Anyone familiar with pH balanced 7% saline, rather than acidic type?

Interesting info about a company going out of business. My doctor wanted to order 3% Sod. Chloride because it was cheaper but instead I have to buy Hyper-Sal 3.5% which is three times more expensive. The pharmacist said they were unable to get 3% now and did not know when, if ever, they could get it.

@sueinmn ...I agree! At first blush, the PH balance of PulmoSal seemed intriguing but as I read the literature on the product, it did not make much sense as the saline content is the key to nebulizing. It seemed almost like a "brighter & whiter" commercial expounding that their brand is better. I probably sound like the typical skeptic but I'd want to see a whole lot more science before coming out of pocket for it.
One thing I have discovered lately is the use of a nettie pot. I know I have a post-nasal drip that has recently come about after an exacerbation but not only does it clear the sinuses with a saline wash but it seems to make breathing more effortless. Not sure if this is all in my head. (not to be taken literally...haha) The most important part of a nettie is to be sure that you are using distilled water as a base to mix the non-iodized salt and baking soda. I also wonder if this usage of the nettie pot will help keep any future bugs out of the nasal passages. ??
alleycatkate....kate

Re: the Nettie pot - you mention using non-iodized salt and baking soda with distilled water? Can you explain how you mix these ingredients for the nasal rinse?
I’ve only heard of the saline powder (I can’t remember the brand name) that is mixed with water.

Kathy, I only use the premixed, Ph balanced saline packets. Mine are from NeilMed and I get 100 at a time for around $13 - either from Walgreens or Amazon. I am not confident mixing my own that I will get it right, and that I won't contaminate it.
Sue

Is it not regulated because it is not a medicine?

@poodledoc @nannette I noticed that the study showing PulmoSal was better than other brands was funded by the makers of PulmoSal--PharmaCaribe.

Hi Sue - I am confused by your question. Are you asking why there is variability in the Ph of the different brands of 7% saline, or do you have a different concern?

Sue

Kathy, just for clarification, the NeilMed premixed saline, 100 packets in a box, you are talking about are for sinus rinse, not nebulizers.

Thanks; I knew that but I had never heard of mixing your own solution to do nasal rinses.

Like others here, I have used NeilMed and I am planning to start saline rinses again this winter (sorry; couldn’t remember the brand name as it’s been so long since I used it). As well, my respirologist advised me to boil the water for 10 minutes even if it is distilled, filtered, etc.

@lorifilipek You make a good point and it did make me wonder a bit if the results could have been skewed to show PulmoSal killed the bacteria better to better sell their product. For me it's all about the acidity. In the early stages of my coughing history I was diagnosed with LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux) or Upper Airway Reflux as the reflux can actually get down into your bronchi. Long story there but I got that under control with lifestyle changes. But I believe the damage to my airways from that reflux caused my bronchiectasis, I believe then I got NTM/MAC which made the BE even worse.
Reflux consists mainly of HCl (acid) and pepsin. It has been shown that pepsin is the really bad player in LPR as it is the enzyme that breaks down protein in your stomach. Pepsin has the ability to attach itself to tissue such as the delicate lining of your airways for a long time until it is activated by anything acidic in nature, at which point it starts to eat away at the lining of your airways causing damage. So I want to always make sure I am not inhaling anything acidic into my lungs. I used a pH strip to compare the acidity of PulmoSal (the pH was about 7) vs HyperSal (the pH was about 6). On the pH scale a 6 is 10X more acidic than 7.