The nurse administers injection MgSO4 to a women who is hospitalized with severe pre-eclampsia. What medication would the nurse have available to counter MgSO4 toxicity? mcq given below:
Q. The nurse administers injection MgSO4 to a women who is hospitalized with severe pre-eclampsia. What medication would the nurse have available to counter MgSO4 toxicity?(a) Sodium chloride / |
| Do you Agree with Answer comment below |
🤰 Antidote for Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄) Toxicity
✅ Answer: (b) Calcium Gluconate
📖 What is Pre-eclampsia?
Pre = Before
Eclampsia = Seizures related to pregnancy
👉 Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by:
- High blood pressure (Hypertension)
- Protein in the urine (Proteinuria)
- Swelling (Edema) in many cases
If untreated, it can progress to eclampsia, causing seizures.
💉 Why is Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄) Given?
Magnesium sulfate is the drug of choice to:
- Prevent seizures
- Treat eclamptic seizures
⚠️ What is MgSO₄ Toxicity?
Excess magnesium can depress the nervous and respiratory systems.
Signs of toxicity include:
- Absent deep tendon reflexes (DTRs)
- Respiratory depression
- Low urine output
- Cardiac arrest (severe toxicity)
💊 Why Calcium Gluconate?
Calcium gluconate is the specific antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity.
👉 It reverses the effects of excess magnesium and should always be readily available whenever MgSO₄ is administered.
❌ Why Other Options Are Wrong?
(a) Sodium Chloride
❌ Used for fluid replacement, not as an antidote for MgSO₄ toxicity.
(c) Epinephrine
❌ Used for anaphylaxis and cardiac emergencies, not magnesium toxicity.
(d) Sodium Bicarbonate
❌ Used mainly to correct severe metabolic acidosis, not MgSO₄ overdose.
MgSO₄ Toxicity → Give Calcium Gluconate
Remember: “Magnesium Meets Calcium.”
📌 Disclaimer: For nursing exam preparation only. During MgSO₄ therapy, always monitor respiratory rate, deep tendon reflexes, urine output, and keep calcium gluconate readily available.
Concept clarity • Easy recall • Nursing success