# Causes
- GIT
- poor nutrition
- malabsorption
- renal
- alcohol
- diuretics
- gentamicin
- endocirne
- [[thyrotoxicosis]]
- hyperparathyroidism
# features
- Mg <0.5 mmol/L
- tetany
- [[Seizures]]
- *arrhythmias* eg [[Torsades de Pointes]]
- Mg 0.5-0.7
- neuromuscular irritability
- in presence of [[hypokalemia|hypo-k]]:
- depression
- weakness/lethargy
- can cause poorly controled AF in spite of addequate therapy
- 50% of patients on diuretic therapy with one of these sx has hypo-mg
- in presence of [[Hypocalcemia|hypo-Ca]]:
- worsens sx of ↓ Ca when Mg <0.5
## Cardiac effects
- increase SA node automaticity
- 2-3 risk of [[Atrial fibrillation]] and SVT following [[ACS|MI]]
- does not increase incidence of VT/VF in MI, but may increase risk of R on Ts
- no benefit to prophylactic IV Mg after MI
- increases the effects of [[Digoxin toxicity]]
- prolongs Q-T interval and increase risk of [[Torsades de Pointes]]
# Mg Treatment
see also [[Magnesium]]
- indicated if symptomatic ↓ Mg <0.5
- pre-eclampsia/eclampsia
- [[Torsades de Pointes]]
- resistant severe asthma
- digoxin toxicity with tachyarrhythmia
- resistant [[hypokalemia|hypo-k]]
- tetanus
- [[Box jellyfish]] tox +/- irukandji
## MgSO4
- 1g = 4mmol = ~8meq
- 2.47 g = 10 mmol
- 2 - 4g/day = 8-16 mmol
> [!treatment] Administration dosing
> - 10mmol IV over 10-15 min in emergency, or faster if torsades
> - pre-eclampsia: 4g IV over 20 min, then 1g/h
> - eclampsia: 4g IV over 10 min, then infusion at 1-2g/h
> - aim for serum levels of 1.5 - 3.5 mmol/L (4-8 mg/dL) to inhibit seizures
## adverse effects
- burning at injection site
- hypotension
- flushing
- bradycardia
- *muscular paralysis with repeated doses*
- **worsening hypocalcaemia** → may need to administer Ca in addition
- may precipitate VF from VT
- diarrhoea from oral form