Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Galantamine prolonged-release capsules and titration steps 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.

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The manufacturer's UK product information for galantamine prolonged-release capsules states that the recommended starting dose is 8 mg once daily for four weeks.

The same information states that the initial maintenance dose is 16 mg once daily and that patients should be maintained on 16 mg daily for at least four weeks.

It also states that an increase to the maintenance dose of 24 mg once daily should be considered on an individual basis after appropriate assessment of clinical benefit and tolerability.

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 step in milligrams and the capsule strength supplied.
  2. Divide the daily dose by the capsule strength to count capsules per day.
  3. Multiply the daily capsule count by the stated number of days or weeks for a supply quantity.
  4. Keep milligrams and capsules 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 galantamine 8 mg once daily for four weeks using 8 mg prolonged-release capsules. How many capsules are needed?

Show the answer

Answer: 28 capsules

Working: 4 weeks x 7 days = 28 days. One capsule each day x 28 days = 28 capsules.

Question 2

After four weeks, a fictional patient is increased to the initial maintenance dose of galantamine 16 mg once daily using 16 mg prolonged-release capsules. How many capsules are needed for the next four weeks?

Show the answer

Answer: 28 capsules

Working: One 16 mg capsule each day x 28 days = 28 capsules.

Question 3

A fictional patient completes a twelve-week titration: four weeks at 8 mg daily, four weeks at 16 mg daily and four weeks at 24 mg daily, taking one prolonged-release capsule each day. How many capsules are needed in total?

Show the answer

Answer: 84 capsules

Working: One capsule each day x (28 + 28 + 28) days = 1 x 84 = 84 capsules.

eMC SmPC: Gaalin 8 mg prolonged release capsules

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/11162/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Counting four weeks as four days instead of 28 days.
  • Combining the 8 mg, 16 mg and 24 mg steps into one daily dose.
  • Forgetting to multiply the daily capsule count by the number of days in each step.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official assessment questions?

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

Do the titration steps happen automatically?

No. The questions use the schedule stated in the stem. Real dose changes follow clinical assessment and tolerability.

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.

More calculation topics

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