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Hypertonic Saline vs. Pulmozyme
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
The Pulmozyme thins the mucus and the hypertonic saline creates a water barrier between the lungs and the mucus so it moves easily. They both serve different functions. I always do the pulmozyme first, then the hypertonic saline and the my vest. It seems to work pretty well.
thelizardqueen
New member
My doc would prefere that I go on the Pulm first as opposed to the Hypertonic. I guess its because I've never been on either, and he wants to start me off slow.
I do my albueterol/pulmicort, pulmozyme, vest/saline then tobi or colistin....my doctor was originaly hesitant about prescribing the saline because she is afraid some patients would stop some of the other nebs. She emphasized to me that the Saline is to be used in conjunction with the others not in replace of! They all have a specific purpose like Steph said!
I just started the saline treatmeant a few weeks ago while I was in for a clean out. Because it can make some people start coughing uncontrolably they had me on the pulse oxometer for the first few days. My O2 stat while I was taking it was 100% but dropped down to 96% when I stopped. I think it works great, cleared a lot of stuff that seemed to have been just sitting there. I was told to do all my other nebs before I started the saline one, I also have to take albuterol 15 mins before I start the treatment. My doctor highly recommends that I take it and all the nurses think it helped me. I started it on a Thursday and by Saturday I was feeling so much better!!!
Scarlett81
New member
I'm on both now. I've been on Pulmozyme for years. And I just started Hyp S. My doc told me that in Australila, and some Euro countries they are stopping Pulmozyme and just using HypS. B/c the Pulmozyme is still an enzyme, and its not great to put an enzyme into infected lungs. They feel that any drug could have long term affects. Even though it works great to thin the mucus.
So the thing with the HypS is that there are no side effects. B/c its a natural occuring salt water. So they feel that if they can their patients of one more drug and replace a drug with a safe substance, why not?
She said she heard of a few docs in the US that are stopping Pulmozyme use, and just using HypS, but she felt she wasn't ready to make that call yet. But she did say, that as the patient we could decide to do whatever we want.
I think it will be hard for the US docs to stop pulmozyme use. They could get alot of backlash from the drug companies. Nobody's going to make money off of salt water solution. Its not a drug that will make pharmaceutical companies millions of bucks.
So the thing with the HypS is that there are no side effects. B/c its a natural occuring salt water. So they feel that if they can their patients of one more drug and replace a drug with a safe substance, why not?
She said she heard of a few docs in the US that are stopping Pulmozyme use, and just using HypS, but she felt she wasn't ready to make that call yet. But she did say, that as the patient we could decide to do whatever we want.
I think it will be hard for the US docs to stop pulmozyme use. They could get alot of backlash from the drug companies. Nobody's going to make money off of salt water solution. Its not a drug that will make pharmaceutical companies millions of bucks.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Kay</b></i>
I just started the saline treatmeant a few weeks ago while I was in for a clean out. Because it can make some people start coughing uncontrolably they had me on the pulse oxometer for the first few days. My O2 stat while I was taking it was 100% but dropped down to 96% when I stopped. I think it works great, cleared a lot of stuff that seemed to have been just sitting there. I was told to do all my other nebs before I started the saline one, I also have to take albuterol 15 mins before I start the treatment. My doctor highly recommends that I take it and all the nurses think it helped me. I started it on a Thursday and by Saturday I was feeling so much better!!!</end quote></div>
If you were doing this in the hospital you were probably nebbing with 100% oxygen, therefore your stats would go up, ie 100% if you are lucky, when you stop you are not breathing in extra 02 and they will go back down to "normal" for you.
I just started the saline treatmeant a few weeks ago while I was in for a clean out. Because it can make some people start coughing uncontrolably they had me on the pulse oxometer for the first few days. My O2 stat while I was taking it was 100% but dropped down to 96% when I stopped. I think it works great, cleared a lot of stuff that seemed to have been just sitting there. I was told to do all my other nebs before I started the saline one, I also have to take albuterol 15 mins before I start the treatment. My doctor highly recommends that I take it and all the nurses think it helped me. I started it on a Thursday and by Saturday I was feeling so much better!!!</end quote></div>
If you were doing this in the hospital you were probably nebbing with 100% oxygen, therefore your stats would go up, ie 100% if you are lucky, when you stop you are not breathing in extra 02 and they will go back down to "normal" for you.
L
littlemisssilly
Guest
Hi all,<br>
<br>
Hate to be a party pooper but I haven't heard any news about CF
treatment guidelines changing here in Australia regarding Pulmozyme
or HS. In fact, my doctor isn't crazy about HS and feels that
Pulmozyme is a better drug compared to HS without the risk of
bronchospasm (I have an asthma component, so maybe that's why). I
must say I'm keen to try HS but he'd rather I not.
<br>
Hate to be a party pooper but I haven't heard any news about CF
treatment guidelines changing here in Australia regarding Pulmozyme
or HS. In fact, my doctor isn't crazy about HS and feels that
Pulmozyme is a better drug compared to HS without the risk of
bronchospasm (I have an asthma component, so maybe that's why). I
must say I'm keen to try HS but he'd rather I not.
