Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Meloxicam 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 5 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

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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 meloxicam 7.5 mg tablets states that the dose for exacerbations of osteoarthrosis is 7.5 mg a day, which may be increased to 15 mg a day if there is no improvement, and that the dose for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis is 15 mg a day, which may be reduced to 7.5 mg a day according to response.

The same information states that the dose of 15 mg a day must not be exceeded, and that the recommended dose for long term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in elderly patients is 7.5 mg a day.

It also states that the total daily amount should be taken as a single dose, with water or another liquid, during a meal.

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 takes meloxicam 15 mg once daily using 7.5 mg tablets. How many tablets are needed for a 28-day supply?

Show the answer

Answer: 56 tablets

Working: 15 mg / 7.5 mg per tablet = 2 tablets each day. 2 tablets x 28 days = 56 tablets.

Question 2

A fictional patient starts meloxicam for an exacerbation of osteoarthrosis at 7.5 mg once daily. How many milligrams is this over 30 days?

Show the answer

Answer: 225 mg

Working: 7.5 mg each day x 30 days = 225 mg in total.

Question 3

A fictional elderly patient takes the recommended long term dose of meloxicam 7.5 mg once daily using 7.5 mg tablets. How many tablets are needed for 90 days?

Show the answer

Answer: 90 tablets

Working: One 7.5 mg tablet each day x 90 days = 90 tablets.

eMC SmPC: Meloxicam 7.5 mg Tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15474/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Using the 15 mg maximum without checking whether the question states the 7.5 mg starting or elderly dose.
  • Reporting tablets when the question asks for total milligrams, or the other way round.
  • Multiplying by the number of days before finding the tablets used each day.

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 meloxicam dose?

No. Follow the stated prescription in the exercise. Real dosing checks include indication, age and kidney-function factors.

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.

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More calculation topics

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