
Tablets And Capsules
FORMULA:
D/HXQ = Amount to give
D or desired dose: drug dose prescribed
H or have dose: drug dose available
Q or quantity: form and amount in which the drug comes
Example 1:
Prescribed: 500 mg of Drug A
Dosage available: 250 mg of Drug A in 1 tablet
Calculate the amount of Drug A to administer
500 mg x 1 tab = 2 tablets of Drug A
250 mg
Example 2:
Prescribed: 80 mg of Drug B
Dosage available: 100 mg of Drug B in 2 ml
Calculate the amount of Drug B to administer
80 mg x 2 ml = 1.6 ml
100 mg
CONVERSION TABLE:
1 liter (L)=1000 milliliters (ml)
1 ounce (oz)=30 milliliters (ml)
1 teaspoon (tsp)=5 milliliters (ml)
1 tablespoon (tbs)=15 milliliters (ml)
1 gram (g)=1000 milligrams (mg)
1 milligram (mg)=1000 micrograms (mcg)
1 grain (gr)=60 milligrams (mg)
1 kilogram (kg)=2.2 pounds (lb)
1/150 grain (gr)=0.4 milligrams (mg)
1/200 grain (gr)=0.3 milligrams (mg)
QUESTIONS:
1. The physician writes an order for secobarbital 0.2 g prn for sleep. Each secobarbital capsule is labeled 100 mg. The nurse should administer _______ capsule(s) per dose.
2. The physician prescribed phenytoin 100 mg po each day. On hand are phenytoin capsules labeled 0.1 gram. The nurse should administer _______ capsule(s) per dose.
3. The physician prescribed acyclovir 0.8 g po q4h. On hand are acyclovir tablets labeled 200 mg. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) for each dose.
4. The physician prescribed alprazolam 1 mg po tid. On hand are 0.5 mg alprazolam tablets. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) per dose.
5. The physician prescribed 600 mg of acyclovir po q4h. On hand are acyclovir tablets labeled 200 mg. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) per dose.
6. The physician orders 0.2 mg of misoprostol. On hand are 200 mg misoprostol tablets. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) per dose.
7. The physician orders pemoline 37.5 mg po qAM. The pharmacy sends 18.75 pemoline tablets. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) per dose.
8. The physician orders diltiazem hydrochloride SR gr 1 1/2 po bid. On hand are diltiazem SR labeled 90 mg per capsule. The nurse should administer _______ capsule(s) per dose.
9. The physician orders phenobarbital gr 1 2/3 po q12h. On hand are 100 mg phenobarbital tablets. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) per dose.
10. The physician orders calcitriol 0.5 micrograms po QD AM. The pharmacy sends 0.25 mcg calcitriol capsules. The nurse should administer _______ capsule(s) per dose.
11. The physician orders nitroglycerin 0.3 mg sublingual STAT for chest pain. The dose may be repeated every 5 minutes x 3. On hand are 1/200 gr nitroglycerin tablets. The nurse should administer ______ tablet(s) per dose.
12. The physician orders allopurinol 0.6 g po QD. On hand are 300 mg allopurinol tablets. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) per dose.
13. The physician orders amoxicillin 250 mg q8h. On hand are 125 mg chewable amoxicillin tablets. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) per dose.
14. The physician orders amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate 20 mg/kg/day po in 4 divided doses to a child weighing 66 lbs. The pharmacy sends 150 mg amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate tablets. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) per dose to the child.
15. The physician orders ampicillin sodium 0.5 g po 4x daily. On hand are 500 mg ampicillin capsules. The nurse should administer _______ capsule(s) per dose.
16. The physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin by mouth to be administered every 6 hours. Available are 250 mg amoxicillin capsules. The nurse should administer _______ capsule(s) for each dose. The nurse will administer how many capsules per day? _______
17. The physician orders oxycodone 5 mg/acetaminophen (APAP) 325 mg combined tablets, one every 4 hours as needed for pain. The pharmacy has on hand 5 mg/APAP 325 mg oxycodone tablets. The nurse can administer a maximum of _______ tablets in a 24 hour period.
18. The physician orders zidovudine 0.1 g every 4 hours. The pharmacy fills the prescription with 100 mg zidovudine capsules. The home health nurse should instruct the client to take _______ capsule(s) every 4 hours totaling _______ capsule(s) per day.
19. The physician orders vancomycin hydrochloride 2 g/day by mouth in 4 divided doses. The pharmacy fills the client's prescription with 500 mg vancomycin hydrochloride capsules. The nurse should instruct the client to take _______ capsule(s) per dose.
20. The physician orders ursodiol 1 g po in 2 divided doses per day. The client weighs 220 lbs and the safe dosage range is 8-10 mg/kg/day. The pharmacy fills the client's prescription with 500 mg ursodiol tablets. Is the ordered dose safe for this client?
21. The physician orders trimethoprim 160 mg/sulfamethoxazole 800 mg po q12h. The pharmacy sends 80 mg trimethoprim/400 mg sulfamethoxazole tablets. The nurse should administer _______ tablet(s) per dose.
22. The physician orders ursodiol 0.9 g po in 3 divided doses per day. The pharmacy fills the client's prescription with 300 mg ursodiol capsules. The nurse should instruct the client to take _______ capsule(s) per dose.
23. The physician orders pyridoxine 0.2 g po qd for a rifampin-induced B6 deficiency. The pharmacy supplies 50 mg pyridoxine tablets. The nurse should instruct the client to take _______ tablet(s) per dose.
24. The physician orders lithium carbonate 1.2 g po qd in 4 divided doses. The pharmacy supplies 300 mg lithium carbonate capsules. The nurse should instruct the client to take _______ tablet(s) per dose.
25. The physician orders propylthiouracil 300 mg po qd in 4 divided doses. The pharmacy supplies 50 mg prophylthouracil tablets. The nurse shoul instruct the client to take _______ tablet(s) per dose.
ANSWERS:
1. 2 capsules
2. 1 capsule
3. 4 tablets
4. 2 tablets
5. 18 tablets/day
6. 1 tablet
7. 2 tablets
8. 1 capsule
9. 1 tablet
10. 2 capsules
11. 1 tablet
13. 2 tablets
14. 1 tablet
15. 1 capsule
16. 2 capsules/dose, 8 capsules per day
17. 6 tablets
18. 1 capsule every 4 hours totaling 6 capsules/day
19. 1 capsule
20. Yes
21. 2 tablets
22. 1 capsule
23. 4 tablets
24. 1 tablet
25. 1 1/2 tablet