Blog

A 48-year-old obese patient (weight 112kg, height 5 foot 6 inches) has been admitted to hospital with suspected theophylline toxicity. The steady state theophylline level is found to be 60mg/L, and she is treated by the medical team on duty. In a few days, you are asked to calculate a new theophylline dose of 14mg/kg. As theophylline is poorly distributed in body fat, you decide to calculate the patient’s ideal body weight (IBW).  Calculate an appropriate daily theophylline dose in milligrams for this patient. The hospital pharmacy has theophylline available in 100mg, 200mg, 300mg and 400mg tablets. IBW (female): 45.5kg + (2.3kg x the number of inches over 5 feet)

Question 23 and 24 refer to the CLEAR trial. This phase 3, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study randomised 345 patients with hypercholesterolemia and a history of intolerance to at least two statins. The study allocated participants to either bempedoic acid 180 mg or placebo once daily for 24 weeks. The primary end point was a major cardiovascular event.  

A 22-month-old child weighing 11.4kg has tested positive for Clostridium difficile infection and is prescribed treatment with oral metronidazole 200mg/5ml suspension at a dose of 7.5mg/kg every 8 hours for 14 days. What is the minimum volume in millilitres of metronidazole that should be prescribed for the 14-day course? Assume you provide a syringe that measures in 0.1mL graduations. Give your answer in millilitres and to ONE (1) decimal place.

After five days a decision is made to switch the patient (weight 8.2kg) onto oral co-amoxiclav 125mg/31.25mg/5mL suspension at a dose of 0.25mL/kg THREE times a day for a further five days. How many millilitres will be required for each dose? Give your answer to ONE (1) decimal place.

A patient was prescribed MST 30mg tablets ONE to be taken TWICE a day for the treatment of pain associated with a back injury. She normally also takes 2.5mL of morphine 10mg/5mL oral solution four times a day, for breakthrough pain. The patient is stable and tolerates opioids well but needs to be transferred from oral analgesia to a fentanyl patch. What is the most appropriate Durogesic patch to prescribe?      Extract from Durogesic Dtrans SPC (two tables)    

Your pharmacy participates in a ‘NHS Health Check’ scheme run by your local authority, in which you measure patients’ height, weight, blood pressure and, depending on results, offer lifestyle advice or refer them to their GP for further testing. A 45-year-old male patient weighs 94kg and is 178cm in height. His blood pressure is 132/82mmHg. What is his BMI? Give your answer in kg/m2 and to the nearest whole number.

A GP rings the pharmacy asking for some advice. She has a patient who has been taking the maximum daily dose of dihydrocodeine and she wants to convert him onto oral morphine as the pain is still not being controlled. The patient is currently taking dihydrocodeine 30mg tablets, ONE tablet SIX times a day. How many milligrams of oral morphine would provide the equivalent daily dose to the dihydrocodeine currently prescribed to the patient?  Extract from Online BNF   

How many millilitres of a 20% v/v solution should you use to make 50mL of a product such that when 10mL diluted to 50mL will give a 0.2% solution? Give your answer in millilitres and to ONE (1) decimal place.

2.4 Lewer kommentaar op die belangrikheid van die insluit van lae GI voedsel in ons dieet. (2)

1.1.10 Wanneer voedsel besmet word deur kontak of blootstelling aan skadelike organismes, chemiese stowwe of die omgewing (1)