... prescribed theophylline anhydrous. Since this is a rather strong medication, the dosage is individualized for Brad based on his body weight and age.
Brad is 15 years old and weighs 121 pounds. The recommended dosage for ages 12-16 years is 18mg/kg/day. The prescription is as follows: 18mg/kg/day not to exceed 900 mg/day for 30 days.
Theophylline is available in 125mg capsule form.
1. How many mg of theophylline would Brad receive based on 18mg/kg/day?
2. How many capsules will Brad take per day?
3. How many capsules per dose?
4. How many capsules to fill the whole prescription?
Write 1-2 paragraphs detailing how you worked out the problem outline any difficulties you had finding the answers. Do you feel capsules will allow the patient to receive the correct dose in this particular case?
Brad has a history of chronic asthma. As a treatment of first choice, Brad’s physician has?
Answers (1)
suzanne661 Nov 2010
1. Convert Pounds to kilos 121 pounds = 54.9 Kilos
2. If the recommended dose is 18mg/kg/day then Brad needs
18mg x 54.9 = 988.2mg / day
3. If the theophylline capsules are 125mg then Brad needs just under 8 capsules per day - round up to 8 for ease of calculation.
4. Theophylline is best given every 12 hours so based on the information given the recommended dose for Brad would be to take 4 capsules twice daily.
5. Brad would need 224 capsules for a 4 week supply.
However, given that the instructions say not to exceed 900mg / day - you will need to check with the doctor that it is ok to round up to 8 capsules daily - it may be better to reduce the dose slightly eg. 4 in the morning and 3 at night (875mg).
If after clarification from the doctor it was ok to stay with the higher dose I would suggest a 250mg capsule - Brad would then only need to take 2 capsules twice daily.
Hope this helps.
See:http://www.drugs.com/dosage/theophylline.html
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You go Suzanne! You must've been a teacher or wanted to be one! :)
You got it!