Here was an article published after this discussion took place: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32827399/
Once again, it seems like the results are inconclusive. I share the concern @pacathy has about sanitation. In addition to my concern about the inhaler, I worry about the purity of the salt itself. The hypertonic saline in vials is sterile, but the salt in an inhaler is not; additionally it may be contaminated by debris, heavy metals and other substances.
Finally, with an inhaler, there is no way to measure the amount of saline - it depends on the user, how deeply they breathe and the saline content of the salt itself.
If you have mild BE like I do, it may not be necessary to nebulize saline every day - I use 7% saline about twice a week, and step up to daily if I have an exacerbation of my BE or Asthma or a respiratory illness. But I do airway clearance daily - promoting the elimination of mus=cus either with exercise or my Aerobika.
@sueinmn
Hey Sue. Reading a lot of your post which are so helpful. Appreciate you so much. Just wondering about the 3 meds. Did you go through that treatment? And now negative? I have not started yet. Have MAC and of course want this out of my body. Just seeing who has had success with treatment. Hope things are going well for you!
@sueinmn
Hey Sue. Reading a lot of your post which are so helpful. Appreciate you so much. Just wondering about the 3 meds. Did you go through that treatment? And now negative? I have not started yet. Have MAC and of course want this out of my body. Just seeing who has had success with treatment. Hope things are going well for you!
I did take the antibiotics in 2018 and 2019, but stopped before my cultures were consistently negative due to the side effects. Around that time I also began saline nebs twice a day before airway clearance. I believe that is what got me "back to healthy"
Since then I have maintained- CT stable, no positive cultures, only a few exacerbation. My therapy is daily Symbicort (I also have asthma) exercise and airway clearance. I use 7% saline a couple times a week to discourage NTM from taking up residence again.
Let me say that unless I get very serious evidence like persistent coughing with mucus, fever, weight loss or cavities, I won't gp back on the antibiotics- I'll do more saline and more clearance. I did not like life on the antibiotics but your results may be different.
I know this has been discussed often and I looked at some threads and don’t see sterility mentioned. I’ve been using Good Rx at Walgreens and the box says “sterile unit dose vials.” The price is higher now so I compared to Amazon. They have Base Labs (I’ve used) and a much cheaper Resp Ease. It was half the price so I looked closely-doesn’t say sterile. On closer at Base Labs-no mention of sterility, though they both say for nebs.
Does anyone have the boxes and are they marked sterile?
I ordered from Walgreens, but would like to know for future because Amazon is quick.
I know this has been discussed often and I looked at some threads and don’t see sterility mentioned. I’ve been using Good Rx at Walgreens and the box says “sterile unit dose vials.” The price is higher now so I compared to Amazon. They have Base Labs (I’ve used) and a much cheaper Resp Ease. It was half the price so I looked closely-doesn’t say sterile. On closer at Base Labs-no mention of sterility, though they both say for nebs.
Does anyone have the boxes and are they marked sterile?
I ordered from Walgreens, but would like to know for future because Amazon is quick.
@pacathy Base Labs website says they use a sterile process. My other choice is Naveh, which I got from my pharmacy one time, and it was less harsh than all of the others - maybe buffered in some way? I checked with my independent pharmacist who said the fact that 7% is no longer covered (apparently a big deal because some Cystic Fibrosis kids are on Medicare) has caused them to work with their suppliers. Their price for existing customers will be $25 for 60 vials this year, which is about what I have paid for the past 2 years, They are only accepting new customers using GoodRx and the price will fluctuate.
Aargh! I hate when a cheap, effective, non-drug treatment gets cast aside, leaving people searching for affordable options.
I know this has been discussed often and I looked at some threads and don’t see sterility mentioned. I’ve been using Good Rx at Walgreens and the box says “sterile unit dose vials.” The price is higher now so I compared to Amazon. They have Base Labs (I’ve used) and a much cheaper Resp Ease. It was half the price so I looked closely-doesn’t say sterile. On closer at Base Labs-no mention of sterility, though they both say for nebs.
Does anyone have the boxes and are they marked sterile?
I ordered from Walgreens, but would like to know for future because Amazon is quick.
@pacathy I've been nebbing 2x/day with Resp-Ease 7% for the past year per my ID doc from Day 1 of my diagnosis of MAI. My boxes from Amazon:
Base Lab are labeled "Sterile 7% hypertonic sodium
chloride solution". Manufacturer Venture Healthcare.
My ID doc and pulmonologist are UMN/Mayo Rochester, and they assured me of sterility of my vials.
I know this has been discussed often and I looked at some threads and don’t see sterility mentioned. I’ve been using Good Rx at Walgreens and the box says “sterile unit dose vials.” The price is higher now so I compared to Amazon. They have Base Labs (I’ve used) and a much cheaper Resp Ease. It was half the price so I looked closely-doesn’t say sterile. On closer at Base Labs-no mention of sterility, though they both say for nebs.
Does anyone have the boxes and are they marked sterile?
I ordered from Walgreens, but would like to know for future because Amazon is quick.
