original condition, and recalled drugs are usually taken off the market due to identified safety issues but are not inherently damaged by environmental factors. Thus, the definition of distressed drugs is focused on those that have experienced physical deterioration due to extreme conditions.