Common Registration Assessment, Part 1
Etoricoxib tablet doses by indication and daily maximums for the GPhC assessment
Three original practice questions, with the working shown. Read the stated prescription or plan before calculating.
Published 3 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.
The manufacturer's UK product information for Arcoxia film-coated tablets recommends 30 mg once daily for osteoarthritis, which may be increased to 60 mg once daily; the dose for osteoarthritis should not exceed 60 mg daily.
The same information recommends 60 mg once daily for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, which may be increased to 90 mg once daily; the dose for those conditions should not exceed 90 mg daily.
For acute gouty arthritis it recommends 120 mg once daily, limited to a maximum of 8 days, and for postoperative dental surgery pain it recommends 90 mg once daily limited to a maximum of 3 days.
Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. Write the unit beside every step and match the dose and maximum to the stated indication. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.
The method
- Identify the stated indication before choosing the dose or maximum.
- Multiply the once daily dose by the stated number of days.
- Divide the stated dose by the tablet strength to count tablets.
- Check the answer against the stated maximum for that indication.
Three practice questions
Work each one on paper first, then open the answer. All patients and prescriptions are fictional.
Question 1
A fictional patient takes etoricoxib 60 mg once a day for osteoarthritis. How many milligrams is the total over 28 days?
Show the answer
Answer: 1,680 mg
Working: 60 mg x 28 days = 1,680 mg.
Question 2
A fictional patient takes etoricoxib 120 mg once a day for 8 days for acute gout. How many milligrams is the full course?
Show the answer
Answer: 960 mg
Working: 120 mg x 8 days = 960 mg.
Question 3
A fictional prescription reads etoricoxib 90 mg once a day for 3 days after dental surgery using 90 mg tablets. How many tablets is the course?
Show the answer
Answer: 3 tablets
Working: 1 tablet a day x 3 days = 3 tablets.
eMC SmPC: Arcoxia 60 mg Film-coated Tablets
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/10616/smpc
Where marks are lost
- Using the 120 mg gout dose for osteoarthritis, where the stated maximum is 60 mg daily.
- Extending the 90 mg dental surgery dose beyond the stated 3 day maximum.
- 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 courses use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration 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.
Practise until the method is automatic
Try 15 free questions with worked answers. No sign-up required.
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