@pacathy My first and second go round, year one $4.00 and change , year two $10.00 and change via RX at Walgreens both from Pari Labs. The Sodium Choride Solution 7% does indicate on the box Sterile, Preservative -free, Non -pyrogenic.
The last box from Walgreens is Ritedose Labs also indicates Sterile Unit -Dose Vials.
This year I was taken back when Walgreens indicated it would be $60.00 for this new prescription.
I have what I need for now so I said no thank you for now at $60.00.
I am shopping around.
Barbara
I did take the antibiotics in 2018 and 2019, but stopped before my cultures were consistently negative due to the side effects. Around that time I also began saline nebs twice a day before airway clearance. I believe that is what got me "back to healthy"
Since then I have maintained- CT stable, no positive cultures, only a few exacerbation. My therapy is daily Symbicort (I also have asthma) exercise and airway clearance. I use 7% saline a couple times a week to discourage NTM from taking up residence again.
Let me say that unless I get very serious evidence like persistent coughing with mucus, fever, weight loss or cavities, I won't gp back on the antibiotics- I'll do more saline and more clearance. I did not like life on the antibiotics but your results may be different.
@sueinmn question is that I’m reading statements of not doing the 3 antibiotics regimen again. What the alternative until the infection is gone? Is the concern the possible side effects i.e. vision, hearing etc. I’ve been on the antibiotics 3mo. plus vibrating respiratory best use the nebulizer for albuterol and the 7% sodium all done twice a day. So for those not taking antibiotics what’s in place if it and how long have you known about your bronch diagnosis . Are you without infection and oxygen free? Thanks
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I get mine via prescription from walmart pharmacy - medicare & bcbs pay portion of cost
@sueinmn
Hey Sue. Reading a lot of your post which are so helpful. Appreciate you so much. Just wondering about the 3 meds. Did you go through that treatment? And now negative? I have not started yet. Have MAC and of course want this out of my body. Just seeing who has had success with treatment. Hope things are going well for you!
My pulmonologist prescribed it. It wasn't very expensive and in individual vials.
I did take the antibiotics in 2018 and 2019, but stopped before my cultures were consistently negative due to the side effects. Around that time I also began saline nebs twice a day before airway clearance. I believe that is what got me "back to healthy"
Since then I have maintained- CT stable, no positive cultures, only a few exacerbation. My therapy is daily Symbicort (I also have asthma) exercise and airway clearance. I use 7% saline a couple times a week to discourage NTM from taking up residence again.
Let me say that unless I get very serious evidence like persistent coughing with mucus, fever, weight loss or cavities, I won't gp back on the antibiotics- I'll do more saline and more clearance. I did not like life on the antibiotics but your results may be different.
I know this has been discussed often and I looked at some threads and don’t see sterility mentioned. I’ve been using Good Rx at Walgreens and the box says “sterile unit dose vials.” The price is higher now so I compared to Amazon. They have Base Labs (I’ve used) and a much cheaper Resp Ease. It was half the price so I looked closely-doesn’t say sterile. On closer at Base Labs-no mention of sterility, though they both say for nebs.
Does anyone have the boxes and are they marked sterile?
I ordered from Walgreens, but would like to know for future because Amazon is quick.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@pacathy Base Labs website says they use a sterile process. My other choice is Naveh, which I got from my pharmacy one time, and it was less harsh than all of the others - maybe buffered in some way? I checked with my independent pharmacist who said the fact that 7% is no longer covered (apparently a big deal because some Cystic Fibrosis kids are on Medicare) has caused them to work with their suppliers. Their price for existing customers will be $25 for 60 vials this year, which is about what I have paid for the past 2 years, They are only accepting new customers using GoodRx and the price will fluctuate.
Aargh! I hate when a cheap, effective, non-drug treatment gets cast aside, leaving people searching for affordable options.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@pacathy I've been nebbing 2x/day with Resp-Ease 7% for the past year per my ID doc from Day 1 of my diagnosis of MAI. My boxes from Amazon:
Base Lab are labeled "Sterile 7% hypertonic sodium
chloride solution". Manufacturer Venture Healthcare.
My ID doc and pulmonologist are UMN/Mayo Rochester, and they assured me of sterility of my vials.
@pacathy My first and second go round, year one $4.00 and change , year two $10.00 and change via RX at Walgreens both from Pari Labs. The Sodium Choride Solution 7% does indicate on the box Sterile, Preservative -free, Non -pyrogenic.
The last box from Walgreens is Ritedose Labs also indicates Sterile Unit -Dose Vials.
This year I was taken back when Walgreens indicated it would be $60.00 for this new prescription.
I have what I need for now so I said no thank you for now at $60.00.
I am shopping around.
Barbara
@sueinmn question is that I’m reading statements of not doing the 3 antibiotics regimen again. What the alternative until the infection is gone? Is the concern the possible side effects i.e. vision, hearing etc. I’ve been on the antibiotics 3mo. plus vibrating respiratory best use the nebulizer for albuterol and the 7% sodium all done twice a day. So for those not taking antibiotics what’s in place if it and how long have you known about your bronch diagnosis . Are you without infection and oxygen free? Thanks
I get a script from my pulm. doctor and it's filled at Wal=Mart. Cost is about $4 for 60 vials.