Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nikethamide, a respiratory stimulant, is used to treat hypoxemia caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but it carries a risk of convulsions. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO(4)), a seizure inhibitor, might serve as a rescue agent against nikethamide-induced seizures. AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effect of MgSO(4) on nikethamide -induced seizures in COVID-19 patients through animal experiments, providing experimental support for the clinical application of MgSO(4) in preventing and treating seizures caused by nikethamide. METHODS: Forty mice were randomly divided into four groups: (1) Physiological saline; (2) Low-dose MgSO(4) (50 mg/kg); (3) Medium-dose MgSO(4) (100 mg/kg); and (4) High-dose MgSO(4) (200 mg/kg). After 15 minutes of intraperitoneal injection of different doses of MgSO(4) or an equal volume of physiological saline, the mice were injected with nikethamide (250 mg/kg). RESULTS: Compared to the normal saline group, all doses of MgSO(4) significantly prolonged the seizure latency and reduced the severity of convulsions. However, they also extended the duration of seizures and correspondingly increased survival time (P < 0.05). The incidence of seizures and mortality rate in the MgSO(4)-treated groups were significantly lower than those in the normal saline group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MgSO(4) can prevent and treat seizures caused by nikethamide in mice. This finding has implications for the application of MgSO(4) in treating and preventing seizures caused by nikethamide in COVID-19 treatment.