Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Amiodarone loading schedule and maintenance tablet counts for the GPhC assessment

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

Published 2 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

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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 amiodarone 200 mg tablets describes a stepped starting schedule: 200 mg three times a day for 1 week, then 200 mg twice a day for a further week.

After that initial period, the same product information reduces the dose to a maintenance of 200 mg once a day, or less if appropriate.

That product information stresses using the minimum effective dose, because amiodarone stays in the body for a long time.

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 course supply. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.

The method

  1. Separate the loading weeks from the maintenance days before counting.
  2. Triple a three times daily dose and double a twice daily dose to get each daily total.
  3. Multiply each daily tablet count by the number of days in that stage, then add the stages.
  4. Count maintenance tablets at one per day for a 200 mg once daily dose.
  5. Keep milligrams and tablets separate; convert only if the question asks.

Three practice questions

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

Question 1

A fictional patient starts amiodarone 200 mg three times a day for 1 week. How many milligrams a day is that, and how many 200 mg tablets does the week need?

Show the answer

Answer: 600 mg a day; 21 tablets

Working: 200 mg x 3 doses = 600 mg a day; 3 tablets x 7 days = 21 tablets.

Question 2

A fictional patient follows the full initial schedule: 200 mg three times a day for 1 week, then 200 mg twice a day for 1 week. How many tablets is the whole initial period?

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Answer: 35 tablets

Working: Week 1: 3 tablets x 7 days = 21 tablets; week 2: 2 tablets x 7 days = 14 tablets; 21 + 14 = 35 tablets.

Question 3

A fictional patient then moves to maintenance of 200 mg once a day. How many tablets is a 30-day maintenance supply, and how many milligrams is that in total?

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Answer: 30 tablets; 6,000 mg

Working: 1 tablet x 30 days = 30 tablets; 200 mg x 30 days = 6,000 mg.

eMC SmPC: Amiodarone hydrochloride 200 mg tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/102646/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Mixing the loading frequency with the maintenance frequency in the same week.
  • Counting only one stage when the question asks for the full initial schedule.
  • Treating arithmetic as evidence that a real prescription is clinically suitable.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official assessment questions?

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

Can a dose-total calculation justify changing a real dose?

No. Follow the steps in the exercise. Real dose changes are gradual and need clinical checks.

How should I check the answer?

Check the requested unit, then work backwards from the quantity to the stated dose and duration.

Sources

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

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More calculation topics

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