Magnesium sulfate

Magnesium sulphate when ingested. The purpose of taking the drug and the mechanism of its action: the main application of magnesium sulphate was found as a laxative. In this case, the drug is administered orally ten to thirty grams per half a cup of water for adults and one gram for each year of life for children.

Often with chronic constipation, enemas with a solution of this active substance are used. The mechanism of action of magnesia consists in drawing water to itself (on a gradient of concentration). Such a process develops throughout the entire intestine, resulting in a significant dilution of its contents and facilitates its excretion. Used in significant amounts of magnesium prevents the absorption of toxic substances trapped in the intestines and promotes their rapid removal. Due to the fact that the salt solution of magnesia is directly in contact with the walls of the intestine, dehydration of the cells of the intestine takes place, which reduces the manifestation of inflammatory processes, alleviates pain symptoms and promotes early healing (by removing the swelling of the tissues). Contraindication to the use of this drug is the actual dehydration of the human body .

In addition, magnesium sulfate is used as a cholagogue. A similar effect develops as a result of irritation of the nerve endings of the duodenal mucosa. As a cholagogue magnesium sulfate powder is diluted with 25% concentration and one tablespoon is prescribed three times a day.

When parenteral admission, this drug has a sedative (calming and slowing down the activity of the central nervous system) action. The amount of injected drug determines the degree of inhibition of the processes in the central nervous system, which causes a calming, sleeping, or even narcotic effect. The effectiveness of the drug is determined by its ability to inhibit the activity of neuromuscular transmission.

Overdosing of the drug may lead to the development of a curare-like effect. A significant excess of the dosage of the drug may lead to paralysis of the respiratory muscles due to a sharp decrease in its excitability.

Being a calcium ion antagonist , magnesium sulfate, the formula of which is less stable, determines the effectiveness of antidote therapy for the poisoning of this drug. In this case, almost all calcium salts act as antidotes.

Magnesium sulfate is excreted in the urine. A small run-out in dosage, which causes both narcotic effect and paralysis of the respiratory muscles, does not allow using this drug as a narcotic analgesic. However, in combination with other analgesic agents, it is often used to enhance the effect of the latter.

As an antispasmodic drug, magnesium sulfate is rarely used (only in the early stages of hypertension). More often a 25% solution in the volume of five to twenty milliliters is used to stop seizures and to remove lead colic (when poisoned with salts or vapors of this substance).

In addition, magnesium sulphate is the antidote of soluble barium salts, tetraethyl lead and mercury. So when entering the stomach of barium salts, it is washed with a one-percent solution of the antidote and, in addition, enter enterally by twenty-twenty-five grams of the solution to bind the salts.

Given the risk of paralysis of the respiratory muscles, the parenteral use of magnesium is strictly controlled. The solution is introduced slowly. When there are signs of developing respiratory depression, 10% calcium chloride solution in a volume of 5-10 ml is injected into the vein.