Dosing Scenarios

Doses are taken daily (e.g., once, twice, etc.)

The Daily option is used when the drug is taken every day.

Scenario 1 - John Douglas takes 1 tablet of telmisartan 80mg each morning.

Dropdown the Frequency field and select Daily.
Enter 1 in the Morning row of the Passtimes table.
Select the Calendar tab to preview the dosage for accuracy.
Select OK.
Rx Detail updates with the dosing frequency of 1 tablet in the morning.

Scenario 2 - John Douglas takes 2 tablets of metformin twice daily.

Dropdown the Frequency field and select Daily.
Enter 2 in the Morning and Evening rows of the Passtimes table.
Select the Calendar tab to preview the dosage for accuracy.
Select OK.
Rx Detail updates with the dosing frequency of 2 tablets in the morning and evening.

Doses are taken on a rotating schedule (e.g., every other day, every 28 days)

The Multi Day Pattern option is used when the drug follows a rotating pattern between 1 to 28 days. This includes drugs taken every other day.

Scenario 1 - John Douglas takes 1 tablet of bisoprolol 5mg every other day.

Dropdown the Frequency field and select Multi Day Pattern.
Enter 2 for the Number of Days.
The Start Date is Day 01 in the grid. Enter 1 in the 01 column of the Morning row. This adds bisoprolol on the first day of the 2-day rotating pattern. In the example below, 1 tablet of bisoprolol will be taken starting January 17, 2024.
Select the Calendar tab to preview the dosage for accuracy.
Select OK.
Rx Detail updates with the dosing frequency, Multi-Day (2) Morning (1/0).
- Multi-Day (2) indicates a 2-day rotating pattern.
- Morning (1/0) indicates 1 tablet is taken in the morning on the first day and not on the second.

When manually filling prescriptions with alternate day dosing for a 7 day supply, the quantity field must be adjusted as needed each week.

If you automatically batch prescriptions with alternate day dosing, you must batch a 14 day supply instead of a 7 day supply. Otherwise, the quantity filled will be incorrect for some weeks. The recommended setup when automatically batching a 14 day supply of a prescription with alternate day dosing is shown below.

Scenario 2 - John Douglas takes risedronate 150mg every 28 days on the 15th day.

Dropdown the Frequency field and select Multi Day Pattern.
Enter 28 for the Number of Days.
The Start Date is Day 01 in the grid. Enter 1 in the 15 column of the Morning row. This adds risedronate on the 15th day of a 28-day cycle. In the example below, the cycle starts on February 1, 2024 so the tablet is taken on February 15.
Select the Calendar tab to preview the dosage for accuracy.
Select OK.
Rx Detail updates with the dosing frequency, Multi-Day (28) Morning (0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/1/0/0...).
- Multi-Day (28) indicates a 28-day rotating pattern.
- Morning (0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/1/0/0...) indicates 1 tablet is taken in the morning on the 15th day.

Doses are being tapered (e.g., prednisone)

The Multi Day Pattern option can be used when doses are tapered. It is also possible to use the Specific Date(s) option if the taper spans 10 days or less.

Scenario 1 - Jane Douglas is on a tapering dose of prednisone for 11 days. She takes 40mg once daily for 4 days, then the dose decreases by 5mg each day until finished. Prednisone 5mg tablets are used to fill the prescription.

Dropdown the Frequency field and select Multi Day Pattern.
Enter 11 for the Number of Days required to taper the prednisone prescription.
Enter 8 in the first 4 columns (01-04) of the Morning row.
Enter 7 in the 05 column. Enter 6 in the 06 column. Enter the remaining number of tablets in the columns until the taper is complete.
Set the Stop Date to Days Supply.
Select the Calendar tab to preview the dosage for accuracy.
Select OK.
Rx Detail updates with the dosing frequency, Multi-Day (11) Morning (8/8/8/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1).
- Multi-Day (11) indicates a 11-day pattern.
- Morning (8/8/8/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1) indicates the number of tablets taken each day.

Scenario 2 - John Douglas is on a tapering dose of prednisone for 10 days. He takes 30mg once daily for 3 days, then the dose decreases by 5mg each day until finished. Prednisone 5mg tablets are used to fill the prescription.

Dropdown the Frequency field and select Specific Date(s).
Select an ingestion date using the calendar icon in the Passtimes table.
Select Add Date to add a date column to the Passtimes table.
Repeat step 3 until enough date columns are added for the taper. In this example, 8 dates are required.

If added in error, select the red X beside the date to remove.
Select or enter the dates in the Passtimes table.
Enter 6 for the first 3 dates.
Enter 5 for the next date.
Continue entering the number of tablets for each date until the taper is complete.
Select the Calendar tab to preview the dosage for accuracy.
Select OK.
Rx Detail updates with the dosing frequency, Specific Date(s).
- The dosage is indicated in brackets beside the Passtime for each date.

Doses are taken on specific day(s) of the week (e.g., Sunday)

The Specific Day(s) of the Week option is used when the drug is taken on a specific day of the week.

Scenario 1 - Jane Douglas takes 1 tablet of alendronate 70mg each week on Sunday.

Dropdown the Frequency field and select Specific Day(s) of the Week.
Enter 1 in the Su column of the Morning row.
Select the Calendar tab to preview the dosage for accuracy.
Select OK.
Rx Detail updates with the dosing frequency of 1 tablet in the morning on Sunday.

Doses are taken on specific dates

The Specific Date(s) option is used when the drug is taken on specific dates. Up to 10 specific dates can be entered in the Administration Details window. This option or the Specific Day(s) of the Week option can be used in a tapering scenario.

Scenario 1 - John Douglas takes ciprofloxacin 500mg daily for 3 days.

Dropdown the Frequency field and select Specific Date(s).
Select an ingestion date using the calendar icon in the Passtimes table.
Enter 1 in the Morning row.
Select Add Date to add an additional date column in the Passtimes table. Continue to add dates and enter dosages.

If added in error, select the red X beside the date to remove.
Select the Calendar tab to preview the dosage for accuracy.
Select OK.
Rx Detail updates with the dosing frequency of 1 tablet in the morning on June 14, June 15, and June 16.

Doses are taken when needed (PRN)

The PRN option is used when the drug is taken as required. Multiple PRN dosages can be entered for a compliance pack.

Some packagers, such as McKesson Central Fill, do not allow PRN dosing. A validation error occurs if PRN is used.

Scenario 1 - John Douglas take 1 tablet of trazodone at bedtime when required.

Dropdown the Frequency field and select PRN.
Enter 1 tablet in the Bedtime row.
Select the Calendar tab to preview the dosage for accuracy.
Select OK.
Rx Detail updates with the dosing frequency of 1 tablet at bedtime when required.