Magnesium sulfate is effective as an anticonvulsant and an antiarrhythmic.
It is used to treat polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with a pulse. It is only recommended for use in cardiac arrest if Torsades de pointes or suspected hypomagnesemia is present. Magnesium sulfate is also indicated for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias due to digitalis toxicity.
Adult Dosage for Magnesium Sulfate:
Dosage for pulseless cardiac arrest:
1-2 g or 2 to 4 mL of a 50% solution diluted in 10mL D5W (5% dextrose in water) or normal saline
IV/IO push over 5-20 minutes
Dosage for Torsades de pointes with a pulse or acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with hypomagnesemia:
Loading dose of 1 to 2 g mixed in 50 to 100 mL of D5W or Normal Saline
Give via IV over 5 to 60 minutes
Follow with .5 to 1 g per hour IV titrated to control Torsades de pointes
The following link is a great refresher on the specific use of Magnesium Sulfate (Click Here). To avoid a potential medication error of not diluting Magnesium, a Center came up with the following solution.
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