This document provides dosage information and guidelines for administering magnesium sulfate. It lists approved indications, contraindications, and potential side effects. It recommends giving magnesium sulfate intramuscularly or intravenously for conditions like preeclampsia, eclampsia, acute nephritis, and hypomagnesemia. Nurses are responsible for monitoring patients for side effects like weakness, dizziness, and hypermagnesemia, as well as bowel function when it is used as a laxative. Dosage amounts depend on the condition and age of the patient.

1. MAGNESIUM SULFATE
DOSAGE INDICATIONS CONTRAINDICATIONS SIDE EFFECTS NURSING
RESPONSIBILITIES
(ADULTS)
 Parenteral
nutrition: 8-24
mEq/day IV
 Mild Magnesium
Deficiency: I g
IM or IV q 6 hr
for 4 doses )32.5
mEq/24 hr
 Severe
Hypomagnesemi
a: Up to 2
mEq/kg IM
within 4 hr o 5 g
(40 mEq)/1000
mL D5W IV
infused over 3
hr.
IM
 Toxemia,
eclampsia,
nephritis: 4-5 g
of a 50 solution
of 4 hr as needed
IV
 1-4 g of 10-20%
solution. Do not
exceed
 For Acute
nephritis
(children)
 to control
hypertension,
 For
Hypomagnesemia
(replacement
therapy)
 For
Preeclampsia/
eclampsia
 short-term
treatment for
constipation.
 Evacuation of the
colon for rectal
and bowel exams
 To correct or
prevent
hypomagnesemia
 Treatment of
Atypical
ventricular
arrhythmias(Tors
ades de pointes)
 Adjunctive
therapy for the
treatment of acute
 It is contraindicated
with allergy to
magnesium
products;
heartblock,
myocardial damage,
abdominal pain,
nausea, vomiting or
other symptoms of
appendicitis; acute
surgical abdomen,
fecal impaction,
intestinal and
biliary duct
obstruction,
Hepatitis.
 Do not give during
2 hr preceding
delivery because of
the risk of
magnesium toxicity
to the neonate
 Use cautiously with
renal imsufficiency
--
 CNS:
Weakness,
Dizziness,
fainting,
sweating (PO)
 CV:
Palpitations
 GI: Excessive
bowel activity,
Perianal
irritations.
 Metabolic:
Hypermagnese
mia and
toxicity in
patients with
renal failure.
 Reserve IV use
in eclampsia for
immediate life
threatening
situations.
 Give IM route
for deep IM
injection of
undiluted (50%)
sol’n for adults;
dilute to a 20%
sol’n for
children.
 Monitor serum
magnesium
levels during
parenteral
therapy.
 Monitor knee-
jerk reflex
 Do not give
magnesium
sulfate to
patient with
abdominal pain,
nausea and
vomiting
 Monitor bowel
function, If

2. 1.5mL/min of a
10% solution. Or
4-5 g of a 250
mL of 5%
dextrose. Do not
exceed
3mL/minute
PO
 Laxative: 10-15
g PO Epsom salt
in glass of water
(PEDIATRICS)
 Parenteral
nutrition(infants)
: 2-10 mEq/day
IV.
 Antiepileptic:
20-40 mg/kg in a
20%
solution,IM,
Repeat as
needed.
 Laxative: 5-10 g
PO Epsom salt in
a glass of water
MI
 Inhibition of
premature labor
 Adjunct
treatment of
exacerbations of
acute asthma.
diarrhea and
and cramping
occur,
discontinue
usage.