Surely, almost every person has repeatedly heard about the existence of saline solution or sodium chloride, but, unfortunately, only a few know that this drug must be in the first aid kit of every home, and especially if there are small children in the family. Why? This is what we need to figure out.
Before you understand why every home should have this drug, you need to understand what it is, where it is used, what it is used for and in what dosage, what contraindications there are, and many others. etc.
So, saline solution is the most common solution of sodium chloride NaCl, that is, saline solution and sodium chloride are the same thing, there is no need to doubt it. By the way, many people cannot even think that it has much in common with salt (NaCl), but, as you can see from the chemical formula, this is exactly the case.
It is worth noting that saline solution is produced in production on a colossal scale, primarily due to the ease of its creation and long shelf life. It is known that during the production of this drug, salts are gradually introduced into a certain volume of distilled water in stages. Step by step is necessary to ensure that all components and salts are completely dissolved. Yes, when preparing the solution it is very important that there is no sediment. This is achieved by passing carbon dioxide through sodium bicarbonate. Glucose is added last. The technology of the stages must not be violated under any circumstances.
According to experts and doctors, the container in which the saline solution is prepared is also of great importance, because the composition of the drug is quite complex. In production, the mixture is made only in glass containers; metal containers are not allowed for this.
The composition of the saline solution, as you probably already understood, includes distilled water and purified salt, while other substances are also present, but their concentration is very small, amounting to only 0.9 percent.
Composition and pharmacological group of water for injection
The composition of water for injection consists of only one element - water itself, which is the active component of the drug. One ampoule contains two or five milliliters of liquid, depending on the form of release.
Water for injection, based on the classification of medical substances, belongs to the group of solvents and diluents.
The main pharmacological properties are:
- Lack of pyrogens;
- Chemical inactivity;
- Lack of therapeutic and curative effect.
The substance provides the correct conditions for the optimal use of substrates in the treatment of patients. Homeostasis is maintained by the introduction of water and electrolytes through the renal system.
Main indications and contraindications
Indications for use:
Necessity of preparation. Both powders and lyophilisates, as well as various concentrates, which are subsequently injected into the human body, can be used. Sterile administration of the drug using all available methods. This applies to all techniques: subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous.
If the manufacturer indicates a different type of solvent in the instructions for use, water for injection should not be used with this medicine. Most often, isotonic saline solution is used as an alternative to dilution.
Saline sodium chloride solution
In the process of creating this pharmacological composition, salts are introduced into distilled water in a certain way. In this case, each subsequent component is added only after the previous one has completely dissolved. In addition, to prevent sediment from forming in the liquid, carbon dioxide is passed through the sodium bicarbonate. Glucose is added to the solution last. Strict adherence to the specified production technology ensures the preservation of all the beneficial properties of sodium chloride. Depending on the percentage of salts, the following types of solutions are distinguished:
- isotonic (9%) – used for preparing injections and droppers.
- hypertensive (10%) – used as an auxiliary osmotic diuretic for various serious pathological conditions.
Pharmacological group
According to the classification of medicinal substances, sodium chloride (Natrii chloridum/Sodium chloride) is usually classified as a regulator of water-electrolyte balance and acid-base balance. Due to the fact that the product is used for diluting and dissolving medications, it also belongs to the group of excipients, reagents and intermediates. In addition, some experts classify isotonic sodium chloride solution as an anticongestant - decongestant drug.
Properties
The drug acts as a detoxifying and rehydrating agent. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is used to enrich the body with fluid and increase the volume of circulating arterial blood. This pharmacological effect of saline solution is determined by the presence in it of mineral ions that have the ability to penetrate the cell membrane through a variety of transport mechanisms. According to the pharmacopoeia, sodium chloride helps maintain constant blood pressure and takes part in the electrophysiological processes of the body.
Indications for use
Water-salt balance directly affects the maintenance of the normal state of all organs and systems of the human body. In a normal situation, the NaCl compound enters the body along with food, which is impossible if any pathologies develop. Thus, with vomiting, diarrhea and other similar conditions, there is an increased release of sodium and chlorine ions from the body. This condition is an absolute indication for intravenous sodium chloride.
In addition, the drug is recommended for external use to wash the eyes, nose, and mouth. Separately, it is worth mentioning the benefits of saline solution for treating purulent wounds. The sodium and chlorine salts contained in the preparation have high antimicrobial activity, which is often used by surgeons to prevent the occurrence of postoperative complications. Among other things, the use of NaCl is justified in the following conditions:
- dyspepsia;
- poisoning;
- cholera;
- constipation;
- extensive burns;
- hyponatremia;
- hypochloremia;
- forced diuresis;
- internal bleeding;
- dehydration.
