Addipak is a brand of pre-filled, single-use vials containing 0.9% sodium chloride, commonly known as normal saline. It is primarily used during inhalation therapy and irrigation therapy, serving as a sterile saline solution for nebulizer treatments, airway care, and wound cleansing.
Inhalation Therapy
The most common use for Addipak saline vials is in nebulizer treatments. When loaded into a non-ventilatory nebulizer, the saline solution turns into a fine mist you breathe in. This serves a few purposes: it restores moisture to the airways, helps relieve congestion caused by colds or allergies, and can dilute bronchodilator medications (rescue inhaler solutions) that need to be mixed with saline before nebulization.
If you’ve been prescribed a liquid bronchodilator that requires dilution, the Addipak vial provides a measured, sterile amount of saline to mix with it. The vials come in 3 mL, 5 mL, and 15 mL sizes, so your respiratory therapist or doctor can specify the right volume for your treatment.
Irrigation and Wound Cleansing
Addipak vials are also used for irrigation therapy, which simply means flushing a wound or body site with sterile fluid. Normal saline is a go-to choice for wound cleansing because it matches the salt concentration of your body’s own fluids, so it doesn’t damage tissue or sting the way plain water or antiseptics can. The single-use packaging makes it practical for cleaning small wounds, surgical sites, or skin around medical devices.
Tracheal Suctioning
People with tracheostomies (a breathing tube placed in the throat) sometimes have saline instilled into the airway before suctioning to help loosen thick secretions. Addipak vials have historically been used for this purpose, though the practice is now debated among clinicians.
The American Academy of Respiratory Therapists does not endorse routine saline instillation during suctioning. Multiple systematic reviews have found that dropping saline into the airway before suctioning can temporarily lower oxygen levels and may be associated with complications like ventilator-associated pneumonia. Some studies did find that saline helped remove a greater volume of secretions, but the results were inconsistent. If a caregiver is using Addipak for tracheal care, it’s worth discussing the current evidence with the prescribing provider.
Why Single-Use Packaging Matters
Addipak vials are factory-sealed, translucent, color-coded polyethylene containers designed for one-time use. Each vial is sterile and preservative-free. This is a significant safety feature. The CDC has documented dozens of outbreaks linked to the reuse of single-dose vials or the misuse of multi-dose bottles, resulting in serious infections and even deaths. Because Addipak vials contain no antimicrobial preservative, bacteria can grow quickly once the seal is broken. You should never save leftover saline from an opened vial for later use.
The unit-dose format also removes the guesswork of measuring. Rather than pouring from a large bottle (which introduces contamination risk every time the cap comes off), each vial delivers a precise, pre-measured amount of sterile saline.
Safety Considerations
Normal saline is generally well tolerated, but inhaling it can occasionally trigger bronchospasm, a tightening of the muscles around the airways. This is more likely in people with asthma or reactive airway disease. In some cases, a healthcare provider will have you inhale a bronchodilator before your saline nebulizer treatment to prevent this reaction.
Conditions that may warrant extra caution with inhaled saline include heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, epilepsy, migraine history, and any condition involving fluid retention or swelling. If you’re on a low-salt diet, mention that as well, since you’re introducing sodium chloride into your body even through inhalation.
How Addipak Differs From Other Saline Products
Addipak is not unique in its contents. The saline inside is the same 0.9% sodium chloride solution found in IV bags, nasal spray bottles, and large irrigation bottles. What sets it apart is the packaging: small, sealed, single-patient vials intended for respiratory and minor irrigation use. You wouldn’t use an Addipak vial for an IV infusion, and you wouldn’t use a large pour bottle for a nebulizer treatment. The product exists to deliver a small, sterile dose of saline in settings where contamination control matters most, particularly at home, in outpatient clinics, and at the bedside.