# Magnesium sulfate

Drug · id `maternal:magnesium-sulfate` · Maternal & Newborn Atlas · release `c7fb95f1d15a7d13` (public)

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Browse, life stage: Pregnancy; Childbirth  
Browse, care area: Pregnancy conditions  

## In plain language

Magnesium sulfate is a mineral salt that is given by injection or drip as a medicine. This atlas meets it in two separate roles, kept on separate pages: to prevent and treat seizures in eclampsia, and to protect the baby's brain before a very early preterm birth. What research shows for one role does not carry over to the other.

## Technical summary

Drug, level substance. RxCUI 6585 (RxNav name magnesium sulfate, term type IN) read 2026-10-14. Uses kept apart: eclampsia (the Magpie trial and the Collaborative Eclampsia Trial, on the eclampsia page) and fetal neuroprotection before preterm birth (on its own page). The BEAM trial (2008, PMID 18753646) tested the second use; this page only points to it. The abstracts spell the substance magnesium sulphate or sulfate. No clinical claim sits on this page.

## Connected pages

- Substance used in the eclampsia strategy: Magnesium sulfate to prevent and treat eclampsia (`maternal:magnesium-sulfate-eclampsia`)
- Filed under this front: Medicines and vaccines (`maternal:front-medicines-and-vaccines`)
- Related to: Magnesium sulfate before very preterm birth to protect the baby's brain (`maternal:magnesium-sulfate-fetal-neuroprotection`)
- Investigated in: BEAM trial (antenatal magnesium sulfate and cerebral palsy) (`maternal:beam-trial`)
- Investigated in: Magpie trial (magnesium sulfate in pre-eclampsia) (`maternal:magpie-trial`)

## Provenance

Content hash: 690effe0dc0cf624261946cf970527fd75f6ff37b081c89dfb5ee00dd985a406
Last substantive edit: 2026-10-15
Evidence last checked: 2026-10-14