sodium chloride, intranasal (OTC)

Brand and Other Names:Ocean, Ayr Saline, more...Entsol, HuMist, NaSal, Ocean for Kids, Rhinaris

Dosing & Uses

AdultPediatric

Dosage Forms & Strengths

nasal spray

  • 0.9% (isotonicity includes addition of preservative systems and buffers)
  • 3% (Entsol)

Nasal Dryness & Congestion

Isotonic solution (0.9%) relieves nasal congestion by thinning mucus and moisturizes membranes

2 sprays/nostril prn

Pretreatment for Nasal Steroid

Helps reduce nasal swelling

Hypertonic saline (3%): 1 spray/nostril 2-6 times daily

Administration

Ocean delivery options

  • If bottle is held upright: delivers fine mist
  • If bottle is held horizontally: delivers a stream
  • If bottle is held upside down: delivers drops

Dosage Forms & Strengths

nasal spray

  • 0.9% (isotonicity includes addition of preservative systems and buffers)
  • 3% (Entsol)

Nasal Dryness & Congestion

Isotonic solution (0.9%) relieves nasal congestion by thinning mucus and moisturizes membranes

Children: 2 sprays/nostril prn

Infants: Use drop application; 1-2 drops each nostril with gentle bulb syringe suction to extract mucus

Pretreatment for Nasal Steroid

Helps reduce nasal swelling

Hypertonic saline (3%): 1 spray/nostril 2-6 times daily

Administration

Ocean delivery options

  • If bottle is held upright: delivers fine mist
  • If bottle is held horizontally: delivers a stream
  • If bottle is held upside down: delivers drops
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Adverse Effects

Nasal irritation

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Warnings

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to preservatives or buffers

Cautions

Use by more than 1 person may spread infection

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Pregnancy & Lactation

Pregnancy Category: A

Lactation: Not distributed in breast milk

Pregnancy Categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

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Pharmacology

Mechanism of Action

Provides moisture to dry or inflamed mucus membranes, and helps thin mucus

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Images

No images available for this drug.
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Patient Handout

A Patient Handout is not currently available for this monograph.
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Medscape prescription drug monographs are based on FDA-approved labeling information, unless otherwise noted, combined with additional data derived from primary medical literature.