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. 2013 Oct 21;13:195. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-13-195

Table 3.

Adverse effect estimates from randomised controlled trials (Comparisons 5–6)

Outcome or subgroup Studies Participants Method (I 2 (%))* RR (95% CI)
Comparison 5: lower dose versus higher dose magnesium sulphate IV maintenance: tocolysis
5.1 Cessation due to adverse effects
 2 [34,35]
 248
 F (NA)
 No cessation
5.2 No side effects
 2 [34,35]
 248
 R (63)
 1.55 (0.94, 2.58)
5.2.1 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 6 g LD; ≥ 2 g/h MD
 1 [34]
 100
 F (NA)
 1.17 (0.71, 1.91)
5.2.2 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 4 g LD; 5 g/h MD
 1 [35]
 148
 R (NA)
 1.96 (1.35, 2.84)
5.3 Flushing
 2 [34,35]
 248
 R (60)
 0.61 (0.33, 1.12)
5.3.1 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 6 g LD; ≥ 2 g/h MD
 1 [34]
 100
 F (NA)
 0.87 (0.46, 1.63)
5.3.2 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 4 g LD; 5 g/h MD
 1 [35]
 148
 F (NA)
 0.46 (0.29, 0.73)
5.4 Nausea and vomiting
  
  
  
  
5.4.1 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 6 g LD; ≥ 2 g/h MD
 1 [34]
 100
 F (NA)
 0.79 (0.45, 1.37)
5.5 Headache
 2 [34,35]
 248
 F (0)
 0.56 (0.30, 1.05)
5.5.1 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 6 g LD; ≥ 2 g/h MD
 1 [34]
 100
 F (NA)
 0.80 (0.23, 2.81)
5.5.2 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 4 g LD; 5 g/h MD
 1 [35]
 148
 F (NA)
 0.50 (0.24, 1.03)
5.6 Caesarean
 2 [34,35]
 248
 F (0)
 1.11 (0.73, 1.70)
5.6.1 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 6 g LD; ≥ 2 g/h MD
 1 [34]
 100
 F (NA)
 1.31 (0.78, 2.21)
5.6.2 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 4 g LD; 5 g/h MD
 1 [35]
 148
 F (NA)
 0.88 (0.43, 1.80)
5.7 Pulmonary oedema
 2 [34,35]
 260
 F (NA)
 0.21 (0.03, 1.76)
5.7.1 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 6 g LD; ≥ 2 g/h MD
 1 [34]
 100
 F (NA)
 No oedema
5.7.2 4 g LD; 2 g/h MD versus 4 g LD; 5 g/h MD
 1 [35]
 160
 F (NA)
 0.21 (0.03, 1.76)
Comparison 6: 'ready-to-use’ magnesium sulphate solution versus a reference drug requiring dilution: tocolysis
6.1 Death
 1 [36]
 46
 F (NA)
 No deaths
6.2 'Serious’ adverse events
 1 [36]
 46
 F (NA)
 No serious events
6.3 Withdrawn from the study due to adverse effects
 1 [36]
 46
 F (NA)
 0.67 (0.12, 3.62)
6.4 Adverse events of 'severe intensity’
 1 [36]
 46
 F (NA)
 0.67 (0.22, 2.05)
6.5 1 or 2 injection site changes
 1 [36]
 46
 F (NA)
 1.00 (0.28, 3.52)
6.6 Poor general tolerability (physician assessed)
 1 [36]
 43
 F (NA)
 3.14 (0.13, 72.96)
6.7 Respiratory depression
 1 [36]
 46
 F (NA)
 0.20 (0.10, 3.95)
6.8 Warmth (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 0.84 (0.42, 1.69)
6.9 Nausea and/or vomiting (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 0.536 (0.11, 2.56)
6.10 Tiredness (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 1.18 (0.57, 2.45)
6.11 Headache (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 0.92 (0.41, 2.06)
6.12 Dry mouth (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 0.82 (0.38, 1.77)
6.13 Dizziness (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 1.05 (0.30, 3.64)
6.14 Sweating (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 1.31 (0.41, 4.20)
6.15 Skin redness (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 1.75 (0.48, 6.38)
6.16 Burning at injection site (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 0.42 (0.16, 1.12)
6.17 Palpitations (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 1.58 (0.29, 8.46)
6.18 Constipation (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 4.20 (0.51, 34.44)
6.19 Dyspnoea (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 No dyspnoea
6.20 Heart pain (mild, severe, very severe)
 1 [36]
 41
 F (NA)
 0.35 (0.20, 8.10)
6.21 Agitation (mild, severe, very severe) 1 [36] 41 F (NA) 4.20 (0.51, 34.44)

I2statistics is a test of heterogeneity; where I2 was > 30% summary estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis; the bold effect estimates indicate statistical significance.

Abbreviations: CI confidence interval, F fixed-effect, g gram, h hour, IV intravenous, LD loading dose, MD maintenance dose, NA not applicable, R random-effects, RR risk ratio.