Magnesium Sulfate Side Effects

The mention of magnesium sulfate would probably flash memories of sometimes boring, as well as interesting chemistry classes. The chemical formulas were as complicated as they looked. Magnesium sulfate's chemical formula was one of the most easiest and frequently asked formula. But as students, we might not have thought about its side-effects on consumption. Though magnesium sulfate is used as a drug for the medicinal purposes, for the treatment of convulsions and nephritis in children and hypomagnesemia (deficiency of magnesium), and uterine treatment, there are quite a few side-effects of excessive consumption of magnesium sulfate.

Side Effects of Magnesium Sulfate

• Generally, most of the side effects of magnesium sulfate on the body are associated with the increased serum levels.
• In a situation where the serum level surpasses 3 to 4 (mEq/l), there could be a depression of the central nervous system, flushing, sweating, dilated pupils and a feeling of lethargy.
• Moreover, disorientation, frank coma, hypotension, flaccid paralysis, hypothermia, depressed reflexes, circulatory collapse and cardiovascular depression may also occur.
• When the serum level is between 11 to 13 mEq/l, there are chances of heart block or respiratory paralysis.

Effects on Metabolism

• The first side-effect on metabolism is occurrence of hypomagnesemia. It is associated with hypocalcemia, that is presence of low calcium levels in the blood.
• This can lead to either neurological or gastrointestinal changes or both, which could result in weakness, vomiting, anorexia, lethargy and nausea.
• It was observed that when pregnant women had consumed magnesium sulfate, infants were born with bone abnormalities.

Effects on the Nervous System

• The effects of this chemical on the nervous system depend on the serum levels. Sedation, deep tendon reflexes, mental confusion and muscle weakness is experienced if the serum content is more than 4 to 7 mEq/l.
• If the serum level is between 7 to10 mEq/l, the patient may suffer from slow respiratory rates and a dip in the blood pressure.
• In a situation where the serum level ranges from 10 to 15 mEq/l, acute mental depression, areflexia, respiratory paralysis and coma is a common occurrence.
• In case the serum levels are above 15 mEq/l, death may occur. But death can also occur at any serum level.

Gastrointestinal Side Effects

• These effects mainly include nausea and diarrhea by the consumption of 4 to 5 mEq/l of magnesium sulfate.
• Paralytic ileus, a situation where the normal gastrointestinal propulsive motor activity is disturbed is also a side-effect of magnesium sulfate levels more than 5 mEq/l.

Respiratory Side Effects

• When there is an excessive rise in the serum magnesium level (more than 13 mEq/l), respiratory arrest has been reported in patients.
• When magnesium sulphate was administered as a tocolytic, which responds to diuretics, pulmonary edema was observed.

Cardiovascular Side Effects

• The most common cardiovascular side effects are chest pain and palpitations. In addition to that, hypermagnesemia increases the risk of cardiotoxicity (heart muscle damage) in the presence of hypocalcemia.
• Hyperkalemia, acidosis, digitalis therapy and renal insufficiency also aggravate the risk of cardiotoxicity.
Other General Side Effects

• The patient could develop a double vision - medically termed as diplopia when magnesium sulfate is administered for tocolysis.
• In addition to this, dermatological urticarial eruption was noted as a hypersensitivity side effect of magnesium sulfate.
• Dermatological urticarial eruption can be explained as itching with rashes.
Utmost care should be taken while prescribing and administering magnesium sulfate in order to avoid the complications.