The doctor ordered Keflex 500 mg po daily. If each capsule contains 0.250 g, how many capsules should be given?

To determine the correct number of capsules required for the patient, you need to convert the capsule dosage from grams to milligrams, as the order specifies a daily dose in milligrams.

The capsule contains 0.250 grams. To convert grams to milligrams, you multiply by 1,000 (since 1 gram equals 1,000 milligrams). Thus, 0.250 grams is equivalent to:

0.250 g x 1,000 mg/g = 250 mg

The physician has ordered 500 mg of Keflex to be given daily. Now, to ascertain how many capsules are necessary to meet this dosage, you can divide the total required amount by the amount in each capsule:

500 mg (required dose) ÷ 250 mg (per capsule) = 2 capsules

This calculation shows that to fulfill the daily order of 500 mg, the patient should receive 2 capsules.