3% sodium chloride solution and Albuterol vs 7% saline

After getting a Bronchiectasis diagnosis, using a nebulizer was suggested by my pulmonologist. He suggested a 3% solution. I really liked it. It was soothing, for one thing. Then, it seemed that I could no longer find a 3% solution and could only get the 7%, so have been using that, but I find it very, very harsh. It cause a lot of coughing and I feel pretty worn out after 20 min. of that. I'm not sure if it helps clear the lungs or irritates them more. I've recently stopped using the nebulizer and plan to check with my doctor later this month. I have found one supplier who supposedly still has the 3% formula, so might try that again. Still, IF the doctor says that all the coughing from the 7% is worth continuing (some people really advocate it), then I guess I will try suffering through that process, but I sure do not enjoy it at all. Good luck with your treatment plan.

I also have issues tolerating 7 percent saline. If I can't find 3%, I might ask one of my lung docs if it's okay to dilute the 7% with .9 percent, which can be purchased without a prescription. Best of luck to you.

I do albuterol for 15 minutes, wait 15 minutes and then 3% saline for 20 minutes. I was doing 7% saline
for a year and I had to stop every three or four minutes because it irritated my throat. About a month
ago, I started spitting up blood for two hours one day and then a little blood every day for six days.
I stopped nebulizing totally for a week and asked the doctor for a 3% prescription. That was a month
ago. Much better.
Harry

If you get a pulmonary lung function test (LFT), it will measure how effective albuterol is.
It increases my lung capacity by 13%. So the saline can get into more places.
Harry

There are several suppliers of 3% on Amazon.
About $25.
Harry

Thank you. Yes. Now I have found Base Laboratories that seems to have 3%, which I will eventually order; however, I was on a plan where they would send 2 boxes a month. I've stopped it now, but have something like 100 viles of 7% solution that I either need to use or ???

I had that pulmonary lung function test approx. 3 yrs. ago. They did spray in something that was potentially supposed to help with lung functioning. My understand was that at that time they didn't see a big difference. I'm not sure if it was Albuterol. I should see if my Pulmonologist can review those results with me. I'd hate to have to take another of those tests. I found it pretty exhausting, since they kept pushing me to try harder, try harder, but maybe it would be worth it.

they use Albuterol in those tests to see if it makes a difference or not

Actually, I nebulize 7% saline first, and once I've brought up phlegm, and my airways are somewhat clearer, I nebulize the meds.