Drug interactions
Gentamicin + Magnesium sulphate
Severity: Moderate
Gentamicin 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
Gentamicin can cause renal magnesium wasting and hypomagnesemia, reducing the effect of magnesium therapy. In addition, magnesium and aminoglycosides both impair neuromuscular transmission, so combined use may enhance muscle weakness or respiratory depression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gentamicin 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.
Gentamicin belongs to Anti Bacterial; Magnesium sulphate belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Aminoglycoside tubular toxicity increases magnesium excretion, and both agents reduce neuromuscular transmission (additive pharmacodynamic effect).
What to do
Monitor serum magnesium and neuromuscular and respiratory function during combined use, and replace magnesium as needed. Use particular care in patients with renal impairment or myasthenia.
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 Gentamicin 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
- Amikacin + Magnesium sulphate Moderate
- Amphotericin b deoxycholate + Magnesium sulphate Moderate
- Atracurium + Magnesium sulphate Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Magnesium sulphate Moderate
- Ciprofloxacin + Magnesium sulphate Moderate
- Cisatracurium + Magnesium sulphate Moderate
Other interactions of Gentamicin
- Cidofovir + Gentamicin Contraindicated
- Adefovir + Gentamicin Major
- Amikacin + Gentamicin Major
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Gentamicin Major
- Amphotericin b deoxycholate + Gentamicin Major
- Amphotericin b + Gentamicin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gentamicin with Magnesium sulphate?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Gentamicin 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. Gentamicin can cause renal magnesium wasting and hypomagnesemia, reducing the effect of magnesium therapy. In addition, magnesium and aminoglycosides both impair neuromuscular transmission, so combined use may enhance muscle weakness or respiratory depression.
How serious is the interaction between Gentamicin 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: Monitor serum magnesium and neuromuscular and respiratory function during combined use, and replace magnesium as needed. Use particular care in patients with renal impairment or myasthenia.
What other medicines interact with Magnesium sulphate?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Magnesium sulphate with, for example, Amikacin, Amphotericin b deoxycholate, Atracurium. 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.
