Hello all,
I'm new to Colomycin and wondered if you had any tips on how best to mix it with the saline solution to minimise the amount of time you have to swirl it so it all dissolves.
I've tried a number of ways and there's always a residue left which takes 2-3 minutes to dissolve. Taking the Colomycin doesn't bother me but the mixing of it does :). Is there a technique to get it to dissolve immediately?
Any suggestions from experienced users would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Guy
I don’t have any short cuts. I usually mix and then go away and do something else like take a shower. I also nebulise budesnide and sabutomol so I sometimes put them in the nebuliser and leave the colomycin on the machine to shake it up a bit. I agree the time it takes to dissolve is frustrating.
Thanks Mooka
Hi, Up until Christmas last year I had been nebulizing Colomycin for 5 years. After speaking to my consultant next T uesday I may well be put back on it. I had a system in place when I was on it. I'd mix it up two lots in the morning and go and make a coffee. One I'd put in the fridge to use later in the day. After drinking my coffee I'd be ready to use the nebulizer as the mixture would have dissolved. How long have you been on Colomycin? Did you have any side effects?
That's interesting RoadRunner, thanks for the reply.
I've only been on it three weeks and have had no side effects so far. I think the plan is to stick with it for a few months and then alternate monthly with TOBI.
The hospital physio who showed me how to use it said I would need to take it within 20 minutes of mixing. From what you say that isn't the case then. If I could mix it at a more convenient time and then leave it until use that would be easier for me.
Hi again, Yes, usually it should be used right away, but when I tapped in.to Google....Can Colomycin be stored for 24 hours it said it could. Do it yourself and read the information.
Good luck.
Thanks, will do some research!
I’m a bit confused as to how exactly you are mixing it. As with all abs that I have nebulised, I have drawn up the saline from its vial using a needle and syringe. Then injected it into the antibiotic powder vial and then given it a really vigorous shake. It only takes a couple of minutes to dissolve. Then I draw it out of the vial using the syringe and transfer to the nebuliser. Never had a problem with it not dissolving. Sorry if I am being really thick about your problem.
Hi Littlepom, you're not being thick at all.
I do it in a similar way, except for the vigourous shaking (I was told to gently twirl/spin it to avoid the mixture foaming). It's just the few minutes it takes to dissolve that's annoying. I was hoping someone would have a special technique of injecting/pouring the saline into the vial so it dissolves instantly 
🤣 maybe someone will come up with one. Not that I noticed it foaming. Either because I really am thick or it had settled by the time I got the neb put together.lol
I was told you must not vigorously shake colomycin, it needs to dissolve slowly apparently. It does take a short while, bit annoying if you’re in a rush.
I have used it like this for years and shaking it has had no affect on its effectiveness. In fact it is the way that I was shown to do it when I first went on it. After years and years of doing these things I believe that the best way is the way that suits you. If it should go foamy the compressed air in the neb sorts this out. Personal experience tends to outdo the advice of nurses who aren't regular users. You do what works best for you.
Oh yes absolutely! I’d def like to give it a shake if it works the same. It’s a faff when I’m in too much of a rush to wait.
Def agree about lived experience, I’ve learned far more from others than doctors and nurses. We are experts of our own experiences/conditions.
And over the time that I have been reading your posts, your experience, knowledge and self confidence in handling your condition and helping others has grown so much.x
No needles involved for me. Just squeeze out of plastic vials straight into the powder.
Thanks everyone. If I find a quick way of mixing I will update this post!
It doesn’t matter whether it’s normal colomycin or Promixin, or what volume you’re making, my experience is it always takes a while. I’ve found giving the vial a gentle tap or two on a hard surface can help as it dislodges any settled/clumped powder, but other than that, the only ‘answer’ I’ve found is to mix it just before the child starts her physio - by the time she’s done, the colomycin is ready and can go straight in the neb. I was told that once reconstituted, it’s ok for up to an hour at room temp, and you can also store mixed vials in the fridge for up to 24 hours: we were told we could make up both daily doses in the morning and store the second one in the fridge until evening if we wanted to, but the child found it a bit harsh to neb when cold so I went back to mixing as required. Some nebs can manage if it’s foamy, but not all (from experience), and we’ve been told by 3 different teams now that you shouldn’t vigorously shake it - if there’s powder up near the bung, I give it a tip and hold there for a few seconds to catch that, but otherwise a little swirl and then just leave it whilst doing chest clearance.
Nebulised Colomycin Trial 
Colomycin shortage.
