A clinician orders acetaminophen 0.5 g by mouth every 6 hours. If the patient has received 3 doses, what is the total milligrams administered?

A clinician orders acetaminophen 0.5 g by mouth every 6 hours. If the patient has received 3 doses, what is the total milligrams administered?

• A. 500 mg
• B. 1000 mg
• C. 1500 mg
• D. 2000 mg

Answer: (C)

The main idea is to convert all amounts to the same unit and multiply by how many doses were given. Each dose is 0.5 g, which equals 500 mg (since 1 g = 1000 mg). Receiving three doses means 500 mg per dose times 3 doses = 1500 mg in total. So the patient has been given 1500 mg. (As a safety note, adults typically have a 24-hour maximum around 4,000 mg, so keep daily total within that limit.)

The main idea is to convert all amounts to the same unit and multiply by how many doses were given. Each dose is 0.5 g, which equals 500 mg (since 1 g = 1000 mg). Receiving three doses means 500 mg per dose times 3 doses = 1500 mg in total. So the patient has been given 1500 mg. (As a safety note, adults typically have a 24-hour maximum around 4,000 mg, so keep daily total within that limit.)