The nurse administers orally 400 mg of a drug with a half-life of 2 hours at noon. At which time will the patient's blood drug level first be less than 40 mg?

a. 2:00 PM
b. 6:00 PM
c. 8:00 PM
d. Midnight


C
With a half-life of 2 hours, the amount of drug remaining in the blood decreases by 50% every 2 hours. So, when 400 mg are given at noon, by 2:00 p.m. 200 mg remain; by 4:00 p.m., 100 mg remain; by 6:00 p.m., 50 mg remain; by 8:00 p.m., 25 mg remain; by 10:00 p.m., 12.5 mg remain, and by midnight, 6.25 mg remain.

Nursing

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