Table 3 Adverse effect estimates from randomised controlled trials (Comparisons 5–6)

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6.3 Withdrawn from the study due to adverse effects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)