Magnesium sulfate
Prescription neededPregnancy and birth (hospital use)
Comes as:InjectionDrip (infusion)
Usual adult dose
Given only in a hospital or health facility by trained staff for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. A common schedule is 4 g slowly into a vein, then continued by injection or drip for 24 hours, with checks of breathing, reflexes and urine.
Your doctor may give you a different dose. Children's doses depend on weight.
Side effects
Common
- feeling hot and flushed
- sweating
- nausea
- pain at the injection site
Serious — get help
Stop taking it and see a doctor straight away if you notice:
- slow or weak breathing
- loss of knee reflexes
- very little urine
- very low blood pressure (signs of too much magnesium)
Do not take it, or take care, if
- Myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakness disease)
- Serious kidney disease (lower dose and close monitoring)
- Heart block
- Must be given only where breathing and reflexes can be checked and calcium gluconate is available
Interactions
Medicines that can react with this one.
Moderate2 medicinesTake together only with care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- Gentamicin
Both can weaken muscles and breathing; use together only with close monitoring.
- Nifedipine
Together they can cause low blood pressure and muscle weakness; close monitoring is needed.