If a patient is to receive a loading dose of 800 mg followed by 200 mg every 12 hours, what is the total dose in the first 24 hours?

To determine the total dose the patient receives in the first 24 hours, we need to account for both the loading dose and the subsequent doses administered over that period.

Initially, the patient receives a loading dose of 800 mg. After this, the patient is scheduled to receive 200 mg every 12 hours. In the first 24 hours, there are two 12-hour intervals, meaning the patient will receive two additional doses of 200 mg.

Calculating the total for the first 24 hours involves adding the loading dose to the doses from the two intervals:

• Loading dose: 800 mg

• Dose after 12 hours: 200 mg

• Dose after another 12 hours: 200 mg

So, the total dose is calculated as follows:

800 mg (loading dose) + 200 mg (first interval) + 200 mg (second interval) = 800 mg + 200 mg + 200 mg = 1200 mg.

This makes the total dose for the first 24 hours 1200 mg. The correct answer is thus the total amount administered within that timeframe.