Phenytoin

Epilepsy (oral)
4–5 mg/kg daily, increased by 30 mg daily once every 2 weeks according to response
Usual range, 200–500 mg daily once daily or in 3 divided doses
Status epilepticus (IV)
15–20 mg/kg
Dose equivalence
100 mg phenytoin sodium contains approximately 92 mg phenytoin.
Phenytoin capsules and injection are available as phenytoin sodium, while the tablets and oral
liquid contain phenytoin.

Dosage – Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ or HCT)

Hypertension
12.5–25 mg daily
no more than 25 mg daily is usually needed to treat hypertension
(Recalls 5-25 mg)

Dosage – Chlorthalidone (same as HCTZ)

Hypertension
12.5–25 mg daily

Dosage – Chlorothiazide
Hypertension
0.5 -1 g

Dosage – Indapamide
1.25–2.5 mg once daily in the morning.

Although still common, the risk of hypokalemia is less with 1.5 mg controlled release tablet
(NATRILIX SR) than with 2.5 mg conventional tablet; their antihypertensive effect is similar.

Dosage – Salbutamol (Oral)

2–4 mg 3–4 times daily

Dosage – Dithranol (Psoriasis)

0.1–1% depending on skin sensitivity

Dosage – Atropine (Recalls 0.25 – 2 mg)

Bradycardia
IV 0.5–1 mg or 0.04mg/kg (maximum 0.04 mg/kg or 3 mg)
Cholinesterase inhibitors
2mg/dose IM injection

Dosage – Chloral hydrate

Insomnia: 500 mg to 1 g PO ; not to exceed 2 g/day
Sedative/Anxiety: 250 mg PO q8hr ; not to exceed 2 g/day

Dosage – Ranitidine
150 daily as a single evening dose
300 mg daily as a single evening dose or 2 divided doses

Dosage – Cimetidine
200 to 800 mg daily as a single evening dose or 2 divided doses

Dosage – Misoprostol
PUD
800 micrograms daily divided doses
surgical termination
Sublingual, 400 micrograms & Vaginal, 400 micrograms
Dosage – Sulindac
200–400 mg daily in 1 or 2 doses

Dosage – Glyceryl trinitrate

Sublingual tablet, 300–600 micrograms (Recalls 0.5-1 mg)

Dosage – Aspirin
Adult
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, 300–900 mg every 4–6 hours (4-6 times per day).
Rheumatoid arthritis 3-4 gm
Child
Rheumatic fever, juvenile chronic arthritis 15–20 mg/kg every 6 hrs. (6 gm in Recalls)
Dosage – Aspirin antiplatelet aggregation
75–150 mg daily is effective for long term use; dose of 150–300 mg daily may be required in
acute conditions (MI, acute ischemic stroke, unstable angina, placement of intracoronary stent).
Dosage – Aspirin anti-coagulant
> 5 gm

Dosage – Hydralazine
50–200 mg daily
PLEASE NOTE: Maintenance doses >100 mg daily are associated with an increased risk of lupus-
like syndrome and should not be given without determining the acetylator phenotype.

Dosage – Carbamazepine
initially 100 mg twice daily; increase daily dose gradually
Usual range is 400 mg – 1.2 g daily up to 2 g daily

Dosage – Methyldopa
125–250–500 mg 2–4 times daily

Dosage – Colchicine
Prophylaxis of gout
500 micrograms once or twice daily.
Acute gout
1 mg initially, then 500 micrograms every 6 hours until pain relief or toxicity (e.g. nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea) occurs.
Maximum dose 6 mg per course. Do not repeat the course within 3 days.

Dosage – Prednisone/prednisolone
initially 5–60 mg once daily
Usual maintenance dose 2.5–15 mg once daily

Dosage – Erythromycin
250–500 mg every 6–8 hours. Maximum 4 g daily.

