What is the minimum quantity of Cephalexin that should be dispensed when prescribed for 10 days at 4 times a day when the expiration date of the bulk bottle is January 2017?

To determine the minimum quantity of Cephalexin that should be dispensed, it's important to first calculate the total daily dosage based on the prescribed regimen. The prescription indicates that the medication should be taken four times a day for 10 days. Therefore, the total number of doses required over the course of the treatment is 4 doses per day multiplied by 10 days, which results in 40 doses.

Since each dose of Cephalexin corresponds to a single unit (in this case, each 500 mg capsule, for example), the minimum quantity that needs to be dispensed would be equal to this total number of doses required over the treatment period, which is 40.

The expiration date of the bulk bottle being January 2017 is relevant in assessing the viability and legality of dispensing any medication from that bottle. However, it does not change the quantity calculation based solely on the prescribed dose and frequency. If the medication is still viable for dispensing, then providing the calculated quantity is necessary for the patient's complete treatment.

In this scenario, given that the prescription clearly states a regimen requiring 40 doses, the minimum quantity of Cephalexin that should be dispensed is indeed 40.