A prescriber has just ordered a medication for a patient and has ordered a larger dose than is normally indicated. The patient questions the nurse and asks why the dose is so large. The nurse would be correct to explain that
a. the initial dose is sometimes higher to reach a therapeutic level more quickly.
b. an average effective dose is important to evaluate the response.
c. an initial dose will mean a half dose of subsequent medication.
d. all patients receive a high initial dose.
ANS: A
The initial dose is sometimes given in a higher amount, a loading dose, to reach a therapeutic level in the blood more quickly, thus making the drug more effective.
An average effective dose is not used to evaluate the response to the medication.
The initial dose does not indicate that the subsequent doses will be one half of the initial dose.
All patients do not receive a high initial dose of a medication.
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