Adult Dose for Malaria Prophylaxis

500 mg chloroquine phosphate orally on the same day each week
Adult Dose for Malaria treatment
(2.5 gm on 3 consecutive days) 1gm initial dose then 500mg after 6 hours at first day then 500 mg
on the second day then 500 mg on the third day

Dosage – Sildenafil
50 (MAIN DOSE) or 100 mg about 1 hour before sexual activity.
Maximum 100 mg daily.
For Elderly, severe renal or hepatic impairment
start with 25 mg, increasing to 50–100 mg if tolerated as required.
For pulmonary hypertension (adults): 20mg TID
Dosage – Thyroxin
25-50–100-200 micrograms daily
And after radical thyroidectomy: stating dose is 25 mcg daily or 1.6 mcg/kg/day

Metamucil (Constipation)
2.5-7.5 g in glass of water PO, up to 30 g/d on 3 divided doses

Dosage – Bromocriptine (Parkinson’s disease)

1.25 mg once daily increased to 30 mg daily
Dosage – Bromocriptine (Hyperprolactinaemia)
1.25 mg 3 times daily, increased to 2.5 mg 3 times
Dosage – Bromocriptine Prevention of lactation
2.5 mg twice daily for 14 days

Dosage – Chlorhexidine (Recalls 0.12%)

0.1 % vaginal wash
0.2 % mouth wash

Dosage – Codeine
30–60 mg every 4 hours; maximum 240 mg in 24 hours

Dosage – Digoxin
Digitalisation with loading dose is necessary only to treat arrhythmias and is not usually
required for heart failure.
oral 125–250 micrograms once daily

Dosage -Tetanus
Booster dose of 0.5 mL of Tetanus Toxoid (tetanus toxoid) should be given intramuscularly
every 10 years to maintain adequate immunity

Dosage – Paracetamol
Adult, child >12 years
Oral/rectal 0.5–1 g every 4–6 hours
Maximum dose
Usual maximum dose in adults is 4 g daily
Child >1 month
Oral/rectal
15 mg/kg every 4–6 hours
Hepatotoxicity
A trial has found that paracetamol 4 g daily for 4 or more days commonly caused elevated
transaminase levels (but 4 gm daily still safe maximum dose)
If >150 mg/kg or 10 g total paracetamol ingested, established hepatic damage will happen
(elevated ALT or AST)

Dosage – Donepezil
Mild and moderate Alzheimer disease: 5 mg - 10 mg once daily
Moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease: 23 mg orally once daily after the patient has been on a
dose of 10 mg once daily for at least 3 months

Dosage – Acarbose
50 – 100 mg 3 times daily. Maximum daily dose 600 mg.

Dosage – Repaglinide
0.5 – 4 mg 3 times daily. Maximum dose 16 mg daily.
Dosage – Clotrimazole
Vaginal cream insert 1 full applicator into the vagina daily at bedtime until contents of the tube
are used (10% single dose; 1% 6 doses).
Pessary (Vaginal suppository) insert 1 Pessary into the vagina daily at bedtime
(500 mg single dose; 100 mg 6 doses).

Dosage – Hydrocortisone
IV/IM 100–500 mg.

Treatment of iron deficiency anemia

Oral
100–200 mg daily (elemental iron)
Note: Ferrous sulfate (20% elemental iron)
usual adult dose for Iron deficiency anemia 600 mg/day ferrous sulfate (120 mg/day elemental
iron) given in divided doses (1 to 3 times daily)
e.g. 325 mg ferrous sulfate (65 mg elemental iron) up to 3 times per day

Dosage – Streptokinase
Acute STEMI
IV infusion, 1 500 000 units
Deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary or peripheral arterial thromboembolism
IV, 250 000 units infused, then 100 000 units/hour for 24 hours

Nonselective NSAIDs (COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors)

Aspirin - Diclofenac - Ibuprofen - Indomethacin - Ketoprofen - Ketorolac - Mefenamic acid -
Naproxen -Piroxicam – Sulindac - Tiaprofenic acid
Selective NSAIDs (COX-2 inhibitors)
Celecoxib - Rofecoxib - Meloxicam - Parecoxib

