Eclampsia: Magnesium Sulphate

Key points

• Eclampsia = seizures in the setting of pre-eclampsia.
• Magnesium sulphate is the treatment of choice: 4 g IV loading dose over 5–10 minutes, then infusion 1 g/hour.
• Continue for 24 hours after the last seizure or delivery.
• Monitor: patellar reflexes (lost with toxicity), respiratory rate, urine output; toxicity → calcium gluconate.
• Most eclamptic seizures are self-limiting; recurrent seizures → further MgSO₄ bolus.

Decision points in this pathway

• Signs of Mg²⁺ toxicity (absent reflexes, ↓RR, ↓urine output)?

The full step-by-step algorithm, including what to do at each branch, opens in the app for approved members.