The licensed physician orders amoxicillin 500 mg po q hours for a child weighing 44 lbs. Amoxicillin is supplied in 250 mg capsules. The recommended daily oral dosage is 25-50 mg/kg/24 h in divided doses q hours. Based on the calculated safe range, is this dose safe?

Step 1 is: Determine the ordered daily dosage. The order is 500 mg po q hours, which is four doses per day (24 hours÷ 6 hours = 4). 500 mg/dose× 4 doses/24 h = 2000 mg/24 h. Step 2 is: Compare the ordered daily dosage (2000 mg/24 h) to the calculated safe daily dosage range (500 mg/24 h to 1000 mg/24 h from. 2000 mg/24 h is greater than 1000 mg/24 h. Based on the calculated safe range, the dose is 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞.