Magnesium sulfate
Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.
OB / NewbornRenal / Urinary / ElectrolytesCardiacneeds review
Magnesium sulfate
Examples: magnesium sulfate
Mechanism
Depresses neuromuscular excitability and stabilizes seizure risk in severe preeclampsia/eclampsia.
Used for
- Seizure prophylaxis in preeclampsia
- Eclampsia management
- Selected dysrhythmia protocols
Side effects
- Loss of deep tendon reflexes
- Respiratory depression
- Hypotension
- Flushing
Nursing actions
- Monitor respirations, deep tendon reflexes, urine output, and level of consciousness.
- Keep calcium gluconate available per protocol.
- Use seizure precautions and reduce stimulation.
Hold / question cues
- Respiratory depression
- Absent reflexes
- Very low urine output
Antidote / reversal
- calcium gluconate
NCLEX pearl
- Magnesium prevents seizures; calcium reverses toxicity.
Individual drug cards
Related study cards
Shows conditions, glossary terms, Drive entities, and source-linked cards connected to this medication class.
Drugmedication class
Magnesium sulfate
Absent reflexes, respiratory depression, or very low urine output are toxicity cues.
Conditionmedication safety
Eclampsia
Seizure precautions and magnesium monitoring.
Conditionmedication safety
Hypermagnesemia
Absent reflexes and slow respirations on magnesium.
Conditionmedication safety
Hypomagnesemia
Twitchy like low calcium.
Conditionmedication safety
Preeclampsia
Headache, visual spots, RUQ pain are severe warning signs.