Drug interactions
Atracurium + Magnesium sulphate
Severity: Moderate
Atracurium and Magnesium sulphate: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Parenteral magnesium sulfate potentiates non-depolarising neuromuscular blockers, producing a deeper and longer block. Recovery may be delayed and respiratory support extended.
What this interaction means in plain words
Atracurium and Magnesium sulphate can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Atracurium belongs to Musculoskeletal; Magnesium sulphate belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Magnesium reduces presynaptic acetylcholine release and decreases postsynaptic sensitivity at the neuromuscular junction, adding to competitive blockade.
What to do
Reduce the neuromuscular blocker dose and monitor with quantitative train-of-four. Allow for delayed recovery and check serum magnesium.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Atracurium and Magnesium sulphate, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Magnesium sulphate
Other interactions of Atracurium
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Atracurium with Magnesium sulphate?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Atracurium and Magnesium sulphate can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Parenteral magnesium sulfate potentiates non-depolarising neuromuscular blockers, producing a deeper and longer block. Recovery may be delayed and respiratory support extended.
How serious is the interaction between Atracurium and Magnesium sulphate?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Reduce the neuromuscular blocker dose and monitor with quantitative train-of-four. Allow for delayed recovery and check serum magnesium.
What other medicines interact with Magnesium sulphate?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Magnesium sulphate with, for example, Amikacin, Amphotericin b deoxycholate, Baloxavir marboxil. The full list is on the Magnesium sulphate page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
