An integrative review of the side effects related to the use of magnesium sulfate for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia management

The authors note that magnesium sulfate is the drug of choice for preventing seizures in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia management. However, concerns have been expressed about the safety and potential toxicity of magnesium sulfate, particularly among providers in low- and middle-income countries. The document's methods section describes the methodology used to conduct an integrative review of the literature. The authors searched MEDLINE, Embase, and The Cochrane Library for relevant studies published between 1980 and February 2013. The search terms used included magnesium sulfate, pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia. The authors also searched reference lists in journal articles and used various combinations of search terms. The document's results section presents the results of the integrative review, which included 24 studies that compared magnesium sulfate against other drug regimens. The overall rate of absent patellar reflex among 9556 aggregated women was 1.6%, with a range of 0-65%. The overall rate of delay in repeat administration of magnesium sulfate was 3.6%, with a range of 0-65%. There was only one maternal death attributed to magnesium sulfate among the 9556 women in the 24 studies. The document's conclusion section highlights the findings of the integrative review, which indicate a low incidence of severe side effects associated with magnesium sulfate use. The authors note that the use of magnesium sulfate is associated with minor side effects such as a feeling of warmth, nausea, and vomiting, but more serious side effects such as respiratory depression and loss of patellar reflex are rare. The authors conclude that the published literature from low- and middle-income countries supports the use of magnesium sulfate as the drug of choice for managing pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. The document's discussion section highlights the importance of early screening and diagnosis of the disease, appropriate treatment with proven drugs, and vigilance for women under treatment. The authors note that the use of magnesium sulfate is associated with a low risk of severe side effects, and that the benefits of magnesium sulfate use outweigh the risks. The authors also highlight the need for further research to better understand the safety and efficacy of magnesium sulfate use in low- and middle-income countries.