A patient is prescribed levothyroxine 0.275 mg daily. With 137 mcg tablets, how many tablets are needed for two weeks?

A patient is prescribed levothyroxine 0.275 mg daily. With 137 mcg tablets, how many tablets are needed for two weeks?

• A. 14 tablets
• B. 21 tablets
• C. 28 tablets
• D. 42 tablets

Answer: (C)

To find how many tablets are needed, compare the prescribed daily dose with the tablet strength. Convert 0.275 mg to micrograms: 0.275 mg = 275 mcg. Each tablet has 137 mcg. Daily, you’d take 275 ÷ 137 ≈ 2.01 tablets, so practically you take two tablets per day (2 × 137 = 274 mcg, just 1 mcg short of 275 mcg). Over two weeks (14 days), that’s 2 tablets/day × 14 days = 28 tablets. So 28 tablets provide the needed amount for fourteen days.

To find how many tablets are needed, compare the prescribed daily dose with the tablet strength. Convert 0.275 mg to micrograms: 0.275 mg = 275 mcg. Each tablet has 137 mcg. Daily, you’d take 275 ÷ 137 ≈ 2.01 tablets, so practically you take two tablets per day (2 × 137 = 274 mcg, just 1 mcg short of 275 mcg). Over two weeks (14 days), that’s 2 tablets/day × 14 days = 28 tablets. So 28 tablets provide the needed amount for fourteen days.