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3% sodium chloride solution and Albuterol vs 7% saline
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Aug 7 3:56pm | Replies (49)Comment receiving replies
I find 7% saline helps clear my mucus far better than 3%.
Also, there is a new protocol for treating long-term asthma that uses a combination inhaler (Symbicort or its generic equivalent) twice a day for control, and only uses albuterol/levalbuterol for sudden attacks. I use this 10-20 minutes before my saline neb.
My daughter, an ER nurse, says new standard protocols are showing the albuterol inhaler is as effective as the neb when used with a spacer - and it only takes a minute, compared to 15-20 minutes to nebulize albuterol. Less time = better compliance with most people.
Sue
Replies to "I find 7% saline helps clear my mucus far better than 3%. Also, there is a..."
Is a spacer the same thing as an aerochamber?
I finally got my dr to prescribe saline, after requesting it numerous times. She seemed to be very resistant, implying that there would be negative consequences. Because of that, I asked or the 3% to start slow, in case she was right. I am tolerating it just fine with NO problem. I will finish this Rx and then request the 7%. One small victory!
Hi. Sue.
Thank you. How many puffs would be equivalent with albutirol (or in my case, levalbutirol) to a nebulizer? My pulmonologist (works mostly with CF patients, not as much non-CF bronchiectasis) put me on:
Symbacort 2 puffs twice a day;
Levalbutirol in neb once a day; lung clearing exercises twice a day.
She did not mention saline, which might be a red flag.
She also has a standing order for azithromycin for flare ups, which I am now learning is really frowned upon as those treating MAC/NTM (which I may or may not have now/mucus testing soon, but of course easily could have in the future) since it's only of the only effective tools they have for treating mac.
Thanks!
Hi, Sue.
I am curious about this as have asthma as well as a new Bronchiectasis diagnosis. My pulmonologist said, as I introduce saline (I am building up a tolerance, day by day, with 3% as I tolerate it more and more and will aim to increase to 7%). My pulmonologist (more of a CF and asthma specialist but does treat a lot of Bronchiectasis patients, too) said to take the levalbutirol nebulizer first, then the saline, followed by the Symbacort (which I haven't started yet as am so jittery and have hypertension. Despite being 49- and a non-smoking, non-drinking, thin vegetarian. Sigh. Just venting.
He said the symbacort should be taken after the saline so it doesn't "wash away." What are your thoughts?
Thanks!
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Thanks, Sue. So interesting about the new protocols with Albuterol and the timing differences. Definitely have to review that. You're so right about "less time = more compliance". After I nebulize with Albuterol and the saline, I have to really push myself to complete more airway clearance steps. Thanks for your help.