Pharmacy Guide

Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.

Pharmacy Guide

Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.

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Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP

⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued

The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.

If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Sodium chloride may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.

Active substance: Sodium chloride
Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc)
Official leaflet: Read the PIL on emc

What it is and what it is used for

for

This medicine is a solution of sodium chloride administered to you through a tube placed into a vein (intravenous drip). It contains sodium chloride at a concentration similar to the concentration of salts in your blood. You will receive it for fluid and salt supplies when: ● you have a lack of body fluids (isotonic dehydration) ● you have a lack of body fluids and your blood sodium level is abnormally low (hypotonic dehydration) ● you have a low blood chloride level and abnormally high blood pH (hypochloraemic alkalosis) ● you have lost sodium or chloride This solution is also used: ● for immediate replenishment of your blood volume after you have lost blood, ● as a vehicle to deliver other electrolytes or medicinal products, ● for treatment of wounds and moistening of wound tamponades and dressings.

2.

What you need to know before you take it

e Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP

Do not use Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP • •

if you have too much water in your body (hyperhydration) if you have been told that you have a severe increase of sodium or chloride in your blood (severe hypernatraemia or severe hyperchloraemia).

Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP if you have: • abnormally low level of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia) • abnormally high level of sodium in the blood (hypernatraemia) • abnormally high level of chloride in your blood (hyperchloraemia) • any disease where your sodium intake must be low, such as heart disease (cardiac insufficiency), severe kidney disease (severe renal insufficiency), swelling of the body tissues due to excess water in your body tissues (generalised oedema), water in your lungs (pulmonary oedema), high blood pressure (hypertension), or eclampsia, a disease occurring during pregnancy, with high blood pressure, cramps, and swelling (oedema) While you are receiving this medicinal product, your serum electrolyte levels, water balance, and the acid-base status will be checked from time to time. Your heart and lung function will be monitored, if a rapid infusion of the solution is necessary. In order to avoid brain damage (osmotic demyelination syndrome) your doctor will make sure that your blood sodium level will not increase too fast. If the solution is used as a vehicle to deliver other electrolytes or medicinal products, your doctor will consider the safety information of the medicine to be dissolved or diluted in Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP. Children Premature or term infants may retain an excess of sodium due to insufficient renal function. Therefore, repeated infusions of sodium chloride will only be given by the doctor after determination of the serum sodium level. Other medicines and Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Your doctor will take special care about you if you receive/take medicines that make you retain sodium (e.g. corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) as these may cause fluid accumulation in body tissue (oedema). Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Pregnancy Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP. can be used as indicated. Special care will be taken if you have a specific disorder that may occur during pregnancy, called eclampsia, with the following symptoms: high blood pressure, cramps, swelling. Breast-feeding As the concentration of sodium and chloride are similar to that in human body no harmful effects are to be expected if the product is used as indicated. Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP can be used during breast-feeding, if required.

Driving and using machines Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP does not influence your ability to drive and use machines.

3.

How to take it

Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP

The medicinal product is for intravenous use or is used for rinsing or moistening. Dosage Adults The amount of the medicinal product that you will be given depends on your needs of water and salts (electrolytes). Maximum dose Up to 40 mL per kg body weight per day will be given to you. This means that you will receive up to 6 mmol of sodium per kg body weight per day. In case of e.g. fever, diarrhoea or vomiting your doctor will replace the additional loss depending on the volume and composition of the lost fluid. The administration rate will depend on your needs of water and salts (electrolytes). Elderly individuals will be carefully monitored. In elderly patients, it may be necessary to adjust the dosage stated to avoid circulatory and kidney problems due to hydration. Exceptionally, if you urgently require replacement of lost blood volume, you may receive this solution rapidly by pressure infusion. Then utmost care will be taken to expel all air from the container and tubing before the infusion is started. The amount used for rinsing or moistening depends on actual requirements. Use in Children Your doctor will determine the dosage for your child individually. If you use more Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP than you should: An overdose could lead to abnormally high fluid, sodium and chloride levels in your blood, tissue fluid accumulation (oedema) and/ or high levels of acidic substances in your blood (your blood getting sour). First sign of overdose can be thirst, confusion, sweating, headache, weakness, somnolence or tachycardia. If your sodium level increases too rapidly your brain may become damaged (osmotic demyelination syndrome). In such cases your infusion will be stopped immediately. Additionally you may be given water tablets to increase your urine flow. Your blood electrolyte levels will be monitored continuously. Your doctor will decide on further medication or other measures to normalise your electrolyte levels, water balance and acid-base balance. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

