A client is prescribed 15 mg of fluoxetine daily. The medication is available in 10 mg tablets. How many tablets should be administered?

Choice A reason: Administering 1 tablet would only provide 10 mg of the medication, which is an underdose of 5 mg based on the 15 mg prescription. Subtherapeutic dosing in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can lead to inadequate management of depressive symptoms and may prevent the patient from reaching a clinical remission. Choice B reason: A 0.5 tablet dose provides only 5 mg of fluoxetine, which is one-third of the required 15 mg daily dose. Such a significant underdose is clinically inappropriate and fails to meet the pharmacological requirements for treating major depressive disorder or other labeled indications for this specific antidepressant medication. Choice C reason: To calculate the dosage, the formula is Dose Ordered / Dose on Hand = Amount to Administer. In this case, 15 mg / 10 mg = 1.5. Therefore, the nurse must administer 1.5 tablets to accurately deliver the 15 mg prescribed by the provider for the patient's daily pharmacological regimen. Choice D reason: Administering 2 tablets would result in a total dose of 20 mg, which is an overdose compared to the 15 mg prescription. While 20 mg is a common therapeutic dose, the nurse must strictly adhere to the specific 15 mg order to ensure patient safety and dose accuracy.