Dosage – Piroxicam
10–20 mg daily as a single dose due to long half life

Dosage – Ipecac syrup (in overdose/Poisoning)

No longer recommended for poisonings; activated charcoal is the treatment of choice
Dose: 15-30 mL PO once followed by one glass of water
If vomiting does not occur within 30 min, give another 15 ml
If vomiting does not occur within 30 min after second dose, perform gastric lavage
Dosage – Ipecac syrup (Expectorant)
1 ml only

Dosage – Tartar emetic (emetic tartar or antimony potassium tartarate)

Eme c dose: 30 mg
Fetal dose: 200 mg

Dosage – levodopa/Carbidopa ratio

10/1

Dosage – eformoterol (Foradil)

12-24 mcg inhaled twice daily. Maximum dose 48 mcg/day

Dosage – Vitamin C
500 – 1000 mg daily (with or without Iron)
Dosage – Thyroid storm
propylthiouracil 600–800 mg daily (recalls 600 – 1200 mg)
carbimazole 60–80 mg daily

Dosage – Methotrexate
Rheumatoid arthritis: 7.5–25 mg once each week for 6 weeks
Psoriasis: 7.5–15 mg once a week (maximum 30 mg/week)

ACEIs
Dosage – Captopril
Hypertension
initially 12.5 mg twice daily, increased to 25–50 mg twice daily.
Heart failure
initially 6.25 mg 3 times daily, increased to 25–75 mg twice daily. Maximum 150 mg daily.

Dosage – Perindopril
Dose equivalence
2.5 mg of perindopril arginine is equivalent to 2 mg of perindopril erbumine.
Hypertension
Perindopril arginine, 5 mg once daily. Maximum 10 mg daily.
Perindopril erbumine, 4 mg once daily. Maximum 8 mg daily.
Heart failure
Perindopril arginine, 5 mg once daily.
Perindopril erbumine, 4 mg once daily.

Dosage – Enalapril
Hypertension
5 - 40 mg daily as 1 or 2 doses.
Heart failure
2.5 – 20 mg daily as 1 or 2 doses.

Dosage – Fosinopril
Hypertension
10 - 40 mg once daily.
Heart failure
10 – 40 mg once daily.

Dosage – Lisinopril
Hypertension
5 – 20 mg once daily. Maximum 40 mg daily.
Heart failure
2.5 - 20 mg once daily. Maximum 40 mg daily.

Dosage – Quinapril
Hypertension
5 – 40 mg daily in 1–2 doses.
Heart failure
5 - 20 mg once daily.

Dosage – Ramipril
Hypertension
2.5 - 5 mg daily, in 1 or 2 doses. Maximum 10 mg daily.

Dosage – Trandolapril
Hypertension
1 mg once daily. Maximum 4 mg daily.
When carbidopa and levodopa are given concomitantly:
a) Levodopa blood levels are increased, and drug half-life is lengthened
b) The dose of levodopa can be significantly reduced (by 75%), also reducing toxic side
effects
c) A shorter latency period precedes the occurrence of beneficial effects
d) All of the above

Route of administration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (calcifediol) is:

a) Oral
b) Subcutaneous
c) Intravenous
d) Intranasal

Which doses of Aspirin may be more effective in inhibiting Tromboxane- A2?

a) Low
b) High

Dopamine at low doses influences mainly:

a) Alfa-adrenoreceptors (leads to peripheral vasoconstriction)
b) Dopamine receptors (leads to vasodilation of renal and mesenterial vessels)
c) Beta-1 adrenoreceptors (leads to enhanced cardiac output)
d) All of the above

Dopamine at medium doses influences mainly:

a) Alfa-adrenoreceptors (leads to peripheral vasoconstriction)
b) Dopamine receptors (leads to vasodilation of renal and mesenterial vessels)
c) Beta-1 adrenoreceptors (leads to enhanced cardiac output)
d) All of the above

