What does "divided doses" mean?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Okay, so my classes start tomorrow, so I am working before ever meeting an instructor. I think I understand the math, but there are a couple of problems that use "divided doses" and it through me off.

Example:

Order: chlorpheniramine 24 mg by mouth in four divided doses per day

Have: chloropheniramine 6 mg tablets

How many tablets do you give for one dose?

My answer is 4.

Am I correct?

After typing this out, I may understand. Is the correct answer 1 tablet? Essentially one tablet every six hours?

I know I just gave two answers, but I think 1 is correct. What do you say?

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Yes, 1 tablet (6mg) per dose.

6mg/dose x 4 doses/day = 24 mg/day which is what you were ordered.

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thank you

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divided doses is the term used when they want to specify a max dose per 24 hours, as maybe when a total dose given all at once might not be safe (toxicity, perhaps) or because its half-life is so short that there won't be an effective blood level over the course of the day and it has to stay on board all day and all night.

you are right-- 24mg in 4 divided doses means 6mg per dose.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

it's like giving a medrol dose pack, or any other medication that has to be broken up through the day.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I have never seen an order giving just the total daily dose. In reality, the order for this medication would be 6 mg PO QID (or q 6 hrs). The formulary will often give dosing as you listed (the safe daily dose and that it must be divided), but I have never seen an order written that way.

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Order: chlorpheniramine 24 mg by mouth in four divided doses per day

that would mean that: 24mg/4 is the actual order dose which is 6mg/dose

and the way you calculate it per dose is:

24mg / 4doses in 1 day= 6 mg/ dose

6mg/6mg(1 tablet) = 1 tablet

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