# Hypermagnesemia
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**Hypermagnesemia** is a condition where the concentration of [[magnesium]] in the blood is too high. Normally the [[kidneys]] are very good at getting rid of this, but it can occur is if someone with a [[kidneys|kidney]] malfunction takes in too much magnesium in their diets. Symptoms include nerve, muscle and heart function impairment.
## Causes
- kidney injury
- excessive intake
- milk of magnesia, for example
- or an overcorrection of hy*po*magnesmia
- decreased elimination
## Signs & Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of hypermagnesmia are things like:
- drowsiness
- hypotension
- Mg++ causes vasodilation
- decreased deep tendon reflexes
- muscle weakness
- depressed respirations
- ECG changes, dysrhythmias, even cardiac arrest
- coma
## Treatment
We want to treat the root cause, like stoping the excessive intake. We can also use loop diuretics or calcium gluconate, or in severe cases resort to dialysis.
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