Mixing Sodium Chloride 4 mEq/mL Oral Solution from Iodized Table Salt and Water

Important information:

  • Sodium chloride is a medicine used to treat low sodium and chloride levels.

  • Tell all your child's healthcare providers that your child is taking sodium chloride oral solution.

Instructions to make and store sodium chloride oral solution:

  1. Clean hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer.

  2. Gather supplies:

    • Medela® 90 milliliter (mL) bottle with lid (provided by CHOP)

    • Oral syringe (provided by CHOP)

    • Measuring teaspoon. Do not use a household spoon. This can cause an underdose or overdose of salt.

    • 50 mL warm water. Any type of water (tap, bottled, distilled, or sterile) can be used.

    • 2 teaspoons iodized table salt. Do not use other forms of salt like kosher, Himalayan, coarse grain, flake, or lite salt.

  3. Fill Medela bottle to 50 mL line with warm water.

  4. Add 2 level teaspoons of iodized salt to the bottle.

  5. Close lid tightly.

  6. Shake bottle until no more salt crystals are visible.

  7. Label the bottle with the mixing date and expiration date. It expires after 14 days.

  8. Store sodium chloride solution in the refrigerator. Keep out of reach of children.

  9. Throw away any remaining solution after 14 days.

  10. Remake the solution following the steps above.

Instructions for giving sodium chloride oral solution to your child:

  1. Shake well before use.

  2. Use an oral syringe to measure the dose.

  3. Give dose by mouth or through a feeding tube as directed by your healthcare provider.

    • Never give this solution through an intravenous (IV) line.

    • Never give this solution rectally.

Instructions for cleaning the bottle and syringes:

The bottle and syringes can be washed and reused. Once the markings on the oral syringe wear off, throw the syringe away. Contact your pharmacy for new syringes or purchase them over the counter.

  1. Bottle:

    • Clean the bottle and lid on the top rack of the dishwasher OR with dish soap and warm water.

    • Rinse with warm water.

    • Allow bottle and lid to air dry before use.

  2. Syringe: clean with soapy water:

    • Draw soapy water up into the syringe and squirt out.

    • Repeat several times until syringe appears clean.

    • Remove the plunger from the syringe.

    • Rinse the plunger and syringe with warm water.

    • Allow plunger and syringe to air dry before use.

    • Syringes are not dishwasher safe.

Call your CHOP healthcare provider with any questions or concerns.

 

Reviewed September 2025 by Stephanie Li. Stephanie Li, PharmD