Drug book language interpretation

[ladedah1, BSN, RN]

Ok, I've got a bit of a stupid question here - but I'd rather clarify than assume...

If a drug book states (regarding safe dose range) "in two divided doses" does that mean, BID or q6h? Say for instance a safe dose is stated as "100 mg/kg in two divided doses"... does that mean:

(A) 100 mg/kg divided by two doses (ie. 50 mg/kg/dose - with 2 doses per 24h)

---or---

(B) 100 mg/kg in two doses each divided again (ie. 25 mg/kg/dose - with 4 doses per 24h)

I'm thinking it would be the latter (4 smaller doses, rather than two larger doses) but I just want to make sure.

(Stupid drug books! If they were so bent on preventing med errors, it would probably be smarter to just say '2 doses per day' or '4 doses per day' - why be so cryptic? )

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Two divided doses mean just that-BID or q12h.

Doses are measured in a 24 hour period.

[JBudd, MSN]

As LadyFreeze said, BID.

Don't over think it, don't read extra into it, just look at what it actually says. "Two divided doses", how many? 2. You were given a total dose "100 mg", and told to divide it. How many times do you divide it? 2. Therefore, 2 doses of 50 mg.

It isn't cryptic, it is just giving a choice to the provider, not necessarily every 12 hours, but your decision how far apart in the day for 2 doses. BID can be morning and evening (09 & 21) same as q12h, or it can be adjusted to the pt's life (08 & 1700). As an example, you don't want to give a diuretic late in the evening, a time such as 1700 would make the pt not get up as frequently during the night; another example would be meds that need to be taken with food (breakfast and supper).