Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Pivmecillinam 200 mg tablets and cystitis course counts for the GPhC assessment

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

Published 12 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

Pink tablets beside a glass of water
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 Selexid 200 mg tablets states that for acute uncomplicated cystitis the course is 2 tablets immediately, then 1 tablet three times daily, to a printed total of 10 tablets over 72 hours.

The same information states that for acute cystitis in pregnancy the course is 2 tablets immediately, then 1 tablet three times daily, to a printed total of 22 tablets over 7 days.

For chronic or recurrent bacteriuria, the product information states 2 tablets three to four times daily.

Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. Keep the initial double dose, the three-times-daily count and the printed course totals in separate lines. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.

The method

  1. Identify which course the question states: 72-hour, pregnancy 7-day, or chronic.
  2. Convert the initial 2-tablet dose into milligrams first, then the three-times-daily count.
  3. Use the printed course totals, 10 tablets or 22 tablets, rather than deriving your own.
  4. Multiply tablets by 200 mg for milligram totals.
  5. Keep per-dose and per-day figures on separate lines.

Three practice questions

Work each one on paper first, then open the answer. All patients and prescriptions are fictional.

Question 1

A fictional adult begins the 72-hour course for acute uncomplicated cystitis: 2 tablets immediately, then 1 tablet three times daily. Using 200 mg tablets, how many milligrams is the initial dose, and how many milligrams is the printed 10-tablet course?

Show the answer

Answer: 400 mg initially; 2,000 mg for the course

Working: 2 tablets x 200 mg = 400 mg initially; the printed course total is 10 tablets, so 10 x 200 mg = 2,000 mg.

Question 2

A fictional pregnant patient takes the 7-day course with a printed total of 22 tablets. Using 200 mg tablets, how many milligrams is the full course?

Show the answer

Answer: 4,400 mg

Working: 22 tablets x 200 mg = 4,400 mg for the printed course total.

Question 3

A fictional adult takes pivmecillinam for chronic bacteriuria at 2 tablets three times a day. Using 200 mg tablets, how many milligrams per day is that?

Show the answer

Answer: 1,200 mg per day

Working: 2 tablets x 200 mg = 400 mg per dose; 400 mg x 3 doses = 1,200 mg a day.

eMC SmPC: Selexid 200 mg Film-coated Tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3799/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Deriving a course total from the schedule instead of using the printed 10 or 22 tablet totals.
  • Dropping the initial 2-tablet dose from the course count.
  • Reading the chronic schedule of 2 tablets three to four times daily as 2 tablets a 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 pivmecillinam course?

No. Follow the stated prescription in the exercise. Real courses follow the prescriber and the product information for the named tablet.

How should I check the answer?

Name the course, convert the initial 2 tablets and the three-times-daily tablet to milligrams, then multiply the printed course total by 200 mg.

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.