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Assessment and treatment

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Assessment of deficiency is necessary as serum levels are less useful as magnesium is more important inside than outside of the cells. Deficiency is indicated by:

  • failure to excrete more than 70% of an administered load of 20 mmol Mg within 16 hours; OR
  • failure to excrete more than 80% if 0.25 mmol per Kg iv. over 1 - 2 hours

Treatment:

  • oral magnesium salts - magnesium glycerophosphate least likely to cause diarrhoea
  • parenteral magnesium sulphate

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