Question

Read the medication labels where available, and calculate the number of tablets or capsules necessary to provide the dosage ordered. Include the label on your answer. Order: Zovirax \(400 \mathrm{mg}\) p.o. b.i.d. for 7 days. Available: Zovirax capsules labeled \(200 \mathrm{mg}\)_____.

Short answer

The patient needs 28 capsules for the entire 7-day period.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Prescription

The doctor has ordered Zovirax 400 mg to be taken twice a day (b.i.d. stands for "bis in die" meaning twice a day) for a total of 7 days.

Determine Daily Dosage Requirement

Since the medication is prescribed to be taken twice a day, the patient needs a total of \(2 \times 400 \mathrm{mg} = 800 \mathrm{mg}\) of Zovirax per day.

Analyze Available Medication

The available Zovirax capsules are labeled at 200 mg each. This means each capsule contains 200 mg of the medication.

Calculate the Number of Capsules Per Day

To meet the daily requirement of 800 mg, the patient needs to take \(\frac{800 \mathrm{mg}}{200 \mathrm{mg/capsule}} = 4\) capsules per day.

Calculate Total Number of Capsules Required

The patient needs to take medication for 7 days, so the total number of capsules required is \(4 \text{ capsules/day} \times 7 \text{ days} = 28 \text{ capsules}\).

Key concepts

Medication Administration

Administering medication correctly is crucial for patient safety and treatment efficacy. When a doctor prescribes a medication, it's important to ensure it is given in the proper dosage to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
Here are some key points to consider while administering medication:

• Understand the prescription: Know the exact amount and frequency of the medication as prescribed. For example, the term "b.i.d." means twice daily.
• Patient's routine: Consider timings like morning or evening doses to fit into the patient's lifestyle without missing doses.
• Double-check calculations and labels: Always verify your calculations with the available medication to prevent errors.
• Monitoring: Observe the patient for any side effects or reactions after administration.

Practicing these steps will ensure each dose is administered safely and accurately, which is especially important in medication non-compliance and error reduction.

Prescription Interpretation

Interpreting prescriptions accurately is the cornerstone of safe medication administration. Each prescription includes specific elements that are important to understand.
Let's break down essential aspects to accurately interpret:

• Drug Name: Ensure the correct drug is identified; for instance, Zovirax is the brand name of acyclovir.
• Dosage Strength: Note the prescribed dosage, such as 400 mg in this example.
• Frequency: Understand the terms like b.i.d. (twice daily) to administer accurately.
• Duration: Be aware of how long the medication should be taken, such as for 7 days in this example.

Proper interpretation prevents errors and ensures the patient receives the intended therapeutic benefits of the medication.

Pharmacy Math

Pharmacy math involves calculations necessary to determine the correct dosage of a medication. This becomes especially handy when the dosage given on the prescription does not match the available product strength.
To effectively calculate the required dosage, follow these steps:

• Identify the prescription dosages per administration: In this case, 400 mg per dose.
• Assess the available medication strength: Here, each capsule contains 200 mg.
• Calculate daily dose: Multiply the single dose by the number of administrations per day, i.e., 400 mg twice equals 800 mg daily need.
• Determine the required number of dosage units per day: Calculate by dividing daily need by available strength, giving 4 capsules per day.
• Total capsules needed over the course: Multiply daily capsules by the treatment duration (7 days) to acquire the total usage, which is 28 capsules.

Pharmacy math ensures both precise medication administration tailored to a patient's needs and efficient inventory management.