BCSE Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Resource

Hypermagnesaemia refers to an elevated level of magnesium in the blood, which can occur due to various factors including renal failure, excessive intake of magnesium-containing medications, or certain endocrine disorders. One of the hallmark symptoms of hypermagnesaemia is gastrointestinal discomfort, which includes nausea and vomiting. This symptom arises because high levels of magnesium can inhibit the normal function of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to disturbances such as these.

High magnesium levels can also lead to a variety of other symptoms, such as muscle weakness, lethargy, and alterations in cardiovascular function. However, nausea and vomiting are particularly significant symptoms that can be indicative of elevated magnesium levels.

The other options tend to correlate with conditions of low magnesium levels or other disorders. Increased neuronal excitability, for instance, is more typically seen with hypomagnesaemia (low magnesium). Spinal headaches are not a classic symptom of hypermagnesaemia and are generally more associated with other medical conditions. Similarly, muscle spasms are associated with low magnesium levels rather than high; in hypermagnesaemia, muscle weakness is more common due to the depressant effects on neuromuscular transmission.

Thus, nausea and vomiting are clear indicators of hypermagnesaemia, making this