Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician License Practice Test

If an order for amoxicillin 500 MG is received at 0900 and the pharmacy only stocks 250 MG capsules, how many capsules should be sent out?

1. 1 capsule

2. 2 capsules

3. 4 capsules

4. 3 capsules

The correct answer is: 4 capsules

To determine the number of capsules necessary to fulfill an order of amoxicillin 500 MG when the pharmacy only has 250 MG capsules, it's important to consider the total dosage required and the available dosage form. Each 250 MG capsule provides a half dose of the requested 500 MG. Thus, to achieve the total of 500 MG, two 250 MG capsules must be combined. This is because adding the contents of two capsules provides the correct therapeutic dose of amoxicillin that the patient needs. Therefore, the order of 500 MG would be satisfied by sending out two of the 250 MG capsules. The option suggesting sending out four capsules would exceed the needed dose significantly, while the suggestions of one or three capsules would be insufficient to meet the 500 MG requirement. Hence, the correct action to properly fulfill the order is to send out two capsules.