If this medicine is used according to the directions given, no side effects are expected. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5.

How to store it

Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions. Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the labels on the bottle or the bag and on the outer carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not use the medicinal product if you notice that the solution appears cloudy or coloured, if you find particles in the solution or if the container is leaking. The containers are for single use only. After use container and any remaining contents have to be discarded. After dilution or admixture of additives: From a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2 to 8 °C.

6.

Contents of the pack and other information

What Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP contains –

The active substance is sodium chloride. Each 1000 mL of the solution contains 9.0 g of sodium chloride.

–

The other ingredient is water for injections.

What Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP looks like and contents of the pack Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP is a clear colourless solution of sodium chloride in water. It comes in: •

Polyethylene bottles, contents: 50 mL, 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1000 mL available in 20 × 50 mL 20 × 100 mL

10 × 250 mL 10 × 500 mL 10 × 1000 mL •

Plastic bags, contents: 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1000 mL available in 20 × 100 mL 20 × 500 mL 20 × 250 mL 10 × 1000 mL

Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer B. Braun Melsungen AG Carl-Braun-Strasse 1 34212 Melsungen, Germany Manufacturers B. Braun Melsungen AG Carl-Braun-Strasse 1 34212 Melsungen, Germany or B. Braun Medical S.A. Carretera de Terrassa 121 08191 Rubí, Barcelona, Spain This leaflet was last revised in April 2025

—————————————————————————————————————The following information is intended for healthcare professionals only: To prevent development of the osmotic demyelination syndrome the increase of the serum sodium level should not exceed 9 mmol/L/day. As a general recommendation a correction rate of 4 to 6 mmol/L/day is reasonable in most cases, depending on patient condition and concomitant risk factors.

About this leaflet

The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.

Medical disclaimer: This page is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the leaflet supplied with your medicine.
Medicines with the same active substance: Sodium chloride (98 medicines)
See every medicine containing this substance, or browse the full A–Z of active substances.
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
Technical information intended for healthcare professionals (doctors and pharmacists). The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) is the official document approved by the MHRA/EMA. It does not replace the patient leaflet or a doctor’s advice.

4.1. Therapeutic indications

• Fluid and electrolyte substitution in hypochloraemic alkalosis,

• Sodium deficiency only in patients with urine osmolarity of <500 mOsm/kg water

• Chloride losses,

• Short-term intravascular volume substitution,

• Hypotonic dehydration or isotonic dehydration,

• Vehicle solution for compatible electrolyte concentrates and medicinal products,

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Adults

The dose is adjusted according to the actual requirements of water and electrolytes.

Maximum daily dose:

Up to 40 mL per kg body weight per day, corresponding to 6 mmol of sodium per kg body weight.

Any additional losses (due to e.g. fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, etc.) should be substituted according to the volume and composition of the lost fluids.

In the management of acute volume deficiency, i.e. imminent or manifest hypovolaemic shock, higher doses may be applied, e.g. by pressure infusion.

General recommendation for treatment of sodium deficiency:

The amount of sodium required for restoration of plasma sodium level can be calculated by the equation:

Sodium requirement [mmol] = (desired – actual serum Na) × TBW

where TBW (total body water) is calculated as a fraction of body weight. The fraction is 0.6 in children, 0.6 and 0.5 in non-elderly males and females and 0.5 and 0.45 in elderly males and females, respectively.

