IV fluids

Normal Saline

Also called 0.9% sodium chloride, NS

Sterile salt water at about the same concentration as your blood. The base of most of our drips.

What it is

Normal saline is sterile water with 0.9% sodium chloride: 9 grams of salt in every liter. That works out to 154 mEq of sodium and 154 mEq of chloride per liter, at a concentration (about 308 mOsm/L) close to that of blood. Because it is isotonic, water does not rush into or out of your cells as it goes in.

It is the most widely used IV fluid in medicine and an FDA-approved prescription product. It contains no sugar, no potassium and no calcium.

It is our standard base. The Hydration Reset, The Immunity, The Glow, The Aftermath, The Energy Boost, Dr. Myers Blend and both NAD+ infusions run on normal saline, and it is one of the three bases in build your own.

What it is used for

Restoring fluid volume (hydration)
Carrying vitamins, minerals and medications into the vein
Flushing the IV line before and after anything given by push

How we give it

As a 500 mL or 1,000 mL bag through a small IV catheter, usually in the forearm or the back of the hand. Under our protocol, 500 mL runs over 30 to 45 minutes and 1,000 mL over 60 to 90 minutes, adjusted to how you feel.

Vitamins and minerals go into the bag, two at most per bag, and some are pushed slowly through the line instead.

Good to know

Why is it called normal?

It's an old name. Its salt content roughly matches blood, so for decades it was called normal, or physiological, saline. It isn't identical to plasma: it has more chloride and none of the potassium, calcium or magnesium. That is why balanced fluids like lactated Ringer's and Plasma-Lyte A exist.

Why do I feel cold during the drip?

The fluid is at room temperature, which is cooler than you are. A liter running into a vein can leave your arm, or all of you, feeling chilly. Ask for a blanket, and tell your nurse if it bothers you.

Will I need the bathroom?

Often, yes. A liter is about four large glasses of water, and your kidneys pass what you don't need. Your nurse can pause the drip if you need to get up.

Also in IV fluids

Lactated Ringer's

A balanced IV fluid with sodium, potassium, calcium and lactate, closer to the electrolyte mix of blood than plain saline.

Plasma-Lyte A

A balanced IV fluid with sodium, potassium and magnesium at the pH of blood. Any drip can run on it, on request, for a flat $20 more.

Extra Liter of Fluid

A second 1 L bag of the same fluid as your drip, added to any IV visit.