Intravenous magnesium in non-eclamptic seizures
Date First Published:
November 17, 2007
Last Updated:
November 17, 2007
Report by:
Helen Turner, SpR Emergency Medicine (Royal Blackburn Hospital)
Search checked by:
Helen Turner, Royal Blackburn Hospital
Three-Part Question:
In [a patient in non-eclamptic status epilepticus] is [intravenous magnesium] effective at [terminating seizure activity]
Clinical Scenario:
While on duty in the emergency department a 35 year old known idiopathic epileptic is brought in in status epilepticus. After 2 benzodiazepine doses and intravenous phenytoin the seizure activity continues. You wonder if intravenous magnesium may be helpful in terminating the siezure.
Search Strategy:
Ovid Medline 1966 - November 2007
Search Details:
[exp Magnesium Chloride/ or exp Magnesium/ or exp Magnesium Sulfate/ or magnesium.mp. or exp Magnesium Compounds/] AND [status epilepticus.mp. or exp Status Epilepticus/ or exp Seizures/ or seizure$.mp. or convulsion$.mp. or exp Epilepsy/ or fit$.mp]
Outcome:
1698 papers identified, none relevant to the 3 part question
Author Commentary:
Intravenous magnesium is widely used in preventing and terminating eclamptic seizures. There is in vitro evidence of magnesium rich solutions stabilising seizure activity in neurones but no clinical evidence in non-eclamptic seizures.
Bottom Line:
No proven benefit