Infusion rate:

The infusion rate will depend on the conditions of the individual patient (see section 4.4).

Elderly population

Basically the same dosage as for adults applies, but caution should be exercised in patients suffering from further diseases like cardiac insufficiency or renal insufficiency that may frequently be associated with advanced age.

Paediatric population

The dose has to be adjusted according to the individual need of water and electrolytes as well as the patient`s age, weight and clinical condition.

In case of severe dehydration repeated boluses of 10-20 mL/kg body weight are recommended for the first hour of treatment.

When administering this solution the total daily fluid intake should be taken into account.

Vehicle solution

When Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion is used as vehicle solution, the dosage and the infusion rate will be principally guided by the nature and the dosage regimen of the additive.

Method of administration

Intravenous use

When performing pressure infusion, using solution packed in a flexible container, all air must be expelled from the container and the giving set prior to starting the infusion.

4.3. Contraindications

Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion must not be administered to patients in states of

• hyperhydration

• severe hypernatraemia

• severe hyperchloraemia

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion should only be administered with caution in cases of

• hypokalaemia

• hypernatraemia

• hyperchloraemia

• disorders where restriction of sodium intake is indicated, such as cardiac insufficiency, generalised oedema, pulmonary oedema, hypertension, eclampsia, severe renal insufficiency.

To prevent development of the osmotic demyelination syndrome the increase of the serum sodium level within the first 24 hours after presentation should not exceed 10 mmol/L or 8 mmol/L per 24 hours thereafter.

Clinical monitoring should include checks of the serum electrolytes, the water balance, and the acid-base status.

Carefully monitoring of cardiovascular and respiratory status should be performed if a rapid infusion of 0.9% NaCl is necessary.

Please note: If this solution is used as vehicle solution the safety information of the additive provided by the respective manufacturer have to be taken into account.

Paediatric population

Premature or term infants may retain an excess of sodium due to immature renal function. In premature or term infants, repeated infusion of sodium chloride should therefore only be given after determination of the serum sodium level.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Medicinal products causing sodium retention

The concomitant use of sodium-retaining drugs (e.g. corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents) may lead to oedema.

Lithium toxicity is made worse by sodium depletion.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There is a limited amount of data from the use of Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion in pregnant women. These data do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects of Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion with respect to reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3).

As the concentrations of sodium and chloride are similar to that in human body no harmful effects are to be expected if the product is used as indicated.

Therefore, Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion can be used as indicated.

Nevertheless, caution has to be exercised in the presence of eclampsia (see section 4.4).

Lactation

No data available. As the concentration of sodium and chloride are similar to that in human body no harmful effects are to be expected if the product is used as indicated.

Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion can be used during breast-feeding, if required.

Fertility

No data available

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

4.8. Undesirable effects

None known if used according to the instructions given.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Symptoms

Overdose of Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion may result in hypernatraemia, hyperchloraemia, hyperhydration, acute volume overload, oedema, hyperosmolarity of the serum and hyperchloraemic acidosis.

Rapid increase of the serum sodium level in patients with chronic hyponatraemia may lead to the osmotic demyelination syndrome (see section 4.4).

First sign of overdose can be thirst, confusion, sweating, headache, weakness, somnolence or tachycardia. In case of severe hypernatraemia hypertension or hypotension, respiratory failure or coma can occur.

Treatment

Depending on the severity of the disorders immediate stop of infusion, administration of diuretics with continuous monitoring of serum electrolytes, correction of electrolyte and acid-base imbalances.

In severe cases of overdose or in case of oligo- or anuria dialysis may become necessary.

💬 Ask about this leaflet

Ask anything about Sodium Chloride 0.9 % w/v Intravenous Infusion BP. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.

Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.

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