sodium chloride
Sodium chloride inhalation solution (saline) used to moisten your airways, and to loosen mucus in your chest so you can cough it up. It's available in different strengths, ranging from sodium chloride 0.9% to sodium chloride 10%. This medication is typically inhaled through a nebulizer machine and used by people with certain breathing problems, such as cystic fibrosis. The dosing for sodium chloride can differ from person to person, depending on how severe their condition is. Some possible side effects of using sodium chloride include runny nose, cough, and restlessness.
What is Sodium chloride?
What is Sodium chloride used for?
To help thin mucus to make it easier to cough it up - sodium chloride 3% and above
To moisten airways and help in breathing - sodium chloride 0.9%
How Sodium chloride works
Sodium chloride is a mucolytic (mucus thinner). When you inhale sodium chloride with your mouth, the salt in the product draws more water into your lungs. This will thin the mucus so you can cough it up more easily.
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What are the side effects of Sodium chloride?
Common Side Effects
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Feeling restless
Source:Â DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
burning pain in lower abdomen
chest pain, severe
chills
confusion
dizziness
feeling of heat
feeling of warmth in the lips and tongue
headache (severe or dull)
loss of consciousness
nervousness
numbness of the fingertips
pain in lower back, pelvis, or stomach
ringing in the ears
seizures
sweating
thirst (sudden) or salty taste
vision problems
weakness
Incidence not known
Bad smelling discharge from the vagina
bleeding or redness at the injection site
decrease in the amount of urine
decreased urine output
dilated neck veins
extreme tiredness or weakness
full or bloated feeling
increase in bleeding from the uterus
irregular breathing or heartbeat
pain in the lower abdomen
passing of pieces of tissue from the uterus
pressure in the stomach
stomach cramping
swelling of the abdominal or stomach area
swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
tightness in the chest
troubled breathing
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Sodium chloride
Pros
Available as a lower-cost generic
Not a lot of side effects
Available in several strengths
Cons
Requires administration with a nebulizer
Generally not available over the counter
Might be difficult for some people to use correctly
Pharmacist tips for Sodium chloride
Make sure you know how to use your nebulizer to avoid wasting the medication. Talk with your provider and pharmacist to learn how to use a nebulizer properly.
Don't mix sodium chloride inhalation solution with other nebulized medications without talking to your provider or pharmacist first.
Before using a vial of sodium chloride, check the solution to make sure it's colorless. If it's discolored or has any particles, throw the vial away and use a new one to be sure it's safe for you to use.
Store sodium chloride inhalation solution at room temperature in the original vials until you're ready to use it.
Clean your nebulizer after each time you use it. This helps prevent lung infections that can happen if you use a nebulizer machine that isn't cleaned well.
Sodium chloride plastic vials are single-use only. You must throw away any leftover medication after each use, even if there's still some remaining in the vial or nebulizer cup. This is important to prevent contamination and possible infection, especially since the vial doesn't contain any preservatives to keep germs and bacteria out of the medication once it's opened.
Frequently asked questions about Sodium chloride
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What are the risks and warnings for Sodium chloride?
Sodium chloride can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
For inhalation only
While sodium chloride is available in many forms, sodium chloride inhalation solution should only be inhaled using a nebulizer machine. Don't give this medication any other way. Ask your pharmacist or provider for instructions on how to use sodium chloride correctly with the nebulizer machine.
Sodium chloride dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2ml of 0.9% | 1 vial | $4.41 | $4.41 |
| 3ml of 0.9% | 100 vials | $11.21 | $0.11 |
| 5ml of 0.9% | 100 vials | $12.70 | $0.13 |
| 10ml of 0.9% | 1 vial | $3.44 | $3.44 |
| 15ml of 0.9% | 50 vials | $13.55 | $0.27 |
| 20ml of 0.9% | 1 vial | $4.89 | $4.89 |
| 30ml of 0.9% | 25 vials | $12.50 | $0.50 |
| 50ml of 0.9% | 3 vials | $7.19 | $2.40 |
| 4ml of 3% | 60 vials | $11.70 | $0.19 |
| 4ml of 7% | 60 vials | $8.50 | $0.14 |
| 20ml of 14.6% | 15 vials | $3.63 | $0.24 |
| 40ml of 14.6% | 9 vials | $4.76 | $0.53 |
| 30ml of 23.4% | 3 vials | $4.33 | $1.44 |
Typical dosing for Sodium chloride
Your provider will determine the dose and how often you need sodium chloride based on the breathing condition you have and how severe your symptoms are.
Interactions between Sodium chloride and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Sodium chloride cost?
Sodium chloride images
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References
Best studies we foundAllergy and Asthma Network. (n.d.). How to use a nebulizer machine.
American Lung Association. (2023). How to use a nebulizer.
Baxter Healthcare Corporation. (2021). Sodium chloride injection [package insert]. DailyMed.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. (n.d.). Mucus Thinners.
Elkins, M. R., et al. (2006). A controlled trial of long-term inhaled hypertonic saline in patients with cystic fibrosis. The New England Journal of Medicine.
Elkins, M. R., et al. (2011). Mechanisms and applications of hypertonic saline . Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2017). Sodium chloride- sodium chloride [package insert]. DailyMed.
Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation. (2015). Sodium chloride- sodium chloride [package insert]. DailyMed.
PharmaCaribe. (2013). Nebusal- [package insert]. DailyMed.
Teunissen, J., et al. (2014). The effect of 3% and 6% hypertonic saline in viral bronchiolitis: A randomised controlled trial. European Respiratory Journal.
Tonog, P., et al. (2022). Normal saline. StatPearls.
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