Why Is Sodium Chloride So Hard to Find? [Explained for 2026]

If You've Been Told Your Saline Is on Backorder, You're Not Alone

Sodium Chloride — better known as saline or normal saline — is one of the most basic and essential medications in all of healthcare. It's used in hospitals, clinics, and homes every single day. So when patients and providers hear that something as simple as salt water is hard to find, it's understandably frustrating.

Whether you need IV saline for hydration therapy, a nebulizer solution for a respiratory condition, or even nasal saline spray, supply disruptions have made Sodium Chloride surprisingly difficult to track down in recent years. In this article, we'll explain what Sodium Chloride is, why it's been hard to find, and what steps you can take to get what you need.

What Is Sodium Chloride?

Sodium Chloride is the medical term for salt dissolved in sterile water. It comes in many forms, but the most commonly used version in healthcare is 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, also called Normal Saline or NS.

Doctors and nurses use it for:

• Rehydrating patients who are dehydrated or have lost fluids
• Replacing electrolytes after surgery, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Diluting and delivering IV medications
• Flushing IV lines to keep them working properly
• Wound irrigation and cleaning

It also comes as a nasal spray (brands like Ayr and Ocean), nebulizer solution for respiratory conditions, and ophthalmic drops (like Muro 128) for corneal swelling. To learn more about how it works, check out our guide on how Sodium Chloride works.

Why Is Sodium Chloride So Hard to Find?

There are several reasons Sodium Chloride has been difficult to find, especially the IV formulation. Here are the main factors:

1. Hurricane Helene Devastated the Largest U.S. Manufacturer

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina and severely damaged Baxter International's manufacturing facility in North Cove. This single plant produced more than 50% of the entire U.S. supply of IV saline. When it went offline, hospitals across the country were suddenly facing critical shortages.

The damage was so severe that it took Baxter nearly 10 months to fully restore production. The FDA didn't officially declare the IV saline shortage over until August 8, 2025.

2. Limited Number of Manufacturers

The IV saline market is dominated by just a few companies — Baxter, B. Braun, ICU Medical, and Fresenius Kabi. When even one of these manufacturers has a problem, the entire supply chain feels the impact. Unlike brand-name drugs with dozens of generic makers, sterile injectable manufacturing requires specialized facilities that can't be built overnight.

3. Pre-Existing Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Even before Hurricane Helene, IV fluid supplies were already tight. Manufacturing issues, increased demand from an aging population, and just-in-time inventory practices at hospitals meant there was very little buffer in the system. This isn't the first time saline has been in shortage — similar disruptions happened in 2014 and again in 2017-2018 when hurricanes hit facilities in Puerto Rico.

4. High Demand Across All Healthcare Settings

Sodium Chloride is used in virtually every healthcare setting — emergency rooms, operating rooms, oncology infusion centers, dialysis clinics, home health, and more. It's so fundamental that when supply drops even slightly, the effects ripple across the entire system. Hospitals may ration supplies, delay elective procedures, or switch to alternative IV fluids.

What Can You Do If You Can't Find Sodium Chloride?

The good news is that the worst of the IV saline shortage appears to be behind us. The FDA resolved the shortage in August 2025, and supply has been stabilizing. However, spot shortages can still occur, and some formulations (nasal, nebulizer, ophthalmic) may be harder to find at certain pharmacies.

Here's what you can do:

• Use Medfinder to check availability. Medfinder helps you search for Sodium Chloride in stock at pharmacies near you in real time.
• Call independent pharmacies. Smaller, independent pharmacies sometimes have stock when chain pharmacies don't. They may also be able to order it for you.
• Ask your doctor about alternatives. For IV hydration, alternatives like Lactated Ringer's or Plasma-Lyte may work depending on your situation.
• Talk to your provider about different formulations. If you need nebulizer saline and the 0.9% is out of stock, your provider may know of other available concentrations or brands.
• Don't stockpile. Hoarding saline products makes shortages worse for everyone. Only purchase what you need for your current prescription.

For more detailed tips, read our guide on how to find Sodium Chloride in stock near you.

Final Thoughts

It might seem hard to believe that something as basic as salt water could be in short supply, but the Sodium Chloride shortage exposed just how fragile our pharmaceutical supply chain can be. A single natural disaster knocked out half the country's supply for nearly a year.

While the situation has improved significantly in 2026, it's still important to stay informed and know your options. If you're having trouble finding Sodium Chloride in any formulation, Medfinder can help you locate it quickly.

For more information about this medication, check out our complete guide: What Is Sodium Chloride? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know.