Pill Burden Score Calculator

Work out pill burden score instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Pill Burden Score Calculator

Combines the daily solid dose count, the number of administration times and weekly injections into a transparent burden index, with the weekly and annual dose counts.

Formula

Burden index

Index = tablets per day + 2 x administration times per day + injections per week; weekly units = tablets per day x 7 + injections

Worked example

With the default values below, Pill Burden Score Calculator returns Pill burden index of 22. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Tablets and capsules per dayaccepts 0–60: 12
Administration times per dayaccepts 1–8: 4
Injections per weekaccepts 0–21: 2

Results

Pill burden index: 22
Burden band: High burden
Dose units per week: 86
Dose units per year: 4,472

Step by step

1Values used
2Burden index
3Pill burden index= 22
4Burden band= High burden
5Dose units per week= 86
6Dose units per year= 4,472

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to whole numbers, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why weight administration times?

Each extra dosing time disrupts the day and is a stronger predictor of non-adherence than the tablet count alone.

How is burden reduced?

Fixed-dose combinations, once-daily formulations and deprescribing review are the main levers.