Magnesia: instruction, usage, contraindications

The drug, known to most people who have ever faced with domestic medicine, called "Magnesia", the instruction for use calls a little differently. In scientific terms, it is called "magnesium sulfate" and represents a 25% solution of the above substance.

What is the use of this drug and how to properly take the drug Magnesia? The instruction to him suggests that two types of administration are possible - intravenously (as a solution injection) and orally (in the form of a solution prepared from a dry powder).

Depending on how the magnesia got into the body, it can affect its entire operation, or be limited only to individual internal organs.

With oral administration, magnesia practically does not enter the blood, since it has minimal absorption, so in this case its action is limited only to the gastrointestinal tract. In the event that the drug was injected directly into the patient's blood, the spectrum of its action is very wide. In particular, magnesium has the ability to exert the following types of effects on the human body:

• Normalization of the heart rate;
• Relaxation of the walls of blood vessels, muscles, spasms of the musculature;
• Diuretic effect;
• Increased metabolism of trace elements, including calcium;
• Strengthening the walls of the membrane;
• Resistance to the adhesion of platelets.

For the use of the preparation "Magnesia" the instruction distinguishes the following contraindications, in which the use of a solution of magnesium sulphate is undesirable:

• Bradycardia;
• Dysfunction of the respiratory center in the brain;
• Low blood pressure;
• Closeness of birth.

Magnesia - application as a laxative

Possessing unique properties and being a drug devoid of toxic effects, magnesium has been used for many years as a very effective laxative. To obtain just such an effect, magnesium sulphate must be taken in the form of a powder dissolved in water. At the same time, because of its low capacity for absorption, magnesia, entering the intestine, increases the amount of water accumulated there, resulting in effective softening of the stool and a marked relaxation.

It is possible to administer the drug solution and through the enema, in those cases when getting the solution into the stomach for any medical indicators is undesirable.

The dosage of the preparation for the preparation of the solution is 20-25 g. Powder of dry magnesia per 1 liter of purified water at room temperature. For children this dose is about 5 g. At the age of up to 6 years and from 10 to 15 gr. At the age from 6 to 18 years.

Magnesia during pregnancy: for and against

Virtually every woman who got into the hospital during pregnancy, faced with the fact that she was prescribed injections of magnesium sulfate. What is the reason for this and what action does magnesium have on the future mother's organism? Its purpose is most often due to the fact that it has the ability to normalize blood pressure, remove excess fluid from the body, relax the muscles. In connection with these indications for the use of the drug "Magnesia" the instruction calls the following conditions of pregnant women:

• hypertension;
• Swelling;
• Gestosis, complicated by convulsions;
• Predisposition to the formation of blood clots.

In addition, magnesium sulfate is an excellent source of magnesium for the future mother and her fetus, which allows you to appoint it in case of acute deficiency of this element. It is advisable to administer magnesium intravenously and with the threat of premature birth.

But in this case, the drug is undesirable to take immediately before the onset of labor, as this can lead to a number of complications.