Lasix in Nebs for Air Hunger?

[rosemadder]

i recently read a past post where a hospice used lasix mixed with normal saline in neb treatments for air hunger or feelings of suffocation. does anyone use this treatment in your hospice and if so would you please give me details, protocols, any information you can. i mentioned this to our patient care unit m.d. and he is very interested in trying this. this sounds like a great idea...just need more info. thanks!!!

[sgent]

When we've used the sterile IV solution, we used it straight, undiluted. Also, we've always used the IV morphine solution for morphine nebs. I've always thought that you should use sterile solutions to nebulize, but I'm not sure why I thought that...the nebulizer machine is surely not sterile!

You definately should use sterile meds for forced nebs. There was a study a few years ago, and a lot of compounding pharmacists were cited, because compounded nebs were more likely to create a pnumonia and other infections than sterile meds.

That being said, I would probably talk to a compounding pharmacist about creating a lasix soln., espically if you want it mixed with albuterol. It shouldn't be that difficult for them, and would make it easier to administer.