Dopamine in high doses influences mainly the:

a) Alfa-adrenoreceptors (leads to peripheral vasoconstriction)
b) Dopamine’s receptors (leads to vasodilation of renal and mesenterial vessels)
c) Beta-1 adrenoreceptors (leads to enhancing of cardiac output)
d) All of the above

Single doses of paracetamol over which of the following amounts may result in severe liver
damage(which may be fatal) and referral to an emergency department is essential?
A 150mg/kg
B 50mg/kg
C 90mg/kg
D 25mg/kg
E 300mg/kg
Which of the following regimens is appropriate for managing herpes simplex encephalitis?
A Famiciclovir 500 mg q12h PO for 7-10 days
B Aciclovir 5 mg/kg IV q8h for >14 days
C Valaciclovir 1000 mg tid PO for 7 days
D Aciclovir 10 mg/kg IV q8h for >14 days
Dosage – Aciclovir
Genital herpes simplex
oral, 400 mg 3 times daily for 7 days.
or 800 mg twice daily for 5 days
or 800 mg 3 times daily for 2 days.
Infection with HIV-positive, oral, 400 mg 3 times daily for 14 days
Encephalitis, IV, 10 mg/kg every 8 hours 14 days

Lugol's Solution contains 5% of iodine, and the usual dose of the solution is 0.3 mL three
times a day. The amount of iodine contained in the daily dose of the solution is
A 450 mg
B 150 mg
C 45 mg
D 30 mg
E 15 mg

The normal daily adult oral dose of celecoxib is within the range
A 1 - 10 mg
B 15 - 25 mg
C 30 - 100 mg
D 200 - 400 mg
E 0.5 - 1 g

The normal adult daily dose of hydrochlorothiazide is within the range

A 0.5 - 2 mg
B 2 - 5 mg
C 5 - 25 mg
D 50 - 200 mg
E 0.5 - 1 g
(AMH: 12.5 - 25 mg)

For ongoing control of seizures phenytoin may be administered

A only as a single daily dose
B only in three divided daily doses
C as a single daily dose or on a when needed basis
D as a single daily dose or in three divided daily doses
E as a single daily dose or on a when needed basis or in three divided daily

Single daily doses of simvastatin are best taken at

A 6am
B Noon
C 3pm
D 6pm
E Bedtime
The doses of clomiphene citrate, which is used in the treatment of infertility, should be taken
on which of the following days of the menstrual cycle?
A 0-5
B 5-9
C 10-14
D 20-24
E 24-28
(AMH: 50–100 mg daily from 2nd day of the menstrual cycle for 5 days)

Chlorocresol is used as a preservative in oil-in-water creams at a percentage concentration of

A 0.001
B 0.01
C 0.1
D 0.5
E 1.0
(Chlorocresol used in concentrations from 0.1% to 0.18% - Sodium edetate 0.1% -
Benzalkonium chloride 0.02% - Phenyl mercury nitrate 0.002% - cetrimide 0.01%)

The usual starting dose for venlafaxine is

A 37.5mg daily
B 150mg daily
C 75mg daily
D 300mg at night
E 30 mg twice daily
(AMH: 75-150mg once daily)

The maximum recommended dose of acarbose is:

A 100mg
B 450mg
C 600mg
D 750mg

Which treatment course with gentamicin is more likely to cause nephrotoxicity?

A 1mg/kg three times a day for 14 days
B 1mg/kg twice a day for 10 days
C 3mg/kg twice a day for 5 days
D 5mg/kg once a day for 5 days
E 7mg/kg once a day for 3 days
(Nephrotoxicity Can be anticipated if treatment lasts >10 days)

Clotrimazole is available in pessary form to treat vaginal candidiasis. The correct dose is:
A 500mg as a single dose at bedtime
B 100mg daily at bedtime for 10 days
C 500mg daily at bedtime for 3 days
D 100mg daily at bedtime for 14 days

