"Susan" <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:6dt3poF48sppU2@mid.individual.net...
> If it, too, has benzalkonium chloride in it, no one should touch it with a
> ten foot pole, due to it's killing effect on cilia.
>
> Susan
I don't know if it does. Most likely, as most nasal sprays and eye drops, rx
and otc, have it. I was surprised that the prescription antibiotic eye drops
I got a few days ago for an eye infection (Zymar), have benzalkonium in it.
I don't know why most eye and nose products have it, as there are other
preservatives available.
That said, I'm not going to avoid the eye drops, due to that ingredient.
Susan, you used to use Astelin (which has BC), and reported here that it
helped you a lot. Did you notice anything happening to your cilia as a
result?
That said, I'd prefer to avoid BC if I could. However, not so possible, if
one uses any eye or nose meds. There are two steroid sprays now without
BC-Rhinocort Aqua and the new Omnaris. I do use one of those, but I also use
ipratropium bromide and Astelin sprays, both of which include BC. (I know--a
lot--to use three different sprays--but I have a BAD nose!) I wouldn't avoid
meds that help me, just because of BC.
For saline sprays, the aerosol kind (such as Simply Saline and
others--Neilmed now has one, even Ocean has an aerosol version) don't have
any preservative (not needed in aerosol), and feel much more pleasant in the
nose, than the preserved stuff. However, much bulkier to carry in your
pocket!
Susan
LizaJane
