Generic Name

Magnesium
Sulfate
Trade Name
Martham
Minimum Dose
1-2 g qH by IV
infusion
Maximum
Dose
4-6 g qH by IV
infusion

Pharmacologic
Class
Mineral,
Electrolyte
Therapeutic
Class
Antiepileptic,
Laxative; Mineral,
electrolyte
replacement
Pregnancy Risk
Factor
A
B (Laxative)

Contents
Magnesium
sulfate
Availability
and color

- Granules- 40 mEq/5
g
- Injection- 0.325,
0.65, 1, 4 mEq/mL

Routes of
administration
Oral
Intramuscular
Intravenous

Source:
Karch, Amy: 2009
Lippincotts Nursing
Drug Guide, p. 724

Cofactor of many enzyme systems

involved in neurochemical
transmission and muscular
excitability; prevents or controls
seizures by locking the
neuromuscular transmission;
attracts and retains the water in
the intestinal lumen and distends
the bowel to promote mass
movement and relieve
constipation.
Pharmacokinetics
A: Following administration, 3050% of the dose is absorbed from
the small intestine.
D: Crosses the placenta and small
amounts enter the breast milk.
M: Unknown
E: Via urine and feces.
Rout
e
Oral

Onset
1-2 hr

IM

60 min

IV

Immedia
te

Peak
unknow
n
unknow
n
unknow
n

General
Indications
- Constipation
- Torsades de
pointes
- Muscle stimulating
effects of barium
poisoning
- Reduction of
cerebral oedema.
Hypomagnesaemia
- Seizures
associated with
epilepsy,
glomerulonephritis
or hypothyroidism.
- Toxemias of
pregnancy
- Boils and
carbuncles

Duratio
n
3-4 hr
3-4 hr

Concentrations
- Allergy to magnesium
products
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Acute surgical abdomen
- Fecal impaction
- Intestinal and biliary tract
obstruction
- Hepatitis
- Myocardial damage
- Heart blocks
- 2 hr preceding delivery

CNS: Weakness,
drowsiness, dizziness,
fainting, sweating
Respiratory: Decreased
respiratory rate
CV: Palpitations
GI: Excessive bowel
activity, perianal irritation
Metabolic: Magnesium
intoxication,
hypocalcemia with tetany

During
- Give IM route by deep IM injection
- Monitor serum magnesium levels.
- Do not give oral MgSO4 with
abdominal pain, nausea, or
vomiting.
- Do not administer if knee-jerk
reflexes are suppressed
- Monitor bowel function.

Precaution
- Renal insufficiency
Drug interaction
Drug to drug
- Potentiation of
neuromuscular
blockade produced by
nondepolarizing
neuromuscular
relaxants

After
- Arrange to discontinue
administration as soon as levels are
within normal limits and desired
clinical response is obtained.
- Discontinue if diarrhea or
cramping occurs.
- Arrange for dietary measures,
exercise and environmental control
to return to normal bowel activity.
- Report sweating, flushing, muscle
tremors or twitching, inability to
move extremities.
- Maintain urine output at a level o
100 mL every 4 hr during parentera
administration.

Drug to food
- none reported

30 min

Drug Half Life

Unknown

Source:
http://mims.com.ph/,
Karch, Amy: 2009
Lippincotts Nursing
Drug Guide, pp. 724

Source:
http://mims.com.ph/, Karch, Amy: 2009
Lippincotts Nursing Drug Guide, pp. 724-725

Source:
http://mims.com.ph/

Source:
Karch, Amy: 2009 Lippincotts
Nursing Drug Guide, pp. 724725

Before
- Assess for contraindicated
conditions.
- Monitor knee-jerk reflex before
repeated parenteral administration
- Give as laxative as temporary
measure.
- Reserve IV use in eclampsia for
life-threatening situations.
- Observe the 15 rights in drug
administration.

Source:
Karch, Amy: 2009 Lippincotts
Nursing Drug Guide, p. 725

Source:
Karch, Amy: 2009 Lippincotts Nursing Drug
Guide, pp. 725-726