Combining magnesium sulfate with calcium channel blockers in pregnancy can increase the risk of:

Combining magnesium sulfate with calcium channel blockers in pregnancy can increase the risk of:

• A. Hypertension and tachycardia
• B. Seizures and decreased cardiac function
• C. Hyperglycemia
• D. Renal failure

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that magnesium sulfate and calcium channel blockers can amplify each other’s depressant effects on the body. Magnesium sulfate is used to prevent seizures in preeclampsia and has a dose-dependent CNS and neuromuscular depressant effect. Calcium channel blockers also slow the heart and relax vascular smooth muscle. When they’re used together, their combined effects can become excessive, leading to magnesium toxicity-like symptoms such as diminished neuromuscular function, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension, which together amount to decreased cardiac function and can progress to more serious compromise if not watched closely. That’s why this combination is a safety concern: it can markedly depress cardiac performance and respiratory status. Hypertension or tachycardia wouldn’t be expected outcomes of this interaction, and hyperglycemia or renal failure aren’t the primary risks you monitor for with this specific drug combination.

The main idea is that magnesium sulfate and calcium channel blockers can amplify each other’s depressant effects on the body. Magnesium sulfate is used to prevent seizures in preeclampsia and has a dose-dependent CNS and neuromuscular depressant effect. Calcium channel blockers also slow the heart and relax vascular smooth muscle. When they’re used together, their combined effects can become excessive, leading to magnesium toxicity-like symptoms such as diminished neuromuscular function, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension, which together amount to decreased cardiac function and can progress to more serious compromise if not watched closely.

That’s why this combination is a safety concern: it can markedly depress cardiac performance and respiratory status. Hypertension or tachycardia wouldn’t be expected outcomes of this interaction, and hyperglycemia or renal failure aren’t the primary risks you monitor for with this specific drug combination.