Hypermagnesaemia

Hypermagnesaemia is rare and is usually iatrogenic, occurring in patients with renal failure who have been given magnesium-containing laxatives or antacids. Symptoms include neurological and cardiovascular depression, with narcosis, respiratory depression and cardiac conduction defects. The only treatment usually necessary is to stop magnesium treatment. In severe cases, intravenous calcium gluconate may be necessary to reverse the cellular toxic effects of magnesium and dextrose/insulin (as for hyperkalaemia) to lower the plasma magnesium level