Sodium chloride dropper - what is the solution prescribed for?

Saline solution is a very simple, but at the same time very effective medical product. It is used to remove toxic substances from the body, for intravenous injections during dehydration and for many other procedures. Very often, doctors recommend using saline solution for inhalation for diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract.

Composition and price of sodium chloride

Sodium chloride solution, or saline, is a colorless, salty liquid that has no distinct odor. There are 2 types of saline solution with different concentrations of NaCl: 0.9% isotonic, and 10% hypertonic.

Composition of the product per 1 liter:

Sodium chloride	Distilled water
Isotonic solution	9 g	1 l
Hypertonic solution	100 g	1 l

There are several forms of saline solution:

ampoules of 1, 5, 10, 20 ml;
bottles of 50, 100, 200, 250, 400, 500, 100 ml;
packages of 250, 500, 1000 ml.
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Storage conditions for sodium chloride: store in a dry place, out of reach of children and pets, at a temperature of +18 to +25 degrees. The shelf life of the product is 5 years.

The cost of the solution depends on the form of release, volume and manufacturer. Average prices are:

In ampoules: 30-325 rubles.
In bottles and bags: 25-60 rubles.
Hypertonic saline: 80-220 rubles.

The drug is dispensed from pharmacies according to the prescription of the attending physician.

How to make saline solution at home?

Given the simple composition, the question arises: how to make saline solution yourself? Technically, this is quite possible: you just need to add 9 g of salt to 1 liter of water. Stir well, bring to a boil and cool the resulting mixture.

However, there are several nuances. For example, the shelf life of saline solution prepared at home not under sterile conditions is only one day, and only if the container is in the refrigerator. Accordingly, it is easier and safer to buy the drug than to prepare saline solution at home.

You can often hear that saline solution can be replaced with mineral water. In fact, this is not the case, since mineral water contains additional impurities that can cause unwanted reactions in the body.

How is sodium chloride beneficial for the body?

Chlorinated sodium is present in blood plasma and tissue fluids of the human body. It is responsible for the stability of the osmotic pressure of intercellular fluid and blood. When there is a shortage of this substance, water leaves the vascular bed and passes into the interstitial fluid.

This provokes the following conditions:

increased blood density;
spasms of smooth, skeletal muscles;
neurological pathologies;
disorders of the cardiovascular system.

Infusion of saline solution returns the water-salt balance to normal, and also cleanses the body of toxins and breakdown products formed as a result of the activity of harmful bacteria.

External use of NaCl improves the secretion of pus, restores microflora, and destroys pathogenic microorganisms of various origins.

In addition, chlorinated sodium improves the absorption of medications. Patients are often placed on a drip with intravenous medications diluted with saline.

Useful video

Watch the video on how to make a saline nasal spray:

pharmachologic effect

Sodium chloride is used as a detoxification, rehydration and plasma replacement agent. Its use is accompanied by the following effects:

normalization of water and salt balance;
replenishment of Na and Cl deficiency;
temporary increase in blood volume;
increased urine output to cleanse the body.

Due to the improvement in the bioavailability of most drugs, saline solution is used in medicine as a means for diluting injection and infusion drugs.

It is incompatible or poorly compatible with the following medications:

norepinephrine;
corticosteroids;
leukopoiesis stimulator Filgrastim;
antibiotic Polymyxin B.

In case of arterial hypertension, sodium chloride should not be combined with Enapril and Spirapril: the use of saline solution reduces the hypotensive effect of these drugs.
The saline solution has an osmotic pressure similar to the human blood environment, and therefore is quickly eliminated from the body. Already 1 hour after using the dropper, less than half of the product remains in the body.

Rules for inhalation with saline solution

When performing inhalations with saline solution, you should adhere to several rules:

You can start the procedure no earlier than 1-2 hours after eating;
After the session, you cannot immediately go outside and talk, you must wait about half an hour;
the duration and frequency of procedures, the exact dosage of medications, including saline, should be determined by a doctor;
After each procedure, the inhaler must be washed and dried thoroughly.

During the cold season, inhalations with saline can be done for preventive purposes without adding medications to the nebulizer tank. This procedure will help neutralize microorganisms that have entered the nasopharynx and prevent them from descending into the bronchi and lungs.

Why is saline solution prescribed?

Saline solution is administered intravenously in the form of infusions when indicated:

Severe and critical dehydration of the body, disturbance of water-salt balance.
Reduced plasma volume with large blood losses, dyspepsia, severe burns, diabetic coma.
Carrying out surgical procedures, postoperative period.
Intoxication of the body due to infections and poisonings of various origins.
Epigastric, ileocecal, pulmonary bleeding.
Digestive pathologies: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chronic and acute constipation.
Lack of Na and Cl in the body.

When introducing droppers of saline solution with additional components, the list of indications expands.

