Magnesium

Question 1

Clinical condition or situation to which this PGD applies

Answer 1

Treatment of severe and life threatening asthma, cardiac arrhythmias and eclampsia

Question 2

Inclusion criteria

Answer 2

Patients suffering from severe / life threatening asthma who are not responding to standard treatment

Cardiac arrhythmias - e.g. Torsades de points where hypomagnesia is a common course or refractory VF

Pregnant patients who are fitting due to pre-eclampsia / eclampsia

Question 3

Exclusion criteria

Answer 3

Hypersensitivity to magnesium and its salts

Hepatic encephalopathy or hepatic failure

Renal failure

Children <12 years of age

Heart block

Question 4

Cautions

Answer 4

Impaired renal function

Patients receiving digitalis glycosides

Respiratory depression may occur in patients with respiratory disease

Solution must be diluted before use

patients suffering from myasthenia graves

Question 5

Name, form and strength

Answer 5

Magnesium Sulphate Injection BP 50% (5g in 10ml)

Question 6

Dose and frequency

Answer 6

Severe Asthma

• 2g in 100ml of NaCl 0.9% or 100ml in 5% glucose over 20 minutes
• IV infusion / IO injection

Torsade de points

• 2g in 100ml of NaCl 0.9% or 100ml in 5% glucose over 20 minutes
• IV infusion / IO injection

Refractory VF - 2g IV Bolus

Eclamptic seizures

• 4g in 100ml of NaCl 0.9% or 100ml 5% glucose over 15 minutes