A prescription order is written for prednisone. The patient is to start at 60 mg per day and reduce by 10 mg every two days until gone. How many 10 mg tablets need to be dispensed?

Rationale

42 10 mg tablets need to be dispensed.

The patient starts with a dose of 60 mg of prednisone, which requires a reduction of 10 mg every two days until the dosage reaches zero. This tapering involves a total of 12 days of treatment, necessitating 42 tablets to complete the prescription.

A (6) YOUR ANSWER

Dispensing 6 tablets would only cover a total of 60 mg, which does not account for the tapering schedule. This choice would not provide enough medication for the required duration of treatment.

B (12) YOUR ANSWER

While 12 tablets could theoretically provide 120 mg if taken all at once, it does not represent the amount needed to complete the prescribed tapering schedule. This choice is inadequate for the full course of treatment.

C (24) YOUR ANSWER

Dispensing 24 tablets would yield a total of 240 mg of prednisone, far exceeding the required amount. This choice incorrectly assumes a single dosage without considering the tapering down process necessary for safe cessation of the medication.

D (42) CORRECT

This is the correct calculation for the tapering schedule. Starting at 60 mg and reducing by 10 mg every two days takes a total of 12 days (60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 0). This schedule requires a total of 42 tablets (60 mg = 6 tablets, 50 mg = 5 tablets, 40 mg = 4 tablets, 30 mg = 3 tablets, 20 mg = 2 tablets, 10 mg = 1 tablet, and 0 mg = 0 tablets).

Conclusion

The prescription for prednisone requires careful calculation of the total number of tablets based on the tapering schedule. Starting at 60 mg and decreasing appropriately results in the need for 42 10 mg tablets to ensure the patient has enough medication to safely complete the course. Therefore, choosing 42 tablets is necessary for adherence to the prescribed regimen.

A prescription order is written for prednisone. The patient is to start at 60 mg per day and reduce by 10 mg every two days until gone. How many 10 mg tablets need to be dispensed?

42 10 mg tablets need to be dispensed.

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