A patient is prescribed cephalexin 500 mg every 6 hours. What is the total dosage per day?

To determine the total daily dosage of cephalexin for a patient prescribed 500 mg every 6 hours, it is essential to calculate how many doses are administered in a 24-hour period.

Since there are 24 hours in a day, we can divide this time by the dosing interval of 6 hours:

24 hours ÷ 6 hours/dose = 4 doses per day.

Next, we multiply the number of doses by the amount per dose:

4 doses × 500 mg/dose = 2000 mg per day.

Thus, the total dosage of cephalexin the patient will receive in one day is 2000 mg. This calculation confirms that the correct answer is 2000 mg, aligning with the needs of accurate medication administration and ensuring the patient receives the intended total daily dosage.