A drug has a dosage of 5 mg/kg body weight. What would be the dose for a man weighing 234 lb?

Prepare for the TSA Pharmacy Test. Use multiple choice questions and explanations to boost your knowledge. Ace your exam!

To calculate the appropriate dosage of a drug based on a patient’s weight, first, it is necessary to convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms since the dosage is given in mg/kg. The conversion factor is that 1 kilogram equals approximately 2.20462 pounds.

For a man weighing 234 pounds, the conversion to kilograms can be done using the formula:

Weight in kg = Weight in lb / 2.20462

Calculating this gives:

Weight in kg = 234 lb / 2.20462 ≈ 106.5 kg

Next, to determine the dosage, multiply the weight in kilograms by the drug dosage (5 mg/kg):

Dosage (mg) = Weight in kg × Dosage rate

Dosage (mg) = 106.5 kg × 5 mg/kg = 532.5 mg

Therefore, when rounding to a whole number, the dose would be approximately 532 mg. This aligns with the answer provided, confirming that 532 mg is the correct calculated dose for a man weighing 234 lb. This calculation ensures that the drug is administered safely and effectively according to the guidelines specified in the dosing regimen.