A patient is prescribed Risperidone oral tablets to be taken twice daily. The prescription states the desired dose is 4 mg daily divided into two doses. The available tablet strength is 1 mg per tablet. How many tablets should the patient take per dose?

Choice A reason: Taking 8 tablets per dose would mean the patient receives 8 mg twice a day, totaling 16 mg daily. This is 4 times the prescribed 4 mg daily amount. Such a high dose would place the patient at extreme risk for severe extrapyramidal symptoms, sedation, and significant metabolic disturbances. Choice B reason: If the patient took 4 tablets per dose, they would receive 4 mg twice daily, totaling 8 mg per day. This is double the prescribed daily dose. While 8 mg is within the therapeutic range for some patients, the nurse must strictly follow the 4 mg total daily order as written. Choice C reason: To calculate the dose per administration, the total daily dose (4 mg) must be divided by the number of doses per day (2). This equals 2 mg per dose. Since the tablets are 1 mg each, the calculation is 2 mg / 1 mg = 2 tablets per dose to achieve the correct amount. Choice D reason: Taking 6 tablets per dose would result in a total daily intake of 12 mg (6 mg per dose). This is 3 times the prescribed dose. Overdosing on risperidone can lead to life-threatening complications such as QTc interval prolongation, which can progress to dangerous cardiac arrhythmias like Torsade de Pointes.