Magnesium sulfate is a medicine that contains such active ingredients as sulfate ions and magnesium ions. This chemical has a wide spectrum of effects. It is actively used in medical practice, therefore, all its effects have long been studied.
According to experts, magnesium sulfate is used most often for bowel cleansing . However, this medicine is used not only as an effective laxative. It is prescribed for the symptomatic treatment of various pathological conditions.
Anti-arrhythmic, anticonvulsant, hypotensive, vasodilator, sedative, antispasmodic, laxative, tocolytic and choleretic properties are inherent in magnesium sulfate. In this regard, he is able to easily eliminate cramps, relax the muscle tissue of the uterus with the threat of miscarriage, lower blood pressure and so on.
Other drug names
Does magnesium sulfate have other names for bowel cleansing? Customer reviews report that this product is often sold under the names "Epsom salt", "Magnesia", "Bitter salt", "Magnesium sulfate" or "Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate."
Release forms and composition
In what form is magnesium sulfate (laxative) sold? The instruction says that this tool can be purchased in two forms:
- powder;
- in the form of a solution.
The first is available in packs of 20, 10, 50 and 25 g. The powder is intended for dilution in water, resulting in a suspension that should be taken only by mouth.
As for the solution, it is sold in ampoules of 5, 10, 20 and 30 ml in two different concentrations: 20 and 25%.
Both forms presented contain only magnesium sulfate. There are no other components in the preparation.
Drug properties
What features are inherent in such a chemical solution as magnesium sulfate? To cleanse the intestines (reviews of the drug are presented below), this drug must be taken orally.
Also, with the oral administration of the drug, it has a choleretic effect. This effect is achieved due to irritation of receptors located in the duodenum.
Taking magnesium sulfate to cleanse the intestines, there is no need to fear that it will penetrate into the blood in large quantities. On the contrary, the drug enhances the flow of fluid, as a result of which stool noticeably liquefies, increasing in volume, and peristaltic movements increase. As a result of such exposure, relaxation of the stool occurs.
Only a small portion of magnesium sulfate is absorbed into the bloodstream and excreted through the kidneys. Thus, magnesia also has an indirect diuretic property.
Other uses
For what other purposes is magnesium sulfate prescribed? Instructions for use (as a laxative and choleretic, this drug is used most often) reports that this tool works well for poisoning with salts of heavy metals. In such cases, the chemical acts as an antidote. It binds heavy metals and quickly removes them from the body of the victim.
The effect of the drug after oral administration develops after about half an hour, and lasts about 6 hours.
As for the magnesium sulfate solution, it is used topically and injection. Magnesia is also used in electrophoresis.
Indications
In what cases is magnesium sulfate prescribed to the patient? Instructions for use (as a laxative, this drug can be used without consulting a doctor) indicates that this drug has numerous therapeutic and pharmacological effects, and therefore it has a wide range of indications. In some pathological conditions, it is prescribed in the form of injections, while in others it is taken orally.
Magnesium sulfate for cleansing the intestines (how to use the medication, we will describe below) is prescribed inside. Also, the drug is used orally for:
- poisoning;
- cholangitis (inflammation of the bile duct);
- constipation
- bowel cleansing before medical procedures;
- cholecystitis;
- duodenal sounding in order to get a cystic portion of bile;
- dyskinesia of the gallbladder according to the hypotonic type (that is, for conducting tububes).
To eliminate other pathological conditions, including seizures and urinary retention, the drug in question is used in the form of a solution.
Contraindications
Inside the powder (magnesium sulfate) can not be taken under the following conditions:
- rectal bleeding;
- inflamed appendicitis;
- bowel obstruction ;
- dehydration.
The drug should be used carefully and in small doses for:
- diseases of the respiratory system;
- myasthenia gravis;
- renal failure;
- inflammation of the digestive tract.
Suspension preparation
How is magnesium sulfate prepared to cleanse the intestines? Reviews of experts report that there is nothing complicated. Before using the medicine, the required amount of powder should be dissolved in warm boiled water, and then mix well.
Reception of a choleretic agent
This tool is used regardless of the use of food. As a choleretic drug, magnesium sulfate is used as follows: about 25 g of powder is dissolved in 100 ml of boiled water (warm). The finished solution is used in the amount of one large spoon three times a day.
To significantly improve bile secretion, the medication in question should preferably be taken immediately before meals.
In case of poisoning with barium salts, the stomach is washed with this agent. To do this, use a 1% solution of magnesium sulfate.
How to take magnesium sulfate to cleanse the intestines?
As mentioned above, only magnesium sulfate powder is used as a laxative. For a laxative effect, it is taken before bedtime or in the early morning, on an empty stomach.
Before use, it is bred in plain water. Next, the finished suspension is drunk.
For adults, in order to relax the stool, the medication is diluted as follows: 10-30 g of powder is placed in a glass, and then half-filled.
For children, the dosage of the drug is calculated taking into account body weight, that is, from a ratio of 1 gram for 1 year of a child's life.
Thus, if the baby is 7 years old, then the dose of a laxative for him is 7 g. After reaching 15 years of age, the medication is used in the same amounts as for adults.
How to speed up the purification of magnesium sulfate? Reviews say that the laxative effect is accelerated with the use of a large amount of warm water. In this case, the effect of the drug is noticeable within the first hour.
It is strictly forbidden to take the medicine for several days in a row. This is due to the fact that the chemical substance can irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and lead to disastrous consequences.
As a rule, magnesium sulfate is used once to eliminate acute constipation. Also, the powder is prescribed if it is necessary to quickly empty the intestines. Sometimes it is taken along with anthelmintic drugs.
It should also be noted that with chronic constipation, the drug in question is used to prepare enemas. To do this, about 20-30 g of the drug is dissolved in 100 ml of ordinary water, after which the finished solution is slowly injected into the rectum. Such procedures can be carried out at any convenient time.
Overdose cases
When an excessive amount of magnesium sulfate is taken orally, the patient may develop severe and uncontrollable diarrhea. In this case, the victim is prescribed drugs that stop the bowel movement (for example, the drug "Loperamide"), as well as medicines that replenish the level of electrolytes and water in the body (for example, "Regidron").
For weight loss
Modern nutritionists at the very beginning of the diet recommend a bowel cleansing procedure. It will allow you to get rid of all the contents and significantly enhance the desired effect. For these purposes, magnesium sulfate powder is actively used. It should be used only in the early days of the diet.
Magnesium sulfate for bowel cleansing: reviews
According to consumer opinion, magnesium sulfate as a laxative works wonderfully. However, many patients complain that magnesia increases intestinal motility so often that they often have severe abdominal pains while taking it. Therefore, most of them believe that this drug should be used only in case of a neglected situation, when a strong laxative effect is required.
It should also be noted that the drug in question is required to be used in strictly designated dosages. Otherwise, the patient may develop severe diarrhea and dehydration.