Last reviewed 2026-04-22 · How we verify

Placebo Normal Saline (NS)

Normal saline is an inert isotonic solution that serves as a physiological vehicle for drug delivery or fluid replacement with no active pharmacological mechanism.

Normal saline is an inert isotonic solution that serves as a physiological vehicle for drug delivery or fluid replacement with no active pharmacological mechanism. Used for Placebo control in clinical trials, Intravenous fluid replacement and hydration.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride in water) is a non-medicated solution that matches the osmolarity of blood plasma, making it suitable for intravenous administration, wound irrigation, or as a control comparator in clinical trials. When used as a placebo, it provides no therapeutic effect beyond the vehicle itself and serves as a control to assess the true efficacy of an active comparator drug.

Approved indications

• Placebo control in clinical trials
• Intravenous fluid replacement and hydration

Common side effects

• Hypernatremia (with excessive administration)
• Fluid overload (with excessive administration)
• Injection site reactions (rare)

Key clinical trials

• Safety Evaluation of PfSPZ Vaccine in Pregnant Women in Mali (MalVIP1) (PHASE1)
• Sub-dissociative Dose Ketamine in Treatment of Vaso-occlusive Pain Event in Children and Young Adults (PHASE2)
• Perioperative Multimodal Analgesia Protocol for Supratentorial Craniotomy (NA)
• Parenteral Ascorbic Acid Repletion in TransplantatIon (PHASE4)
• Dexmedetomidine on Brain Injury Patients (NA)
• Clinical Trial of the Adsorbed Acellular Pertussis (Tricomponent) DTaP-Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Conjugate)-ACYW135 Group Meningococcal (Conjugate) Combined Vaccine (PHASE1)
• Botulinum Toxin-A for Hidradenitis Suppurativa (PHASE4)
• Dupilumab Therapy in Nephrotic Syndrome in Children (PHASE2)

Primary sources

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