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A physician prescribes amoxicillin 500 mg capsules po quid for 10 days. How many capsules should be dispensed?

  1. 20

  2. 30

  3. 40

  4. 50

The correct answer is: 40

To determine the number of amoxicillin capsules to be dispensed, it's important to first interpret the prescription correctly. The prescription states to administer 500 mg of amoxicillin by mouth four times a day (po quid) for a duration of 10 days. Each day, the patient will take a total of 2 grams (500 mg x 4 doses). Over the course of 10 days, that equals 20 grams (2 grams x 10 days). Since each capsule contains 500 mg, we calculate how many capsules are needed to reach the total of 20 grams. Converting grams to milligrams, 20 grams equals 20,000 mg. Then, dividing the total milligrams by the amount in each capsule gives us: 20,000 mg ÷ 500 mg/capsule = 40 capsules. Therefore, the correct amount to be dispensed is 40 capsules.