QUESTION 1
Mrs Smith is awaiting discharge following an uneventful appendectomy two days ago. You are writing a discharge prescription for analgesia. You prescribe co-codamol 30/500 mg tablets, 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hourly as required. You advise Mrs Smith that no more than eight tablets should be taken in any 24-hour period.
- Eight tablets x 7 days = 56 tablets
- 4 tablets daily for 4 days = 16 tablets
- 40 left x 2 each night = 20 days
QUESTION 2
You are asked to check the dose of a patient's antihypertensive treatment. The evidence base stipulates that for your patient type, the drug should be given at 25% less than the standard starting dose of 10 mg daily. The drug is available in strengths of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg tablets.
- 7.5 mg daily
- One x 2.5 mg tablet + one x 5 mg tablet
- 30 x 2.5 mg tablets + 30 x 5 mg tablets = 60 tablets
QUESTION 3
Janet has been admitted to hospital for intravenous antibiotics for 14 days' duration. The antibiotic is mixed in 100 ml saline, infused over 30 minutes and is administered in six hourly doses.
- 100 ml x 6 hourly = 400mls
- 2 hrs per day x 14 days = 28 hours
- 3 daily for 28 days = 84
QUESTION 4
Your patient, aged six years, is experiencing an acute asthma attack and requires emergency nebulisers. The dose of drug is 2.5-5 mg, repeated every 20-30 minutes.
- 5 mg every 20 minutes = 15 mg / hour x 2 hours = 30 mg
- 6 x 2.5 mg = 15 mg
- 6 x emergency nebs + 6 x 4 hourly nebs = 12 nebs in total
QUESTION 5
Your adult patient has a new diagnosis of moderate depression and you prescribe a Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor (SSRI) tablet starting at a dose of 20 mg daily. You aim to review your patient after three weeks.
- 1 tablet daily x 21 days = 21 tablets
- 1 titration
- 180 tablets
QUESTION 6
You prescribe drug P for your patient. It is available in 250 mg/5 ml strength. Your patient needs 3 g of drug P per day in 2 x divided doses.
- 3000 mg
- 30 mls
- 600 mls