Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Flecainide tablet doses and twice 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.

Close-up of a healthcare worker checking a patient's pulse
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 flecainide acetate tablets recommends a starting dose of 50 mg twice daily for supraventricular arrhythmias, with a maximum of 300 mg daily.

For ventricular arrhythmias, the same information recommends a starting dose of 100 mg twice daily, with a maximum daily dose of 400 mg.

For elderly patients, it states the maximum initial daily dosage should be 100 mg daily and the dose should not exceed 300 mg a day. Flecainide acetate tablets are available in 50 mg and 100 mg strengths.

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 exact strength and frequency stated in the question.
  2. Double a twice daily dose to get the daily total before scaling up.
  3. Divide the stated amount by the tablet strength to count tablets.
  4. Check the answer against the stated daily maximum for the 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 flecainide 50 mg twice a day for a supraventricular arrhythmia. How many milligrams is the daily total?

Show the answer

Answer: 100 mg

Working: 50 mg x 2 doses = 100 mg a day.

Question 2

A fictional prescription reads flecainide 100 mg twice a day using 100 mg tablets. How many tablets are needed for 28 days?

Show the answer

Answer: 56 tablets

Working: 1 tablet per dose x 2 doses = 2 tablets a day; 2 tablets x 28 days = 56 tablets.

Question 3

A fictional patient takes the maximum daily dose for a supraventricular arrhythmia using 50 mg tablets. How many tablets is that each day?

Show the answer

Answer: 6 tablets

Working: The maximum is 300 mg a day; 300 mg / 50 mg = 6 tablets a day.

eMC SmPC: Flecainide Acetate 100 mg tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3086/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Using the 400 mg ventricular maximum when the question states a supraventricular arrhythmia.
  • Reporting the single dose instead of the daily total for a twice daily 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 made under medical supervision with ECG and plasma level monitoring.

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

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More calculation topics

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