A nurse is preparing to administer diclofenac sodium 200 mg PO daily in equally divided doses every 6 hours. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To determine how many milligrams of diclofenac sodium the nurse should administer per dose, follow these steps:
Calculation:
- Total Daily Dose: 200 mg
- Number of Doses per Day: Every 6 hours means there are 24 hours in a day / 6 hours per dose = 4 doses per day.
To find the dose per administration:
[ \text{Dose per administration} = \frac{\text{Total Daily Dose}}{\text{Number of Doses per Day}} ]
[ \text{Dose per administration} = \frac{200 \text{ mg}}{4} ]
[ \text{Dose per administration} = 50 \text{ mg} ]
So, the nurse should administer 50 mg per dose.
Explanation:
Diclofenac Sodium is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce inflammation and pain. The prescribed dose is 200 mg daily, which is divided into 4 equally spaced doses throughout the day. This is typically done to maintain a steady level of medication in the bloodstream, which helps manage pain and inflammation effectively without peaks and troughs that could be associated with larger single doses.
Why Division Matters:
Dividing the total daily dose into multiple smaller doses helps to achieve better control of symptoms and minimizes the risk of side effects that might arise from higher single doses. For example, administering 50 mg every 6 hours ensures that the medication’s effect is maintained consistently over the day.
Steps for Calculation:
- Understand the Total Daily Requirement: The total dose required over 24 hours.
- Determine Frequency of Administration: The number of times the medication needs to be given per day.
- Perform Division: Divide the total daily dose by the number of doses.
Accuracy in Dosage:
Administering the correct dosage is crucial in preventing both underdosing (which may not provide sufficient relief) and overdosing (which can increase the risk of adverse effects). By dividing 200 mg by 4, each dose of 50 mg ensures that the patient receives the intended amount of medication in a controlled manner.
Thus, each dose should be 50 mg, which is both safe and effective for managing the patient’s condition.