A nurse is caring for a client who was admitted with the diagnosis of severe preeclampsia and is now receiving an intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate. what is the classification of this medication?

Magnesium sulfate belongs to the drug class of sulfates. It is a central nervous system and respiratory depressant. This drug acts peripherally causing systemic vasodilation which lowers the blood pressure in a patient with severe preeclampsia. The purpose of giving magnesium sulfate is to avoid progression to eclampsia which is characterized by having seizures.