🫶🏻For more help check out our medication cheat sheets at RNNewGrads.com 😮💨When patients experience respiratory distress, particularly in conditions like severe asthma or bronchospasm, magnesium sulfate can be a game-changer. Here’s how: 🫁 Relaxes Smooth Muscle Magnesium acts as a smooth muscle relaxant by blocking calcium uptake in the cells, which reduces bronchoconstriction. This helps open up the airways, making it easier to breathe. ⚡ Anti-Inflammatory Effects It decreases inflammation in the airways, reducing swelling and mucus production that worsen breathing difficulties. 🩸 Improves Oxygenation By relaxing the airway muscles and improving airflow, magnesium sulfate enhances oxygen exchange, relieving hypoxia. 💉 Fast-Acting Administered intravenously in acute cases, it works quickly to stabilize the patient and prevent further escalation. 👩⚕️ Tip: Monitor for hypotension, bradycardia, or decreased deep tendon reflexes during administration to avoid magnesium toxicity. If you find they have magnesium toxicity you’ll most likely be administering calcium chloride or gluconate. Magnesium sulfate may not be the first-line treatment, but in severe cases, it’s a powerful tool to help patients breathe easier. Have you used magnesium sulfate in respiratory distress? Share your experiences below! 💬
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