wasting hypertonic saline

[stressed]

I wanted to know if everyone throws away there opened
hypertonic saline after 24 hours or do you continue to use
it till it's gone, My directions say to draw 3ml of 10%
and 2ml of 3% then throw away the rest , that seems
to be a lot wasted each time.

 

[BaylorCrew07]

mine says that too, which i also thought seemed wasteful...so i use them a few times before throwing them away. that's probably bad, but that's what i've been doing... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Debra
21wcf

 

[Mockingbird]

They say to do that as a precaution because after you open the vial the saline doesn't remain sterile. If some kind of bacteria, virus, fungus, or whatever else were to get into the saline, we could possibly be breathing a new infection into our lungs.

I really don't know the probability of that happening, though. I'd say the chances are pretty slim, but that is just a guess.

 

[Starfall99]

I just use the whole thing, and have never had any problems (that I know of...). My 3% comes in these 15 mL vials and it's just too annoying to use 1/3 and chuck the rest. My dr doesn;t seem to have a problem with it either.

 

[kybert]

i put my leftovers in the fridge. they end up getting used within a week anyway.

 

[JazzysMom]

If I dont use mine in 5 days the I toss it. By then I should have used the vial anyway. I put mine in the fridge (just to keep things together) & unless U are exposing it to some really nasty stuff or leaving for weeks on end....it should be safe. Make sure to wipe it with an alcohol wipe before using to make sure tho!

 

[princessjdc]

mine comes in a syringe and I just put the whole thing in the nebulizer. I dont have any instructions to use so much. I guess my pharmacy does that for me.