Instructions for use for dropper

Before introducing sodium chloride inside, it must be heated to a temperature of 36-38 degrees. The dosage of the drug is calculated individually, based on the patient’s condition, medical history, age and weight.

The average daily dosage of the drug varies in the following values:

Adults: 500-3000 ml.
During pregnancy: 300-1200 ml.
Children: 20-100 ml per kg of weight.

Important!
To instantly replenish the lack of Na and Cl, 100 ml is administered once. The average dropper speed is 540 ml/h. The hypertonic solution is injected in a stream.

For dilution and drip administration of other drugs, from 50 to 250 ml of physiological solution per dose of the drug is used.

How long does saline solution last after opening?

How long the saline solution will be stored without losing its properties after the bottle is opened will depend on the purpose of use:

injection into a vein - storage is not allowed, since absolute sterility is immediately lost;
dilution of medications for intramuscular injections - if absolutely necessary, stored for 12 hours in the refrigerator, but if the opening rules are followed;
inhalation in a nebulizer - good for 2 days if opened and stored correctly;
inhalation in a steam inhaler - can be used until completely used up if stored in the refrigerator, becomes unusable when external signs appear - turbidity, sediment, flakes, as well as the expiration date indicated on the label;
washing, rinsing, diluting medications for external use - good before the expiration date.

You can store an open saline solution in a bottle for a long time only if you follow the rules:

Only the protective cover is open;
the rubber stopper and the surrounding foil are not damaged;
take a needle from the bottle, which must then be covered with a sterile cloth moistened with alcohol;
the solution is placed in a cardboard box and placed in the refrigerator.

Since the drug is cheap, this option is used very rarely. Typically, the question of how long an open saline solution is valid arises when performing inhalations, since 1 ml for a child and up to 3 ml for an adult are enough for one procedure. Even when inhaling a pure solution, the nebulizer is filled with a maximum of 7 ml.

In this case, a bottle of 200-400 ml is consumed slowly. Therefore, a more economical option would be to purchase ampoules of the drug or a smaller volume.

It is also important to know that the shelf life may not be limited if:

the device has a function for adjusting the particle size;
the mode of spraying droplets from 5 microns is selected;
treatment is necessary for the nasopharynx (runny nose, sore throat, sore throat).

Large parts of the aerosol in this case are predominantly deposited in the upper respiratory tract, so complete sterility of the solution is not required.

We recommend reading the article about saline solution for inhalation. From it you will learn about how to use saline solution for inhalation with a nebulizer, features of use in pregnant women, and how to replace saline solution for inhalation. And here is more information about why aminocaproic acid is prescribed for inhalation for children.

Is it possible to store homemade saline solution open?

Homemade saline solution can be stored open for up to a day, but it should be used exclusively for salt inhalations in a steam (heat-moisture device), as well as washing and rinsing. It is prepared by diluting table salt in boiled water. Even if you boil it again and process the dishes, it is impossible to achieve complete sterility at home.

Administration through a nebulizer is permitted only for pharmaceutical drugs. In this case, a liquid that is free of microbes (they die only during autoclaving) and impurities (special filtration is required) must enter the bronchial tract.

Factory-made preparations are prepared not with ordinary, but with distilled water. This is especially important when diluting medications, since foreign salts can interact with the medication and interfere with its activity.

Side effects

Rare negative effects that occur with prolonged or heavy use of sodium chloride include:

In neurology: anxiety, severe headaches, dizziness, increased sweating, weakness, constant feeling of thirst.
In gastroenterology: stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
In gynecology: failures in the circulatory system, delays, dysmenorrhea.
In cardiology: increased heart rate, arrhythmia, high blood pressure.
In dermatology: dermatitis, acne.
In hematology: anemia, hypokalemia.
In endocrinology: increased acidity of the body, edema.

If such complications occur, the administration of saline solution is stopped, and the patient is given assistance to eliminate the side effects.

Contraindications for intravenous administration

Infusion of saline solution is prohibited for the following pathologies:

swelling of the lungs and brain;
pathologies of the kidneys and heart muscle;
abundance of Na and Cl, lack of K in the body;
extracellular hyperhydration;
dehydration inside the cell;
taking large doses of corticosteroid drugs.

A dropper with saline solution is a quick and effective way to replenish blood volume in the body, restore water-salt balance, and cleanse toxins. To prevent the product from causing a negative reaction, it should be used exclusively under the supervision of a physician.

Is it possible to use expired saline solution?

For any method of treatment, it is undesirable to use expired saline solution. When used externally (rinsing, washing), it is considered conditionally suitable for one month if:

the bottle was closed and placed in a cardboard package;
the sun's rays did not fall on it;
The storage temperature did not rise above 25 degrees.

If saline solution is used after opening, then it cannot be used after the expiration date.