What Is Sinusitis? Gentamicin sinus irrigation, also known as Wilson's solution, is a special rinse that is used as a treatment for sinusitis. It contains an antibiotic called gentamicin and it is mixed into normal saline.
Gentamicin sinus irrigation is a compounded medicine made by a special pharmacy. This means it is made only when ordered and only by compounding pharmacies. Most specialty pharmacies ask that you allow at least 24 hours for your prescription to be ready after you place your order. Follow the instructions the pharmacy gives you for storing the medicine and checking expiration dates. Usually this rinse is good for 14 days and needs to be stored in a refrigerator.
What will I need to buy?
- SinuMed Sinus Cleansing System (available for purchase from Amazon) or a comparable sinus rinse system such as the NeilMed Sinus Rinse
- Distilled water
- Large medical syringe to measure out 50 cc or ml of solution
How do I use the gentamicin sinus irrigation?
- Clean your irrigating device before and after every use. Check to make sure it is clean before each time you rinse. To clean the bottle, wash it with warm, soapy water and let it air dry or follow the cleaning instructions that came with your device.
- Measure out the amount of the gentamicin solution you will need. The usual dose is 50 milliliters (ml). You may let the solution you measured out warm up for 30-45 minutes or until room temperature before you use it. Keep the rest of the solution in the refrigerator.
- Pour the gentamicin solution into the sinus rinse bottle and irrigate the right nostril with half of the bottle, then the left with the remaining amount.
- Rinse both nostrils with the gentamicin solution 2 times a day for two weeks unless your healthcare provider asked you to use it for a longer amount of time.
You may feel mild burning or stinging when you rinse with the solution. This should go away after the first few times you use it. If you experience any unusual side effects, please contact the triage department at (702) 792-6700 ext. 1105
