Worked example

Oral dose - tablets - practice problem 8

The prescriber orders 150 mcg of levothyroxine PO. The pharmacy stocks levothyroxine in 75 mcg tablets.

Ordered dose150 mcg

On hand75 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: 75 mcg per tablet · Want: 150 mcg

2. Set up dimensional analysis so mcg cancels

150 mcg × ( 1 tablet ÷ 75 mcg )

3. Cancel mcg and solve

= ( 150 × 1 ) ÷ 75 tablet

= 2 tablets