Features of application
Water must be used in full accordance with the rules and regulations defined by the manufacturer. This also applies to both the method of its use and dosages.
Solutions may only be prepared under sterile conditions. This applies to all stages of work, such as:
- Opening the ampoule;
- Filling the syringe;
- Carrying out the injection.
A prescription for water for injection is not required to purchase it at a pharmacy kiosk. Direct administration of this medication intravenously without the use of other drugs is prohibited. This is due to low osmotic pressure, which in turn can lead to hemolysis.
When mixing with other substances, it is necessary to carry out constant visual monitoring to ensure their compatibility. This applies primarily to such drugs as:
- Solutions for infusions;
- Concentrates for the preparation of infusions;
- Mixtures for injections;
- Powdered products;
- Dry substances.
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Sometimes pharmacological incompatibility may occur between water for injection and other drugs included in the listed groups. In such situations, the prepared solution cannot be used for further therapy of the patient, as this can lead to adverse consequences for his life and health.
Instructions for use of sodium chloride
In most cases, saline solution is administered intravenously or subcutaneously. Meanwhile, the use of sodium chloride may involve its entry into the body orally or rectally. As a rule, one or another method of using a drug is determined by the expectation of a certain therapeutic effect. So, in case of severe poisoning, you will agree that it is more logical to use saline solution intravenously than to try to do cleansing enemas.
In general, patients tolerate NaCl well. However, with prolonged use of the drug, overdose effects may be observed: acidosis, extracellular hyperhydration, hypokalemia. In addition, it is important to talk about the specific drug interactions of the solution. Sodium chloride (and its analogs) is compatible with most medications. When diluted with a solution of powdered antibiotics, an increase in their bioavailability is noted. The drug is not recommended to be combined with corticosteroids (Enalapril) and leukopoiesis stimulants (Filgrastim).
For rinsing the nose
Nasal spray based on sodium chloride has a lot of positive properties and almost no side effects. Therefore, sodium chloride for nasal rinsing is used especially widely in pediatric practice to eliminate runny nose in young patients without harm to their health. A saline-based nasal spray is instilled into the nasal passage only after it has been thoroughly cleansed. Adults are recommended to take 2-3 injections three times a day, while for children the indicated dosage should be halved.
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Intravenously
In medical practice, parenteral (intravenous) administration of saline is mostly used. For this purpose, the sodium chloride dropper is preheated to 36 degrees. The volume of the administered drug depends on the condition, age and weight of the patient. On average, the daily dose of NaCl should not exceed 500 milliliters. In case of poisoning accompanied by a severe degree of intoxication, the maximum volume can reach 3000 ml. In this case, the rate of infusion (infusion) of the drug is allowed to be increased to 70 drops per minute.
This method of administering saline helps to immediately restore the water-salt balance in the body - this is why sodium chloride is injected intravenously in case of dehydration. In addition, parenteral administration is indicated as plasma replacement therapy and is used for excessively thick blood. It is important to say that saline solution for IVs is often used to dilute any drug that needs to be administered intravenously. In this case, the characteristics of such infusions are determined based on the main medication.
For inhalations
A therapeutic procedure involving inhalation of sodium chloride is indicated for colds. Treatment of infectious pathologies of the respiratory tract is carried out with a combination of saline solution and a bronchodilator. Remember, alkaline (with added salt, soda) inhalations are contraindicated for children under 6 years of age.
Contraindications for sodium chloride
Like any other medicine, NaCl also has some limitations for use. For example, it is prohibited to use saline solution for patients with blood circulation disorders. The fact is that this pathological condition is dangerous due to the development of cerebral edema. For this reason, artificially flooding the body with saline solution during persistent development of circulatory disorders can significantly aggravate the clinical picture of the disease and lead to irreversible consequences. In addition, the use of NaCl is prohibited under the following conditions:
- pulmonary edema;
- hypernatremia;
- hyperchloremia;
- chronic heart failure;
- arterial hypertension;
- acute left ventricular failure;
- during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding).
Difference between water for injection and saline
Water for injection and saline are the substances most often used for therapeutic infusion or injection mixtures. However, there is a significant difference between them. Doctors warn against replacing one medicine with another, as this leads to improper preparation of the drug for treatment. The main differences between water for injection and saline solution are:
- Water for injections. This is a homogeneous substance that does not contain additional components. Its chemical formula is H20. To fill ampoules, only distilled liquid is used, which does not contain any impurities.
- Saline solution. It is a 0.9% aqueous solution of sodium chloride, the chemical formula of which is as follows: NaCl. This liquid is isotonic in blood plasma. Therefore, it can be administered subcutaneously, intravenously and intramuscularly, either alone or together with other drugs.
