Hypertonic Saline

[miesl]

Anybody using hypertonic saline? What percentage? Where do you get it? Does your insurance cover it? How much does it cost?

I'm asking because we're having a heck of a time getting any. Insurance is being irritating about it (what a surprise). They won't cover the 10% solution at all, the pharmacy at Fairview can't get 5% or 7% (what we wanted), and insurance might cover a few ampules of the 3% (but no where near the 60 ampules he'd need for a month's supply). In other words, it's a headache. A big irritating headache. Somehow they don't seem to grasp the "it's either this cheap salt solution which might work really nice for him, or we try going back to the grand-a-box super $$$ pulmozyme" concept. Gargh.

 

[anonymous]

i will try and figure out where i got mine, etc. but i don't actually mine anyways.

instead, when i need it, i've used "simply saline" its awesome. Its that salt-water stuff, but its compressed, like a hair spray bottle. and if you use it right, it works really well. You can get it at drug stores, definitly try it out.

hope this helps <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

WE JUST GOT SOME FROM THE PUBLIX PHARMACY IN GAINESVILLE. 100 AMPS 5% WAS ABOUT $14.00 AND OUR INSURANCE DID NOT COVER THE COST.

 

[HollyCatheryn]

Have you tried or thought about making your own saline? That is what has been recommended to me. It is cheapest and you can make it quite concentrated. I'll try to find the recipe if you want it.

 

[anonymous]

You can make your own!?!?! Is it sterile?

 

[JT]

My insurance covers it so I'm not familiar with the cost. But I'd guess the CF pharmacy is reasonably priced. (800) 541-4959

 

[serendipity730]

I got mine from the CF pharmacy. I am using 3% right now. My insurance didn't cover it, but it was only I think $40 for like a 3 mos supply. Hypertonic Saline has done wonders for me. I started it like 3 mos (I alternate it with Tobi, but try and always do it once a day.) Before Hypertonic saline, my FEV1 was consistently in the low 70's as a baseline. Well, I have been on hypertonic saline for only like 3 wks, and I went to the dr's. Keep in mind, it had been 4 mos since I had last been on IV's, so that was usually the time I start to backslide. Anyway, my FEV1 was 83%!!!!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> That was 2 mos ago, and I still haven't need IV's. It has been at least 3 years, since I have been able to go over 6 mos with IV's. Of course, I can't say if this is really a direct cause-effect relationship, but it certainly looks promising!

 

[HollyCatheryn]

You can make saline at home and yes it is sterile. In order to get the salt to actually combine with the water you boil them. Boiling kills any germs. I am still trying to locate the recipe that tells how much salt to how much water for the percentages. I haven't needed to do it in a while (and I stink at memorizing recipes for even the simplest of things). The nice thing is that you can make it whatever concentration you need. You can use a bulb syringe, dental syringe (like for cleaning out orthodontic appliances) or one of the squeeze bottles like regular saline comes in. And it can be inhaled in an aerosol or squirted up your nose. I think there was a recipe in a back issue of CF Roundtable also.

 

[miesl]

The pharmacy ended up having the lab at Fairview mix us up an IV bag of 5% saline. It cost $10, plus another $10 for the syringes to draw it out of the bag with.

As for making it myself - I know how to make the saline, but I just don't feel comfortable trying to make anything sterile in my kitchen. Also, who knows what kind of additives/residuals are in the salt I could buy. It's not just making the solution sterile, it's about having a sterile container, and keeping it sterile. I know what kind of regulations companies have to deal with in pharmacueticals... and I can't do anything approaching that clean in my kitchen.

 

[anonymous]

ive heard alot of hype about the hypertonic saline.. what exactly is it suppose to do. how old do you have to be and do ppl still use their pulmozyme also??? sorry if i sound stupid i just dont know much about it.. thanks, Melissa

 

[WinAce]

A trick I've used recently--when my health coverage wouldn't pay for it--is to use one of those "$25 back if you fill a new prescription with us, and pay cash" promotions pharmacies use. I got an Eckerd gift card for that amount, so it came out almost free. CVS has a similar promotion that I've seen in their in-store brochures, with a coupon, so you people might want to check those out.

 

[miesl]

Melissa - as far as "hype" here's a link to a study on hypertonic saline. (I know there are others, but I must not have bookmarked them).

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://thorax.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/52/10/900
">http://thorax.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/52/10/900
</a>
It hydrates the mucus and improves lung clearance. It's important to do a bronchiodilator before use, as it can cause airway irritation.

My bf hasn't had good experience with Pulmozyme, so we wanted to give this a try. We asked his CF doc about it, and he was all for it. As far as age, I have no idea, I'd advise reading up on hypertonic saline, and having a conversation at your next clinic.

So far, he's having a positive experience with it - so all is well.