What does the term "misbranded" indicate in pharmacy practice?

The term "misbranded" in pharmacy practice refers specifically to the incorrect labeling of drugs. This can encompass a variety of issues such as the presence of false or misleading information on the label, failure to include required labeling information, or labeling that does not comply with state or federal regulations.

A medication that is deemed misbranded is considered to have violated the legal standards set forth by regulatory bodies, such as the FDA, that govern how pharmaceuticals are marketed and sold. This could involve not only inaccuracies in the drug's name or ingredients but also the omission of essential information, such as warnings or instructions for use.

In contrast, the other concepts referred to in the options do not align directly with the definition of misbranding. Unlabeled medications refer to those without any labels, which is a separate issue from misbranding since misbranding implies the presence of a label that contains misleading information. Expired pharmaceutical products are simply those that have passed their designated shelf life and do not address the labeling aspect. Unsanctioned drug formulations refer to non-approved medications or those not in compliance with established pharmacological standards, which again does not pertain to the labeling specifics necessary to classify a drug as misbranded.