55. A physician prescribes 5 mg of a drug per kg of body weight twice daily for a patient weighing 110 lb. How many 0.5 g tablets of the drug are required for a 10-day duration?
Answer: C
20 tablets of the drug are required for a 10-day duration.
To determine the number of tablets needed, first convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms, then calculate the total daily dosage, and finally the total for 10 days. The patient weighs 110 lb, which is approximately 50 kg, requiring 5 mg per kg, totaling 250 mg per day. Over 10 days, that amounts to 2500 mg, which is equivalent to 2.5 g. Since each tablet is 0.5 g, 20 tablets are required.
A) 5
Choosing 5 tablets would suggest that the total dosage calculated is much lower than necessary. This option reflects a misunderstanding of the weight conversion and the required dosage over the specified duration.
B) 10
Selecting 10 tablets also underestimates the total required dosage. This amount does not account for the total mg needed for the 10-day treatment period, leading to inadequate medication for the patient.
C) 20
This is the correct option, as it accurately reflects the total dosage needed over the treatment period. The calculations confirm that 20 tablets of 0.5 g are necessary to meet the prescribed dosage of 5 mg/kg twice daily for 10 days.
D) 40
Opting for 40 tablets exceeds the required dosage significantly. This calculation suggests a misunderstanding of the total daily dosage and the overall treatment plan, leading to an overestimation.
Conclusion
The correct answer of 20 tablets is derived from accurate calculations based on the patient’s weight and the prescribed daily dosage. All other options fail to meet the necessary treatment requirements, either by significantly underestimating or overestimating the total dosage needed for the 10-day duration.