Review Article
The Importance of Magnesium in Clinical Healthcare
Table 9
Signs and symptoms of magnesium toxicity and clinical management.
| Laxative effect, diarrhea | Fall in blood pressure with dizziness to severe hypotension | Muscle weakness (and depressed deep tendon reflexes) | Severe back pain and pelvic pain | Confusion and loss of consciousness | Difficulty breathing to respiratory arrest | Cardiac arrhythmias to cardiac arrest | Other effects: lethargy, confusion, deterioration of kidney function |
| Treatment: | Mild magnesium overdose: | (i) Discontinue over the counter magnesium-containing laxatives, antacids, or magnesium supplements and rule out renal impairment | Severe magnesium overdose (>1.1 mmol/l) | (i) Artificial respiratory support may be needed | (ii) Intravenous fluids (saline diuresis) and furosemide | (iii) IV calcium gluconate or calcium chloride (10% solution 500–1000 mg IV) | (iv) Renal dialysis |
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