Magnesium - Exam 5 Flashcards
Normal lab levels for magnesium +
1.5-2.5 mg/dl
What does magnesium support in the body?
Muscle and nerve function and energy production
Magnesium + best friend is
Calcium: when one goes up the other one goes up
Mg+ has a inverse relationship with?
Phosphorus
What does Mg+ help to maintain
- blood glucose level
- blood pressure
- skeletal muscle contraction
- neurologic function
- ATP formation
- immune system - fight inflammation
Hyponagnesemia level
<1.5 mg/dl
What is the number one cause of hypomagnesemia
Chronic alcohol use
Causes of hypomagnesemia
- chronic alcohol use
- renal loss
- GI loss
- Diuretics
In a patient with hypomagnesemia is experiencing renal loss and is an alcoholic why might this be?
The renal loss is from the overuse of alcohol and this increases excretion of Mg
In a patient with hypomagnesemia what neuromuscular signs do we look for?
- tetany, twitches, paresthesias
- Trousseaus and Chvostek signs
- increased DTRs
- laryngeal stridor
- tachycardia
Mg + and which electrolytes are best friends
Calcium
Hypomagnesemia accompanies what
Hypocalcemia
Hypomagnesemia interventions
- replace Mg + and Ca + (IV OR PO)
- seizure precautions
- Monitor DTRs
- discontinue medications that cause Mg+ loss
- monitor K if Mg is low
If magnesium is low what other electrolyte might be low
Potassium
If Mg+ and K+ are both low which do we treat first?
Treat hypomagnesemia prior to treating hypokalemia
When we are monitoring DTRs in a patient with hypomagnesemia and the DTRs are diminished or absent. What is this called?
Hypermagnesemia
Causes of hypermagnesemia
- increased Mg+ intake
- decreased renal excretion of Mg+
Hypermagnesemia level
> 2.5mg/dl
In a patient with Hypermagnesemia what do we look for with the heart?
- Bradycarida
- hypotension
- respirations low and slow??
In a patient with Hypermagnesemia what do we look for in the lung?
Respirations are low and shallow
In a patient with Hypermagnesemia what do we look out for in the GI
Hypoactive bowel sounds
In a patient with Hypermagnesemia what do we look out for in neuro?
Drowsiness and lethargy
In a patient with Hypermagnesemia what do we look for in MS
Diminished or absent DTRs
What is the antidote medication for hypermagnesemia
Calcium Gluconate is antidote for magnesium overdose
