Saline IV fluid / replacement
Sodium chloride
Adult dose
Dose: 0.9% (isotonic): 250–500mL bolus, repeat. Hypertonic 1.8%/3%/5%: severe hyponatraemia 100–150mL bolus per protocol
Route: IV/PO/Topical
Frequency: per indication
Clinical pearls
- Resuscitation/maintenance — balanced crystalloid (Hartmann's) increasingly preferred
- DKA: 0.9% NaCl 1L/h initially per JBDS
Contraindications
- Hypernatraemia
- Severe HF (large volumes)
- Hyperchloraemic acidosis
Side effects
- Hyperchloraemic acidosis (large volumes 0.9%)
- Hypernatraemia
- Volume overload
- Pulmonary oedema
Interactions
- Lithium (sodium load alters levels)
Monitoring
- Na+
- Cl-
- Volume status
Reference: BNF; NICE CG174; SSC; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/sodium-chloride/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines
- Syncope Assessment · ESC 2018 Syncope Guidelines; NICE NG109
- Acute Chest Pain · NICE CG95; ESC 2023 ACS Guidelines