If a patient has been ordered salbutamol aerosol and beclomethasone aerosol, both to be
inhaled four times a day, the patient should inhale the beclomethasone:
A 10 minutes after salbutamol
B Immediately after salbutamol
C 10 minutes before salbutamol
D Immediately before salbutamol
E At any convenient time
Which ONE of the following suggested doses would NOT be appropriate for an adult?
A Furosemide 80 mg bid
B Perindopril 24 mg daily
C Simvastatin 40 mg night
D Doxepin 75 mg nocte
(Doxepin dose is 75 – 150 mg daily (same as Venlafaxine) & nocte means every night)
(Furosemide usual dose is 20 – 40 mg daily and maximum dose is 1 gm per day)
(Statins doses are 10-20-40mg daily at night or at bedtime)

The normal sublingual dose of glyceryl trinitrate is within the range of:
A 10 – 50 μg
B 0.5 -1 mg
C 5 - 10 mg
D 10 - 50 mg
E 50 - 100 mg
(AMH: from 300 – 600 microgram)

After surgery, (radical thyroidectomy), what dose of thyroxine would you recommend therapy
be initiated on?
A 150 microgram daily
B 25 milligram daily
C 25 microgram daily
D None
E 50 milligram daily
(NOTE: Dose after radical thyroidectomy is 1.6 mcg/kg/day)

Norethisterone is used to treat a variety of conditions. Which of the following doses is

INCORRECT?
A Treatment of endometriosis; 5-10 mg for 4 to 6 months
B Contraception; 350 mcg daily
C Hormone replacement therapy; orally 1.25 mg for 10 to 14 days for each cycle with daily
oestrogen
D Hormone replacement therapy; orally 1.25 mg daily with continuous oestrogen

Dosage – Norethisterone
Contraception
350 micrograms daily beginning on the first day of menstruation or day 21 postpartum.
Delay of menstruation
Start 3–5 days before expected menstruation.
5 mg 2–3 times daily for up to 14 days (bleeding starts 2–3 days after stopping tablets).
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
To stop bleeding, 5 mg 3 times daily for 10 days. Higher doses have been used in certain cases,
seek specialist advice.
To regulate bleeding, 5 mg once or twice daily for days 16–25 of cycle.
Endometriosis
5–10 mg once daily; continue treatment for at least 4–6 months.
HRT
1.25 mg daily for 10–14 days of each month with continuous estrogen.
At what age should an infant be immunised against measles?
A 1 year old
B 2 years old
C 3 years old
D 4 years old
E 5 years old

What is the range for the daily recommended allowance of calcium for women?
A 300 – 500 mg
B 500 - 700 mg
C 700 – 900 mg
D 1000 – 1500 mg
E 1500 – 2000 mg

A patient with a superficial wound asks what time period is recommended between tetanus
immunisations?
A Every eighteen months
B Every two years
C Every four years
D Every five years
E Every ten years

The Mantoux test uses

A diagnostic diphtheria toxin
B DPT toxin
C mumps skin test antigen
D old tuberculin
E scarlet fever streptococcus toxin

Which of the following is the MOST common haemocrit value for a healthy adult?
A 10%
B 20%
C 50%
D 80%
E 95%

Which of the following is correct regarding digoxin when used for atrial fibrillation?
A. Digoxin works by blocking voltage-sensitive calcium channels.
B. Digoxin is used for rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation.
C. Digoxin increases conduction velocity through the AV node.
D. Digoxin levels of 1 to 2 ng/mL are desirable in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Correct answer = D. Digoxin works by inhibiting the Na+/K+-ATPase pump. It decreases

conduction velocity through the AV node and is used for rate control in atrial fibrillation (not
rhythm control). Digoxin levels between 1 and 2 ng/mL are more likely to exhibit negative
chronotropic effects desired in atrial fibrillation or flutter. A serum drug concentration between
0.5 and 0.8 ng/mL is for symptomatic management of heart failure.
NOTES:
- Ciprofloxacin can be used from 1 month age in life threatening conditions
- Carbonyl iron and polysaccharide - iron complex contain 100% elemental iron
- Ferrous fumerate > Ferrous sulfate anhydrous > Ferrous sulfate > Ferrous ammonium
citrate > Ferrous gluconate in % of elemental iron