SODIUM CHLORIDE 0.9% W/V SOLUTION FOR INJECTION - Patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

1. what sodium chloride 0.9% w/v solution for injection is and what it is used for

Sodium (common salt) occurs naturally in your body. A solution of 0.9% sodium chloride in water for injections is the same strength as your blood.

It is used to:

• prime giving sets before blood or other medicines are given to you.
• replace the loss of sodium from your body.
• make up medicines that may be injected into you (because it occurs naturally in the body).
• irrigate (wash) surfaces of your body.

• 2. Before you are given Sodium Chloride 0.9% w/v Solution for Injection

You should NOT be given Sodium Chloride 0.9% w/v Solution for Injection if you:

• Are sensitive or allergic to Sodium Chloride 0.9% w/v Solution for Injection or any of the other ingredients in this injection.

Please tell your doctor or nurse before being given the injection if you:

• suffer from Heart disease or heart failure
• have impaired kidney function
• have Diabetes
• have Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy)
• have Fluid retention resulting in swelling of parts of the body, particularly your feet and ankles.
• have Pseudohyponatraemia (a low level of salt in your blood caused by levels of fat or protein in your blood that are too high)
• have Hyperlipaemia (a raised level of fat in your blood)
• have Hyperproteinaemia (a raised level of protein in your blood).

Using other medicines:

Please tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Pregnancy or breast feeding:

Please tell your doctor or nurse before being given this injection if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

The doctor will then decide if the injection is suitable for you.

Driving and using machines:

You should not drive or use machinery if you are affected by the administration of Sodium Chloride 0.9% w/v Solution for Injection.

3. how to use sodium chloride 0.9% w/v solution for injection

Your nurse or doctor will give you the injection.

Your doctor will decide the correct dosage for you and how and when the injection will be given. Since the injection will be given to you by a doctor or nurse, it is unlikely that you will be given too much. If you think you have been given too much, you must tell the person giving you the injection.

4. possible side effects

Like all medicines, Sodium Chloride 0.9% w/v Solution for Injection can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

• Pain at the site of injection if administered underneath the skin.
• Dehydration of internal organs, particularly the brain, which may result in the development of blood clots and internal bleeding.

Someone who has too much sodium chloride in their body may also feel or be sick, have diarrhoea, stomach pain, low blood pressure, an elevated heart rate, excess sweating, headache, dizziness or fever. Other symptoms of excess sodium chloride include thirst, dry mouth or eyes, swollen legs or chest pain, difficulty breathing, irritability, restlessness, feeling weak, twitching or other unusual muscle movements.

If you think this injection is causing you any problems, or you are at all worried, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse: This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at:. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

• 5. Storing Sodium Chloride 0.9% w/v Solution for Injection

Your injection will be stored at less than 25°C and protected from light. The nurse or doctor will check that the injection is not past its expiry date before giving you the injection.

• 6. Further information