A doctor orders 0.1 mg Synthroid (levothyroxine); 50 mcg tablets are available. How many tablets per dose
should the nurse administer to this patient?
A.
6 tablets
B.
4 tablets
C.
2 tablets
D.
1 tablet
E.
1 tablet
The correct answer and Explanation is :
To determine how many tablets of Synthroid (levothyroxine) the nurse should administer, you need to convert the ordered dose into the available tablet form.
Here’s the step-by-step calculation:
- Convert the Ordered Dose to Micrograms:
- The doctor orders 0.1 mg of Synthroid.
- Since 1 mg = 1000 mcg, 0.1 mg = 0.1 × 1000 mcg = 100 mcg.
- Determine the Number of Tablets Needed:
- Each available tablet contains 50 mcg of Synthroid.
- To find out how many tablets are needed to make up 100 mcg, use the formula:
[
\text{Number of tablets} = \frac{\text{Ordered dose in mcg}}{\text{Amount per tablet in mcg}}
] - Substituting the values:
[
\text{Number of tablets} = \frac{100 \text{ mcg}}{50 \text{ mcg/tablet}} = 2
]
So, the nurse should administer 2 tablets per dose.
Explanation:
The medication Synthroid (levothyroxine) is often prescribed in micrograms (mcg), and in this case, the ordered dose is 0.1 mg, which needs to be converted to mcg to match the tablet’s dosage unit. This conversion ensures that the amount administered aligns with the prescription. Given that the available tablets are 50 mcg each, calculating the number of tablets required helps ensure precise dosing. In this case, since the ordered dose of 100 mcg is exactly double the amount in one tablet (50 mcg), administering 2 tablets will provide the correct dose of 100 mcg.
Thus, the correct answer is:
C. 2 tablets