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- Magnesium Sulfate Has More Side Effects Than Nifedipine
Magnesium Sulfate Has More Side Effects Than Nifedipine
- By Hans Christian Andersen
- Published September 8th, 2008
- Pregnancy
- Unrated
Magnesium sulfate is the most commonly used drug to arrest preterm labor, however, magnesium sulfate, causes mild to serious side effects in pregnant women, according to a study from researchers at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford University School of Medicine.
According to the researches, as the effectiveness of the two drugs are similar, physicians should consider side effects more strongly, when it comes to choose drug to prescribe.
It is also found that mothers who had received magnesium sulfate, their babies were also more likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit than the babies whose mothers had received the alternative treatment.
According to Deirdre Lyell, MD, a specialist in high-risk obstetrics at the hospital’s Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services, “There is no free lunch with any of these drugs.” “But magnesium sulfate has some particularly unpleasant side effects, including vomiting, lethargy and blurry vision. The alternative treatment, nifedipine, often leaves women feeling better.”
These side effects are however, particularly important for women who struggle with the risk of
premature birth and the rapid medical decisions that might need to be made about the care of their newborn.
Preterm labor is defined as labor before 37 weeks' gestation. Though it is not always possible to prevent premature birth, physicians try to delay delivery for at least 48 hours. During this time, the doctors manage to transfer the woman to a medical facility experienced in treating premature infants and helps maximize the effectiveness of steroids used to help the fetus to prepare for the harsh outside world.
Magnesium sulfate, nifedipine and other preterm labor treatments, called tocolytics, are thought to work by relaxing overactive uterine muscles and halting ongoing cervical changes that may lead to delivery. But it’s not been clear if one is better than the others. Force of habit has dictated the use of magnesium sulfate by many physicians in the absence of a compelling reason to choose an alternative.
According to some physicians, magnesium sulfate is still an appropriate treatment for preterm labor. It continues to be used regularly both at Packard Children’s and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. But they believe it may be time for physicians to give more weight to expected side effects when considering what to try first.
According to the researches, as the effectiveness of the two drugs are similar, physicians should consider side effects more strongly, when it comes to choose drug to prescribe.
It is also found that mothers who had received magnesium sulfate, their babies were also more likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit than the babies whose mothers had received the alternative treatment.
According to Deirdre Lyell, MD, a specialist in high-risk obstetrics at the hospital’s Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services, “There is no free lunch with any of these drugs.” “But magnesium sulfate has some particularly unpleasant side effects, including vomiting, lethargy and blurry vision. The alternative treatment, nifedipine, often leaves women feeling better.”
These side effects are however, particularly important for women who struggle with the risk of
Preterm labor is defined as labor before 37 weeks' gestation. Though it is not always possible to prevent premature birth, physicians try to delay delivery for at least 48 hours. During this time, the doctors manage to transfer the woman to a medical facility experienced in treating premature infants and helps maximize the effectiveness of steroids used to help the fetus to prepare for the harsh outside world.
Magnesium sulfate, nifedipine and other preterm labor treatments, called tocolytics, are thought to work by relaxing overactive uterine muscles and halting ongoing cervical changes that may lead to delivery. But it’s not been clear if one is better than the others. Force of habit has dictated the use of magnesium sulfate by many physicians in the absence of a compelling reason to choose an alternative.
According to some physicians, magnesium sulfate is still an appropriate treatment for preterm labor. It continues to be used regularly both at Packard Children’s and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. But they believe it may be time for physicians to give more weight to expected side effects when considering what to try first.