Magnesium sulphate is a chemical compound containing a mixture of magnesium, oxygen, and sulfur. It has a wide range of medical applications, as well as uses in other settings, and is produced commercially by a number of pharmaceutical companies. In addition to being sold for use in hospitals and clinics, usually in a format designed for injection, it is also available over the counter in formulations like Epsom salts.
Clinically, magnesium sulphate can be used in the treatment of people with low magnesium, a potentially fatal electrolyte imbalance. It is also used in pregnant women to treat seizures, pre-eclampsia, and preterm labor, where it may be administered with other medications to stabilize the patient. Children with severe kidney disease may be treated with magnesium sulphate, among other medications, and it can also be administered as a laxative, treatment for certain kinds of poisoning, and treatment for heart arrythmias.
Patients can receive too much of this drug, causing low blood pressure, circulatory collapse, and problems with the central nervous system. Dosages must be carefully calculated, considering the weight of the patient, as well as the patient's kidney health, because magnesium sulphate is expressed through the kidneys. Overdoses can be fatal, sometimes extremely rapidly.
There are also some uses for this medication in dermatology. People with irritated skin sometimes find that soaking in Epsom salts eases pain and soreness, in addition to addressing dryness and inflammation. Magnesium sulphate has a dehydrating effect and may be applied to skin lesions to dry them out, as seen in the treatment of warts. People with irritation around the genitals, including genital warts and anal fissures, sometimes soak in a sitz bath with a mixture of magnesium sulphate to increase their comfort.
If a doctor recommends magnesium sulphate, it is advisable to ask why it is being prescribed and how it should be used. People using it at home should make sure to store it in a dry place well out of reach of children and pets, as they could ingest it and become very ill. In cases where people use this compound therapeutically at home and experience issues like dizziness, fatigue, or fainting, they should discontinue use and consult a doctor, as it is possible they may have absorbed a dangerous amount through the skin. With hydration to help the kidneys clear it, the patient can usually correct the electrolyte imbalance and return to a healthy state.