Worked example

Oral dose - tablets - practice problem 8

The prescriber orders 200 mcg of levothyroxine PO. The pharmacy stocks levothyroxine in 100 mcg tablets.

Ordered dose200 mcg

On hand100 mcg per tablet

How many tablets should the nurse give?

Answer: 2 tablets

Step-by-step solution

1. Identify what you have and what you want

Have: 100 mcg per tablet · Want: 200 mcg

2. Set up dimensional analysis so mcg cancels

200 mcg × ( 1 tablet ÷ 100 mcg )

3. Cancel mcg and solve

= ( 200 × 1 ) ÷ 100 tablet

= 2 tablets