ABSTRACT
Generally, it is recommended that intravenous magnesium sulfate pharmacotherapy be restricted to hospitalized patients who can be monitored appropriately (including blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and respiratory function) and for whom magnesium blood concentrations can be obtained easily and rapidly. An intravenous formulation of calcium gluconate should be readily available to reverse the adverse drug reactions or toxicity associated with magnesium sulfate pharmacotherapy. Magnesium sulfate is incompatible with alkali carbonates, alkali hydroxides, and salicylates. Concurrent magnesium sulfate pharmacotherapy and pharmacotherapy with opiate analgesics, sedative-hypnotics, or other drugs that produce CNS depression may result in additive CNS depression. Magnesium sulfate pharmacotherapy generally is well tolerated.
