A doctor has ordered 600 mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours as needed for a patient for postsurgical pain. The tablets are available in 200 mg per tablet.
What is the maximum number of tablets the patient may have in 24 hours?
A.
6 tablets
B.
12 tablets
C.
4 tablets
D.
3 tablets
The correct answer and Explanation is :
To determine the maximum number of ibuprofen tablets a patient may have in 24 hours, we need to follow these steps:
- Determine the Total Daily Dosage:
The doctor has ordered 600 mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours. In a 24-hour period, this dosage can be administered 4 times (24 hours ÷ 6 hours = 4 times). So, the total daily dosage is:
[
600 \text{ mg} \times 4 = 2400 \text{ mg}
] - Calculate the Number of Tablets Required:
Each ibuprofen tablet contains 200 mg. To find out how many tablets are needed for the total daily dosage, divide the total daily dosage by the dosage per tablet: [
\frac{2400 \text{ mg}}{200 \text{ mg/tablet}} = 12 \text{ tablets}
]
So, the maximum number of tablets the patient may have in 24 hours is 12 tablets.
Explanation:
- Dosage Frequency and Total Daily Dosage:
The medication is administered every 6 hours, meaning the patient can take it up to 4 times in 24 hours. Each dose is 600 mg, so to find the total daily amount, multiply the single dose by the number of doses in a day. - Tablet Calculation:
Each tablet provides 200 mg of ibuprofen. To determine how many tablets are needed to meet the total daily dosage, divide the total amount required by the amount per tablet. This gives the number of tablets needed to achieve the prescribed daily dosage.
Thus, the answer is B. 12 tablets.