The doctor writes a prescription for aminophylline 125mg po qid x 10 days. You only stock the 250mg/5ml streng

Question

The doctor writes a prescription for aminophylline 125mg po qid x 10 days. You only stock the 250mg/5ml strength. How many teaspoons would be needed for one dose? How many mls would be needed to fill the entire prescription?

Answer 1

5 ml = 1 teaspoon

15 ml = 1 1 tablespoon

You have 50 mg/ml

You need 125 mg = 2.5 ml = 1/2 tsp

QID = 4 times a day, so you need

1/2 tsp x 4 doses x 10 days = you do the rest

Looks like 40 doses

Answer 2

i tried but gave up.  good luck!

Answer 3

As others have stated, the dosage would be one-half teaspoon or 2.5 ml. four times a day.

BUT VERY IMPORTANTLY: Many liquid forms of aminophylline are in suspension, so they must be shaken well, otherwise the first doses will be diluted and the last doses will be overly concentrated. Both situations are bad.

Secondly, use a calibrated medicinal teaspoon, not a kitchen spoon, otherwise you will give an inaccurate amount.  

Finally, qid means four times a day, conceivably at 8 - 12 - 4 - 8, meaning a 12 hour gap in medication. I personally would prescribe aminophylline q6h, every six hours. That's inconvenient for sleep, but more physiologic. And really finally, aren't there better drugs than aminophylline, many of which can be given every 12 hours or less?

Answer 4

Since 5 mL = 1 teaspoon

And 5 mL = 250 mg, then 125 mg would be 0.5 teaspoons, or half a teaspoon.

You would give 2.5 mL for each dose, four times a day.

You would need a total volume of 10 mL x 10 days = 100mL total for the entire prescription.