From the Guidelines
Magnesium chloride is used to treat magnesium deficiency, also known as hypomagnesemia, and to prevent seizures in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, as well as for the treatment of erythromelalgia 1. It can be administered intravenously or orally, with typical doses ranging from 1-4 grams per day for magnesium deficiency and 4-6 grams per day for pre-eclampsia or eclampsia.
Key Uses
- Cardiac arrest: magnesium chloride can be used to treat cardiac arrest, particularly in cases of torsades de pointes, with a dose of 1-2 grams intravenously 1
- Severe asthma: magnesium chloride can be used to treat severe asthma, with a dose of 1-2 grams intravenously 1
- Laxative and antacid: magnesium chloride can be used as a laxative and antacid, and can be found in some over-the-counter medications, such as Milk of Magnesia, with a typical dose of 500-1000 mg per day
Administration and Dosage
The dosage of magnesium chloride can vary depending on the condition being treated, with a recommended daily allowance of 350 mg daily for women and 420 mg daily for men, and can be increased gradually according to tolerance 1. It is also important to note that magnesium toxicity can occur, particularly in patients with renal dysfunction, and can manifest as cardiac effects, neurological effects, and gastrointestinal symptoms 1.
From the Research
Uses of Magnesium Chloride
- Magnesium chloride is used to treat hypomagnesemia, a condition where the body has low levels of magnesium [ 2 ].
- It is also used to treat pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in pregnant women, as well as certain types of ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia [ 2 ].
- Magnesium chloride has been shown to decrease C-reactive protein levels in subjects with prediabetes and hypomagnesemia [ 3 ].
- It may also have a role in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease, particularly those with heart failure, the elderly, and hospitalized patients with hypomagnesemia [ 4 ].
- Additionally, magnesium supplementation has been hypothesized to reduce seizures in people with epilepsy due to its ability to antagonize excitation through the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor [ 5 ].
Medical Conditions Treated with Magnesium Chloride
- Hypomagnesemia
- Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
- Ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia
- Coronary artery disease
- Epilepsy
- Asthma [ 2, 6(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11729125, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15877993) ]
- Acute cerebral insults [ 2 ]
- Acute myocardial ischemia [ 2, 6(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11729125, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15877993) ]