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Emergency supply at patient request — GPhC CRA MCQ

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HardPharmacy Law and EthicsEmergency supply at patient requestGPhC CRA

A 60 kg lean-body-weight adult already taking modified-release theophylline requires urgent intravenous aminophylline for acute severe asthma. A serum level cannot be obtained in time, and the specialist documents that loading cannot be deferred. The solution contains 25 mg/mL. What loading volume follows the SmPC fallback dose?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — Give 7.44 mL, which provides 186 mg aminophylline at 3.1 mg/kg

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · A = shown as C

A applies 1 mg/kg rather than the product-specific fallback. B applies 2 mg/kg. C is correct: 3.1 mg/kg × 60 kg = 186 mg, and 186 mg ÷ 25 mg/mL = 7.44 mL. D applies 5 mg/kg. E applies the usual 6 mg/kg loading calculation for a patient not already receiving theophylline. In a patient already taking theophylline, loading should ideally await a level; this lower dose applies only because the specialist has documented that urgent treatment cannot wait.

Reference: Aminophylline 25 mg/mL solution for injection SmPC. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6560/smpc