Saline soltion for home nebuliser?

crxsi09

Hi all,
We have a nebuliser at home for our son who is 7, and are wondering where can you get the saline solution for it? All i can see is saline solution for contact lenses for sale.

Thanks

Arbie

Any chemist should have it. They come in 500ml containers.

locum-motion

Arbie wrote: »

Any chemist should have it. They come in 500ml containers.

Sorry, but that is most very definitely incorrect.

Yes, any chemist should have or can get it, but it most certainly does not come in 500ml containers.

It comes in packs of 20 vials of 2.5ml each. It IS a prescription only medicine.

While 500ml containers of saline do exist, they're for other uses. You can't just pour some of it into your nebuliser.

Arbie

locum-motion wrote: »

Sorry, but that is most very definitely incorrect.

Yes, any chemist should have or can get it, but it most certainly does not come in 500ml containers.

It comes in packs of 20 vials of 2.5ml each. It IS a prescription only medicine.

While 500ml containers of saline do exist, they're for other uses. You can't just pour some of it into your nebuliser.

Are you sure? As an asthmatic, whenever I need a neb I just buy the 500ml bottle over the counter. I have also bought the sterineb vials OTC without prescription.

When I was a respiratory SHO (admittedly several years ago) my consultant always told patients to just buy the 500ml containers and dole out the dose with a syringe. He said it was cheaper and avoided destroying the environment with dozens of little plastic vials. Was he wrong or have things changed?

locum-motion

https://www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/medicines-information/find-a-medicine/results/item?pano=PA0282/084/001&t=SALINE%20STERI-NEB%200.9%20%%20W/V%20NEBULISER%20SOLUTION

Quite clearly says:
"Dispensing Status
Product subject to prescription which may be renewed (B)"

Don't think you can get any more definitive than that.

I'm frankly shocked to think that a consultant would tell patients to nebulise a non-sterile solution. Or that an SHO wouldn't call them out on it.

Wesser

But the nebuliser mask is not sterile nor are the hands that.lift the mask up to the face. Very unlikely that you would Inhale pathogens from a 500ml bottle of salty water that's opened for 20 seconds twice a day. Nebuliusation is not a sterile procedure.

locum-motion

Wesser wrote: »

... Nebuliusation is not a sterile procedure.

Not entirely, no. As you say the mask/tube/etc aren't sterile. But they should be clean, and one certainly shouldn't be introducing additional risks.

Every single product that is intended to be nebulised is sterile.

Arbie

locum-motion wrote: »

https://www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/medicines-information/find-a-medicine/results/item?pano=PA0282/084/001&t=SALINE%20STERI-NEB%200.9%20%%20W/V%20NEBULISER%20SOLUTION

Quite clearly says:
"Dispensing Status
Product subject to prescription which may be renewed (B)"

Don't think you can get any more definitive than that.

That's quite clear from HPRA, and OP's question has been answered.

locum-motion wrote: »

I'm frankly shocked to think that a consultant would tell patients to nebulise a non-sterile solution. Or that an SHO wouldn't call them out on it.

I didn't ask him about it because, like Wesser, it didn't appear to me that it was a significant risk. I will probably never prescribe a neb again in my life, but if I ever see my old consultant I will pick his brains.

I wouldn't be shocked that a 1st year SHO didn't question a consultant on something seemingly routine. The SpR never batted an eyelid either. I was chatting to 2 colleagues on whatsapp just now and asked them if saline nebs are sterile, both said no. So it seems to be a common enough perception. It's interesting that over many years of neb use I have never needed a script and have been dispensed the 500ml bottle several times, so pharmacists must not all be aware either.

We live and learn.

simongurnick

Two of my kids require frequent saline. we buy the nebs but also make our own solution. Recipe is one cup of distilled water (or boiled tap water), add half a teaspoon of fine table salt, dissolve it and keep in fridge if you are using over 24 hours. That equals 0.9% standard saline.