NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

A patient is given a large loading dose followed by smaller maintenance doses. What is the purpose of the initial large dose?

1. To reduce the chance of side effects

2. To shorten the drug's half-life

3. To ensure the medication works quickly

4. To correct a dosing error

The correct answer is: To reduce the chance of side effects

The purpose of giving a patient a large loading dose followed by smaller maintenance doses is to quickly achieve a therapeutic drug level in the body. This initial large dose helps reach the desired drug concentration rapidly, so the medication can start working effectively without delay. This approach is particularly beneficial for drugs that have a long half-life or when immediate therapeutic effects are needed. This loading dose strategy is not intended to reduce the chance of side effects, correct a dosing error, or shorten the drug's half-life.