Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Acamprosate 333mg tablets and daily tablet counts by weight for the GPhC assessment

Three original practice questions, with the working shown. Read the stated prescription or plan before calculating.

Published 8 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

A woman drinking a glass of water in warm lamplight
Photo from Pexels, used under the Pexels licence. It is a stock image and does not show the exercise.

The manufacturer's UK product information for acamprosate 333 mg gastro-resistant tablets states that adults aged 18 to 65 years weighing 60 kg or more take 2 tablets three times daily with meals, at morning, noon and night.

The same information states that in subjects weighing less than 60 kg, 4 tablets are taken daily divided into three doses with meals: 2 tablets in the morning, 1 at noon and 1 at night.

It also states that the recommended treatment period is one year, and that treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after the withdrawal period once the patient is abstinent from alcohol.

Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. Write the unit beside every step and distinguish a single dose from a daily total or a supply period. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.

The method

  1. Identify the stated body weight band: 60 kg or more, or less than 60 kg.
  2. Apply the matching tablet schedule for that band.
  3. Multiply the daily tablet count by 333 mg for the daily dose in mg.
  4. Multiply the daily tablet count by the stated days for a supply quantity.

Three practice questions

Work each one on paper first, then open the answer. All patients and prescriptions are fictional.

Question 1

A fictional adult weighing 70 kg takes acamprosate at the label schedule. How many 333 mg tablets are taken each day, and what is the total daily dose?

Show the answer

Answer: 6 tablets; 1998 mg daily

Working: At 60 kg or more: 2 tablets three times daily. 2 x 3 = 6 tablets daily. 6 x 333 mg = 1998 mg daily.

Question 2

A fictional adult weighing 55 kg takes acamprosate at the label schedule. How many 333 mg tablets are taken each day, and what is the total daily dose?

Show the answer

Answer: 4 tablets; 1332 mg daily

Working: Below 60 kg: 2 tablets in the morning, 1 at noon and 1 at night. 2 + 1 + 1 = 4 tablets daily. 4 x 333 mg = 1332 mg daily.

Question 3

A fictional adult weighing 70 kg takes acamprosate 2 tablets three times daily. How many 333 mg tablets are needed for 90 days?

Show the answer

Answer: 540 tablets

Working: Per day: 2 x 3 = 6 tablets. 6 x 90 days = 540 tablets.

eMC SmPC: Campral EC

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/986/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Applying the 60 kg or more schedule to a patient below 60 kg, who takes 4 tablets daily.
  • Counting three equal doses when the under 60 kg schedule is 2 tablets, 1 tablet and 1 tablet.
  • Rounding 1998 mg up to 2 g when the question asks for the exact daily total in mg.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official assessment questions?

No. They are original revision exercises, not official GPhC questions and not for patient care.

Does this calculation decide a real acamprosate dose?

No. Follow the stated weight band in the exercise. Real dosing follows the label schedule by body weight, started as soon as possible after withdrawal.

How should I check the answer?

Check the weight band first, then count tablets per dose and per day before multiplying by days.

Sources

The questions above are original and use fictional patients and prescriptions. PreRegExamPrep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Practise until the method is automatic

Try 15 free questions with worked answers. No sign-up required.

More calculation topics

See also the formula sheet, the eight sample questions and the approved calculator page.