Question

A 12 lb cat requires phenobarbital for seizure control at a dose of 3mg/kg PO BID for 30 days. The tablets come in a 15mg, 16.2 mg and 30 mg tablet strength. Determine which tablets you will send home and how many for the 30 day regime.

A) 15mg tablets - 45 tablets
B) 16.2mg tablets - 41 tablets
C) 30mg tablets - 22 tablets
D) 15mg tablets - 22 tablets

Answer 1

To calculate the dosage for the cat, convert the cat's weight to kilograms, multiply by the dose rate, and then determine the total daily requirement taking into account the frequency of administration. Then select the appropriate tablet size and calculate the total number of tablets needed for the 30-day period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves a calculation of the required dosage of phenobarbital for a 12 lb cat over a period of 30 days, given in milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg). First, we need to convert the cat's weight into kilograms by dividing 12 lb by 2.2 lb/kg, which gives us approximately 5.45 kg. The total daily dose is then calculated by multiplying the cat's weight by the dose rate: 5.45 kg × 3 mg/kg = 16.35 mg per dose. Since the medication is given BID (twice a day), the total daily requirement is 16.35 mg × 2 = 32.7 mg.