Common Registration Assessment, Part 1
Buspirone divided daily doses and titration steps for the GPhC assessment
Three original practice questions, with the working shown. Read the stated prescription or plan before calculating.
Published 6 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.
The manufacturer's UK product information for buspirone hydrochloride 10 mg tablets states that the usual starting dosage for adults, including the elderly, is 5 mg given two to three times per day, and that the dosage may be increased every 2 to 3 days.
The same information states that the usual therapeutic dosage is 15 to 30 mg daily in divided doses, and that the maximum recommended dose is 45 mg daily in divided doses.
It also states that buspirone should be taken at the same time each day and consistently with or without food.
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
- Identify the dose per administration and the number of doses each day.
- Multiply the dose by the daily dose count for the daily milligram total.
- Divide the daily milligram total by the tablet strength to count tablets.
- Keep milligrams, doses and tablets separate; convert only when 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 buspirone at 5 mg three times per day. How many milligrams is this each day?
Show the answer
Answer: 15 mg
Working: 5 mg x 3 doses each day = 15 mg a day.
Question 2
A fictional patient takes a total of 30 mg of buspirone a day in three equally divided doses. How many milligrams is each dose?
Show the answer
Answer: 10 mg
Working: 30 mg a day / 3 doses = 10 mg each dose.
Question 3
A fictional patient takes the maximum recommended dose of 45 mg a day using 5 mg tablets. How many tablets is this each day?
Show the answer
Answer: 9 tablets
Working: 45 mg a day / 5 mg per tablet = 9 tablets each day.
eMC SmPC: Buspirone Hydrochloride 10 mg Tablets
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/102436/smpc
Where marks are lost
- Treating a divided daily dose as a single dose when counting tablets.
- Exceeding the 45 mg daily maximum when scaling up a stated regimen.
- Adding titration steps together without checking how many times a day the dose is taken.
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 buspirone dose?
No. Follow the stated prescription in the exercise. Real dosing is increased gradually every few days to the lowest effective dose.
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.
Practise until the method is automatic
Try 15 free questions with worked answers. No sign-up required.
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