Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 67%

A community pharmacy receives the following prescription: Digoxin 2.5 mg tablets Take 1 tablet PO daily #30 Pharmacy staff should:

Rationale

Contact the prescriber for clarification because the medication is not commercially available in the requested strength.

Digoxin is typically available in strengths of 0.125 mg and 0.25 mg tablets, making the requested strength of 2.5 mg not commercially available. Therefore, it is crucial to contact the prescriber to confirm the intended dosage or to receive an alternative recommendation.

A (contact the prescriber for clarification because the medication is not commercially available in the requested strength) CORRECT

This choice is correct, as digoxin is not available in a 2.5 mg tablet form. The pharmacist must verify the prescription to ensure patient safety and proper medication dispensing.

B (type the prescription as digoxin 2.5 mg tablets with directions that read 'Take one tablet by mouth daily') YOUR ANSWER

Filling the prescription as it stands would lead to dispensing a non-existent medication, which could result in serious consequences for the patient. It is essential to verify the prescription before proceeding with any medication order to ensure its validity.

C (type the prescription as digoxin 0.25 mg tablets with directions that read 'Take 10 tablets by mouth daily') YOUR ANSWER

This option inaccurately interprets the prescriber’s intent. While digoxin 0.25 mg tablets exist, instructing the patient to take 10 tablets daily results in an excessive dosage of 2.5 mg, which could lead to toxicity. Thus, this choice poses a risk to patient safety.

D (contact the prescriber for clarification regarding a mismatch between the medication and the route of administration) YOUR ANSWER

There is no mismatch in the medication and the route of administration, as digoxin is typically administered orally. Therefore, this choice does not address the actual issue of the incorrect dosage strength.

Conclusion

In pharmacy practice, ensuring the accuracy and safety of prescriptions is paramount. The correct approach when encountering an unavailable medication strength, as in the case of digoxin 2.5 mg tablets, is to contact the prescriber for clarification. This step is essential to prevent medication errors and ensure patients receive the correct dosages based on commercially available formulations.

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