What is the antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity?

Appeared in: Haryana CHO - 2022

Explanation

Calcium gluconate is the specific antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity.
It directly antagonizes the neuromuscular and cardiovascular effects of hypermagnesemia by competing with magnesium ions at the cellular level.
Administration, typically as 10 mL of a 10% IV solution, can rapidly reverse life-threatening symptoms like respiratory depression and cardiac arrest.
It is a critical emergency medication that should be readily available whenever a patient is receiving a magnesium sulfate infusion.

Option B: This is the drug causing the toxicity, not the treatment. Administering more would worsen the patient's condition.
Option C: This is an anticoagulant used to prevent or treat blood clots. It has no effect on magnesium levels.
Option D: This is the antidote for the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin), not for magnesium sulfate.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacology: Antidotes for Drug Toxicity as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be able to recognize signs of magnesium toxicity (respiratory rate less than 12/min, absent deep tendon reflexes, hypotension, decreased urine output) and immediately stop the infusion.
Having calcium gluconate readily available at the bedside is a critical safety protocol during magnesium sulfate administration, especially in obstetric settings for pre-eclampsia.
What if? If the patient shows signs of toxicity but is still conscious with stable vital signs, the first action is to stop the magnesium infusion and notify the physician, even before administering the antidote.

How to Approach the Question

This is a direct recall question from pharmacology, testing knowledge of common drug antidotes.
Identify the key drug in the question: 'magnesium sulfate'.
Recall the specific antidote for this drug from your knowledge of common drug toxicities and reversal agents.
Evaluate the options to find the correct match. Eliminate known incorrect pairings, such as Heparin/Protamine Sulfate and Warfarin/Vitamin K, to confirm the answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 1 p. 157-159

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 67-69

Practise the full Haryana CHO - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.