Warfarin Dosage
Question: A patient has a bottle of warfarin 5 mg tablets at home. After his most recent
international normalised ratio (INR), the doctor calls and tells him to take 7.5 mg/day. How
many tablets (scored) should the patient take?
Step by step answer:
Step 1: Identify the dose required: 7.5 mg
Step 2: Identify the dose per tablet: 5 mg
Step 3: Calculate the number of tablets:
o Number of tablets = Dose required / Dose per tablet
o Number of tablets = 7.5 mg / 5 mg
o Number of tablets = 1.5 tablets
Ranitidine IVPB
Question: You have an IVPB of ranitidine (Zantac) 50 mg in 50 mL D5W to run over 30
minutes. The tubing has a drip factor of 15. How many drops per minute will you set on the IV
infusion controller?
Step by step answer:
Step 1: Identify the volume to be infused: 50 mL
Step 2: Identify the time over which it is to be infused: 30 minutes
Step 3: Identify the drip factor: 15 drops/mL
Step 4: Calculate the flow rate:
o Flow rate = Volume (mL) / Time (min) * Drip factor
o Flow rate = 50 mL / 30 min * 15 drops/mL
o Flow rate = 25 drops/min
Kanamycin Dosage
Question: A health care provider prescribes kanamycin (Kantrex) 7.5 mg/kg IM every 12 hours;
Available: kanamycin 0.35 Gm/mL. How many mL will you administer for each dose to a 157 lb
patient?
,Step by step answer:
Step 1: Convert patient weight to kg: 157 lb / 2.2 = 71.36 kg
Step 2: Calculate the dose required:
o Dose required = 7.5 mg/kg * 71.36 kg = 535.2 mg
Step 3: Identify the concentration available: 0.35 Gm/mL = 350 mg/mL
Step 4: Calculate the volume to administer:
o Volume to administer = Dose required / Concentration
o Volume to administer = 535.2 mg / 350 mg/mL
o Volume to administer = 1.53 mL
Acetaminophen Suppository
Question: A health care provider orders acetaminophen (Tylenol) supp 1 g per rectum every 6
hours as needed for temperature > 37.5°C. Available: Tylenol supp. 325 mg (scored). How many
suppositories will you administer?
Step by step answer:
Step 1: Identify the dose required: 1 g = 1000 mg
Step 2: Identify the dose per suppository: 325 mg
Step 3: Calculate the number of suppositories:
o Number of suppositories = Dose required / Dose per suppository
o Number of suppositories = 1000 mg / 325 mg
o Number of suppositories ≈ 3.08 suppositories
Tylenol for Child
Question: MD writes an order for Tylenol 160 mg by mouth as needed every 6 hours for pain for
a child. The pharmacy dispenses you with 80 mg per mL. How many mL will you administer per
dose?
A. 2 mL/dose
B. 6 mL/dose
C. 0.5 mL/dose
D. 25 mL/dose
Step by step answer:
, Step 1: Identify the dose required: 160 mg
Step 2: Identify the concentration available: 80 mg/mL
Step 3: Calculate the volume to administer:
o Volume to administer = Dose required / Concentration
o Volume to administer = 160 mg / 80 mg/mL
o Volume to administer = 2 mL
Correct option: A. 2 mL/dose
Mucomyst Dosage
Question: MD orders Mucomyst 300 mg by mouth one dose before heart catheterization. The
pharmacy dispenses you with 600 mg/2 mL. How many mL will you administer per dose?
A. 150 mL/dose
B. 2 mL/dose
C. 1 mL/dose
D. 0.25 mL/dose
Step by step answer:
Step 1: Identify the dose required: 300 mg
Step 2: Identify the concentration available: 600 mg/2 mL = 300 mg/mL
Step 3: Calculate the volume to administer:
o Volume to administer = Dose required / Concentration
o Volume to administer = 300 mg / 300 mg/mL
o Volume to administer = 1 mL
Correct option: C. 1 mL/dose
Ibuprofen for Child
Question: MD writes an order for Ibuprofen 3 mg/kg by mouth every 6 hours for pain for a
child. The child weighs 73 lb. The pharmacy dispenses you with 50 mg/2 mL. How many mL will
you administer per dose?
A. 1 mL/dose
B. 4 mL/dose
C. 3 mL/dose