Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Edoxaban tablet strengths and once daily doses for the GPhC assessment

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

Published 4 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

Blue and red blister packs of medication tablets on a white surface
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 Lixiana film-coated tablets states that the recommended dose for preventing stroke and systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation is 60 mg edoxaban once daily.

The same information states that the recommended dose for treating deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism is 60 mg once daily, following initial use of a parenteral anticoagulant for at least five days.

It also states that the recommended dose is 30 mg once daily in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance 15 to 50 mL/min), body weight of 60 kg or less, or certain interacting medicines including ciclosporin, dronedarone, erythromycin or ketoconazole.

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 daily dose in milligrams and the tablet strength supplied.
  2. Divide the daily dose by the tablet strength to count tablets per day.
  3. Multiply the daily tablet count by the stated number of days for a supply quantity.
  4. Keep milligrams 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 with atrial fibrillation takes edoxaban 60 mg once daily using 60 mg tablets. How many tablets are needed for a 28-day supply?

Show the answer

Answer: 28 tablets

Working: One 60 mg tablet each day x 28 days = 28 tablets.

Question 2

A fictional patient weighs 58 kg and is prescribed the reduced edoxaban dose for low body weight, 30 mg once daily. How many milligrams is this over 30 days?

Show the answer

Answer: 900 mg

Working: 30 mg each day x 30 days = 900 mg in total.

Question 3

A fictional prescription for edoxaban 60 mg once daily runs for 12 weeks after an initial parenteral anticoagulant course. How many 60 mg tablets should be supplied?

Show the answer

Answer: 84 tablets

Working: 12 weeks x 7 days = 84 days. One tablet each day x 84 days = 84 tablets.

eMC SmPC: Lixiana 60 mg film-coated tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6905/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Treating the standard 60 mg once daily figure as the answer before checking whether the question states a reduced-dose factor.
  • Reporting a tablet count when the question asks for total milligrams, or the other way round.
  • Turning 12 weeks into 12 days instead of 84 days.

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 edoxaban dose?

No. Follow the stated prescription in the exercise. Real dosing checks include kidney function, body weight and interacting medicines.

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.

Try 15 free questionsSee pricing

More calculation topics

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