Doing hypertonic saline, 3% and no pulmozyme. Pulmozyme never did anything for me
They've come out recently with a lot of info about pulmozyme only working for 1/3 of people with CF...another 1/3 have no effects and the remaining 1/3 are actually harmed by it. I've seen things saying it can actually damage the lungs in some people. Convincing enough and from good enough and reliable sources that I will NEVER take pulmozyme
Not to mention the MN CF, Dr.Warrick...which is like the top CF clinic in the US as far as life expectancy used MucoMyst instead of pulmozyme stating its a better drug.
I've also heard though never seen anything concrete that its the saline in the pulmozyme that causes any good effects it may have
They've come out recently with a lot of info about pulmozyme only working for 1/3 of people with CF...another 1/3 have no effects and the remaining 1/3 are actually harmed by it. I've seen things saying it can actually damage the lungs in some people. Convincing enough and from good enough and reliable sources that I will NEVER take pulmozyme
Not to mention the MN CF, Dr.Warrick...which is like the top CF clinic in the US as far as life expectancy used MucoMyst instead of pulmozyme stating its a better drug.
I've also heard though never seen anything concrete that its the saline in the pulmozyme that causes any good effects it may have
L
littlemisssilly
Guest
Look, I must agree with Amy on this one regarding the anonymous
poster who said that studies have shown Pulmozyme to cause lung
damage. Please state your source, statements like that are merely
sensationalistic and can do more harm than good, it has the
potential to cause undue anxiety in people and may even, in extreme
circumstances, make some people contemplate ceasing their
medications. Please provide links, references if you can before
making such statements.<br>
<br>
PS I did a basic google search (yeh I know, nothing fancy) on that
claim and I couldn't find anything resembling your statement about
Pulmozyme, perhaps you can point me to where I can find such
research? Thanks
poster who said that studies have shown Pulmozyme to cause lung
damage. Please state your source, statements like that are merely
sensationalistic and can do more harm than good, it has the
potential to cause undue anxiety in people and may even, in extreme
circumstances, make some people contemplate ceasing their
medications. Please provide links, references if you can before
making such statements.<br>
<br>
PS I did a basic google search (yeh I know, nothing fancy) on that
claim and I couldn't find anything resembling your statement about
Pulmozyme, perhaps you can point me to where I can find such
research? Thanks
Scarlett81
New member
Yeah- Things like that kinda upset me. I start to get a little worried. If you have information though-I'd like to read it. I'd want to know the facts.
And I'll be at my doctor tommorrow and mention that to her.
I agree we need to be careful about saying things like that-people can get upset.
And I'll be at my doctor tommorrow and mention that to her.
I agree we need to be careful about saying things like that-people can get upset.
i have a question, right now I do tobi med in the morning. 45 min, work, tobi in afternoon, pulmozyme before a vest at night. been feeling crummy with 2 hospitalizations since 2006. my doc mentioned the hyp saline. how long does the treatment take? sometimes seems like there isnt enough hours in the day to do all the stuff i want for my health. anyone else feel that way
jay/24/cf
jay/24/cf
thelizardqueen
New member
Hmm...what if you do your TOBI at night? After your vest? That way you won't have treatments to do during the day. I thought TOBI is supposed to be done about every 12 hours give or take? I know I do mind first thing in the morning, and then later on in the evening.
When DS was first prescribed pulmozyme last Fall, I did a lot of online research on it. I do recall an article in which a researcher couldn't determine if the benefits were derived from the pulmozyme itself or the saline in the solution. But that was one study out of probably hundreds. There was also mention of a certain group of people who probably shouldn't use pulmozyme. Can't remember if it was an allergic reaction or those who had episodes of homeostatis in the past.
I really can't tell if there's a difference in DS's health. The one pulmonologist puts all his patients on it. The CF doctor in the city just indicated that it "wouldn't hurt" to have ds on it.
Liza
I really can't tell if there's a difference in DS's health. The one pulmonologist puts all his patients on it. The CF doctor in the city just indicated that it "wouldn't hurt" to have ds on it.
Liza
I go to the same clinic as Dr. Warwick, although I am in the adult center now. I have heard nothing about not using Pulmozyme. I personally can not take it, as it caused my lungs to bleed (it's a chance occurance for anyone taking it, although I think it is the minority that have this problem). I had never had problems with bleeding before, but now I do from time to time. I don't know if it is because of the Pulm (way back in the early 90s), but thank god for Vit K.
As I read more posts on this, it may be why my doc is hesitant to put me on the saline - because the irriatation could cause more bleeding. Not sure.
I do know that Pulmozyme has the same affect as mucomyst in thinning the mucus - so if you stopped doing it before the saline, it may be harder to move the mucus up?
--Wallflower
As I read more posts on this, it may be why my doc is hesitant to put me on the saline - because the irriatation could cause more bleeding. Not sure.
I do know that Pulmozyme has the same affect as mucomyst in thinning the mucus - so if you stopped doing it before the saline, it may be harder to move the mucus up?
--Wallflower