7% Saline Solution

windwalker -- thank you for your encouragement. I know I probably need to say "no more" to the azithromicin but it's so hard to do when it's the only thing that has ever given me a break from coughing. I assume it's the pseudomonas causing the cough and that's a bigger issue for me. Have made no head-way in that area. Thanks for your note

Thank you Terry for the information, I think I have figured out how to search now. I am still trying to learn how to maneuver the site so thank you for your help. The reason I was questioning albuterol use is because it makes me so nervous and shaky that I can’t stand how I feel. I do have other questions but now that you have shown me how to research the site I think I will be able to find answers. 😊

@kathyhg I too experience coughing using the 7% saline. Some days I can't quite finish the neb, but unlike medication where it is necessary in order to get the full dose, I figure that's fine. The purpose of the saline is to irritate the lungs to bring up the mucus, so if I'm doing it, the job is done. I do try to get as much as possible because I know the saline also helps suppress the MAC, but hey, you do what you can. By the way, I also noticed I can actually taste the saltiness of the mucus several hours after the treatment, so I must be getting plenty. Also, initially I was using 5ml vials, but the last Rx was for 4ml - the pharmacist says he can even get 3ml. His take was that at 5 feet and 100 pounds, the smaller dose was probably plenty for my body. How large are the vials you are using? Sue

Hello Sue, I like your posts so much, you are full of knowledge, experience and generosity to share. I would very much appreciate it if you oriented me, I have read about saline 7% inhibiting MAC growth in vitro but I have not been able to find information about dose to do so in vivo. I remember I read something in a post, maybe yours not really sure, saying that there was a French article or a French physician using s7% to treat MAC. I was diagnosed MAC almost 2 years ago, a couple of months later bronchiectasis, I am not on TT since I feel fine most of the time, I have learned to take care to prevent exacerbations and since I learned about saline I used when i started coughing about a month ago, I used it only once a day, before bedtime (being horizontal made me cough) worked fine, really I do not secretion and really believe that what I expulse is nasal mucus more than flegm, I stopped after 2 week cough came back, so back to nebulize, 5 days ago stopped again, feeling fine, question: Is there any evidence that continuous neb inhibits MAC growth? Or S7% only prevents surge of active infection? Sorry my writing is so akward, I am not native English, also I must tell you that in Chile -I am Chilean- MAC is not common so the infectologist did not know about saline. Do you know if there are studies that link the growth cycle of the MAC and susceptibility to saline? Or at least a trial on usage scheme? Hopefully you and your family are doing fine, thank you very much.
Mirta

Hello Mirta, I am unable to put my hands on those studies at this moment. The studies of 7% saline use in vivo are small and preliminary. The evidence we are seeing amongst our members here is informal, but quite convincing. I do not know my MAC levels at this moment, but I have been 13 months without relapse on saline, as have a number of others.
Sorry I cannot provide specifics, perhaps someone else her can do so?
Sue

@2019mc @sueinmn I think this is the article in question. See Figure 3 near the bottom. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4850692/

Thanks - I think this study this reports growth on culture medium - she was asking specifically about evidence of colony reduction in the lungs. Do you know if a published study?
Sue

@sueinmn Sue, Here is another study that includes testing hypertonic saline as the SOLE treatment for various NTM lung infections, including M abscessus and Pseudomonas. https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/54/1/1802143

@sueinmn Sue, Here is another study that includes testing hypertonic saline as the SOLE treatment for various NTM lung infections, including M abscessus and Pseudomonas. https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/54/1/1802143