The main difference between water for injection and saline solution is the ability to introduce the second into the body independently without the use of additional components.
Mistakes of foreign colleagues
In other countries, there have also been cases when saline solution was administered instead of a vaccine. For example, an employee of the German Red Cross replaced the BioNTech anti-coronavirus drug, RBC reported.
The woman claimed that she broke the ampoule with the vaccine and did not want to report the mistake to her superiors. Her vigilant colleague reported the incident to law enforcement agencies, and an investigation was launched against the employee.
A similar case happened in France. There, 140 people received injections with saline instead of the American Pfizer vaccine. The vaccination center itself admitted the mistake and contacted the patients.
Use during pregnancy and lactation
The manufacturer does not prohibit the use of the drug during women's pregnancy or lactation. The risks of treatment during these periods are directly determined by the nature of the second medicinal substance, which is dissolved in the liquid for further administration.
Does not lead to any adverse consequences for either the pregnant woman or her fetus or newborn child.
Overdose and its consequences
If you use the product for its intended purpose, the risk of overdose or other adverse effects is zero.
The manufacturer draws attention to the possibility of provoking hemolysis. It is the destruction of red blood cells with the release of hemoglobin into the environment. This problem occurs when large volumes of hypotonic solutions are infused.
The problem of using water for injection can arise if a large number of drugs aimed at lowering blood pressure are dissolved in it. Signs and characteristic symptoms of overdose are not directly related to the use of water for injection. They are based only on those medications that are used to dissolve in a given sterile liquid.
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Application of saline solution
Having figured out what it is - sodium chloride, it must be said that
today, like ten years ago, saline solution is quite actively used in medical practice. Depending on the concentration, it can be isotonic or hypertonic.
For modern medicine, saline solution is simply vital, because not a single dropper can do without it. In this case, it acts as the basis for the drug; it is used to dilute dry medicines. In addition, injections are made based on sodium chloride - this is very important if a certain (appropriate) concentration is needed. By the way, injections with saline solution are less painful, the solution softens the injections.
As we have already said, almost all IVs in medical institutions are made using saline, diluting medications, both liquid and powder. As a rule, in order to achieve the required concentration of the drug, a 0.9% saline solution is used, because it does not need to be pre-diluted, it is already in the required concentration. It is very important that the saline solution is sterile; the health and life of the patient depends on it.
If we talk about saline droppers without adding a drug, they are also placed in hospitals, more often when the body is dehydrated, to thin the blood and to eliminate edema.
Due to the fact that the drug can be bought or ordered at any pharmacy, it can be used at home, without a doctor’s prescription. The spectrum is quite large. Very often, the nose is washed with saline solution for a runny nose or dry mucous membrane. In terms of composition, it is absolutely no different from some expensive nasal sprays. Therefore, if you want to save money, replace them with saline solution. Nasal rinsing with sodium chloride is a commonly effective way to cleanse the nasal passages and mucous membranes. By the way, for these purposes it is better to use an isotonic solution, it has a lower concentration.
In order to rinse your nose with this solution, you just need to tilt your head forward and suck in the liquid through your nose, then clean the cavity well. It is advisable to use one nostril first and then the other.
Saline solution can also be used for newborn babies who have problems with nasal congestion. It is undesirable for young children to use medications; it is better to rinse the nostrils with saline solution, and then no problems will arise. When your baby has a runny nose, you need to put 2-3 drops of saline solution into your nose several times a day.
In addition, saline solution is very often used for inhalation, but in this case one solution will not be enough; you will also need a special device - a nebulizer, into which the drug and saline solution will be injected. With this device, the person will inhale the medicine, and the sodium chloride will help moisturize the surface of the mucous membrane.
In this case, according to experts, the type of saline solution does not matter; both isotonic and hypertonic can be used. In this case, you can take a non-sterile solution, which can also be purchased at the pharmacy.
It is worth noting that inhalations using saline solution are extremely effective, especially when it comes to young children. Such procedures are good for the prevention of influenza and ARVI in the autumn-winter period; the effectiveness of therapy is very high.
In addition, saline solution is also used to wash the intestines for constipation or bowel movements. To do this, sodium chloride is taken into the enema and administered rectally. In this case, it is advisable to warm the saline solution a little so that it is warm and does not irritate the intestinal walls. You can use a non-sterile solution, but if we are talking about gastric lavage, then it is better to use only a sterile one. You need to drink it in small sips to avoid cramps. And then induce vomiting.
It should also be said that saline solution is also used externally, as a rule, for washing wounds, moistening gauze bandages, and wiping.
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