A patient receiving magnesium sulfate becomes very drowsy, with absent patellar reflexes and slow breathing. What should the nurse suspect?
- AAn expected therapeutic magnesium effect
- BA postictal state after an unwitnessed seizure
- COpioid-related sedation from labor analgesia
- DMagnesium toxicity
Show answer and explanations
Answer
D
A
Therapeutic magnesium preserves reflexes and normal breathing; loss of both indicates toxicity.
B
Postictal drowsiness does not explain absent patellar reflexes during magnesium infusion.
C
Opioids can depress breathing but do not abolish deep tendon reflexes.
D
Absent reflexes, drowsiness, and slow breathing are classic signs of magnesium toxicity.