If you dispense Paxil without a prescription, the bottle it is dispensed in is:

When a medication like Paxil is dispensed without a prescription, it is considered to be misbranded. In this context, misbranding typically refers to how the medication is represented to the consumer. Medications that require a prescription are labeled for use under the supervision of a healthcare provider and are subject to specific labeling requirements established by law.

In dispensing it without a prescription, the pharmacist fails to meet the legal requirements for how the medication should be provided to patients, leading to misbranding. The label may not include adequate directions for its safe and effective use or could mislead consumers about its intended use since it normally should only be taken when prescribed by a professional.

Adulteration refers to the quality of the drug itself, implying it may be contaminated or not manufactured according to FDA standards. However, in this case, there is no indication that the Paxil itself is compromised or of inferior quality in terms of composition. Thus, misbranding is the most appropriate characterization of the situation when Paxil is dispensed without a prescription.