Emergency Drugs
Magnesium Sulfate
Dose
Eclampsia: 4 g IV over 5 min, then 1 g/h. Torsades: 2 g IV over 10 min. Asthma: 2 g IV over 20 min.
Use
Eclampsia, torsades, severe asthma, hypomagnesaemia.
Monitoring
Reflexes (loss = toxicity), RR (>16), urine output, Mg level.
Side effects
- • Flushing
- • Hypotension
- • Respiratory depression (toxicity)
- • Loss of reflexes
Always confirm dose against your local formulary / BNF before prescribing.
