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Water

Water is used across multiple medical products as a diluent, irrigant, and vehicle for drug delivery, and is also found in ophthalmic eye wash products for cleansing and soothing irritated eyes.

Brand names Pur-washOpticlearOcufreshEye StreamSterile Water +11 more
Drug class Insulin Analog
Rx/OTC Forms 5
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 36 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 7, 2026 🚨Recall on record · 3
Water at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Water is the listed ingredient in sterile water for injection and irrigation, diluting liquids for certain insulins, and over-the-counter eye washes, where it dissolves, dilutes, carries or rinses rather than treating anything itself; it has been on the market since about 1965 and is available as a generic. On its own it is about as well tolerated as anything gets, so effects people notice, like low blood sugar or weight gain with insulin, come from the drug it carries. With an insulin diluting medium, watch for low blood sugar, which can come on suddenly and turn severe, and for medicines that push blood sugar up or down.

Clinical pearls

  • Sterile Water for Injection is never given into a vein plain, because unmixed water can burst red blood cells.
  • Eye wash, irrigation water and injection water are separate products, and irrigation water must never go into a vein.
  • Insulin diluting medium is matched to one specific insulin, so never swap in another brand's medium or plain water.
  • Beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine and reserpine can mask early warning signs of low blood sugar, so check more often.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription and over the counter
Comes asInjection, Eye drops, Other oral form +2
Earliest FDA record1965
Companies listing it with the FDA45
FDA label last updatedJan 20, 2026
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Water, written from its FDA label.

What Water is used for

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Water is the active or vehicle ingredient in several different FDA-approved products, each with its own distinct approved use.

  • Sterile Water for Injection: used intravenously as a solvent or diluent for other drugs, or as a source of water for parenteral fluid replenishment after appropriate additives are added
  • Sterile Water for Injection (diluent use): used to dilute or dissolve drugs for intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection, per each drug manufacturer's instructions
  • Sterile Water for Irrigation: used as an irrigating fluid or pharmaceutical aid, and to help prepare non-intravenously administered nutrient mixtures
  • Insulin Diluting Medium for Garzulys: used with Garzulys (a rapid-acting insulin aspart analog) to improve glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus
  • INSULIN DILUTING MEDIUM FOR Kirsty: used with Kirsty (a rapid-acting insulin aspart analog) to improve glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus
  • Crane Safety Eye Wash, Dynamic Eyewash with Eyecup, Easy Care First Aid Eyewash: ophthalmic use to cleanse the eye, remove loose foreign material, and relieve irritation or burning
  • Eyes Alive Eye Wash: ophthalmic use to flush the eye and relieve irritation, discomfort, burning, stinging, smarting, or itching, and to remove loose foreign material, air pollutants (such as smog or pollen), or chlorinated water

How Water works

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When water is used as part of insulin diluting products, it serves as the carrier for the active insulin. The insulin itself — an analog called insulin aspart — regulates blood sugar by prompting muscle and fat cells to take up glucose from the blood, reducing the liver's output of glucose, and supporting the body's ability to build and store proteins and fats. As a sterile diluent or irrigant, water works physically: it dissolves or dilutes medications for safe delivery, or mechanically flushes surfaces such as the eye or a body cavity.

Water dosage

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How and when water-based products are used depends entirely on the specific product.

  • Sterile Water for Injection: given intravenously only after being properly mixed with drug additives — never administered as plain water by IV
  • Sterile Water for Irrigation: applied to body surfaces or cavities as directed; volume and rate depend on the procedure; not for IV use
  • Insulin diluting mediums (Garzulys, Kirsty): the diluted insulin is injected subcutaneously within 5–10 minutes before a meal, rotating sites; dose is set by your prescriber
  • Eye wash products: applied directly to the eye as needed; follow individual product label directions

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Water prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • PAH WHO Group 1 in patients with NYHA Class II-IV symptoms: initial dose for patients new to prostacyclin infusion therapy
    • Initial dose 1.25 ng/kg/min
    • Increase based on clinical response (increments of 1.25 ng/kg/min per week for the first 4 weeks of treatment, later 2.5 ng/kg/min per week)
    • If the initial dose cannot be tolerated because of systemic effects, reduce the infusion rate to 0.625 ng/kg/min
    • Avoid abrupt cessation; continuous subcutaneous infusion is preferred, use intravenous infusion if subcutaneous is not tolerated
  • Mild to moderate hepatic insufficiency
    • Decrease initial dose to 0.625 ng/kg/min ideal body weight
    • Not studied in severe hepatic insufficiency
  • Patients transitioning to an implantable intravenous infusion pump
    • Initial dose should be the same as the current dose the patient is receiving using the external infusion pump at the time of transition
  • Transition from epoprostenol
    • Increase the treprostinil injection dose gradually as the epoprostenol dose is decreased, based on constant observation of response
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION PAH WHO Group 1 in patients with NYHA Class II-IV symptoms : Initial dose for patients new to prostacyclin infusion therapy: 1.25 ng/kg/min; increase based on clinical response (increments of 1.25 ng/kg/min per week for the first 4 weeks of treatment, later 2.5 ng/kg/min per week). Avoid abrupt cessation. ( 2.2 , 2.4 ) Mild to moderate hepatic insufficiency: Decrease initial dose to 0.625 ng/kg/min. Severe hepatic insufficiency: No studies performed. ( 2.5 ) Transition from Epoprostenol : Increase the treprostinil injection dose gradually as the epoprostenol dose is decreased, based on constant observation of response. ( 2.7 ) Administration : Continuous subcutaneous infusion is the preferred mode. Use intravenous (IV) infusion if subcutaneous infusion is not tolerated. ( 2.1 , 2.6 ) 2.1 General Treprostinil injection can be administered with or without further dilution with Sterile Diluent for treprostinil injection or similar approved high-pH glycine diluent (e.g., Sterile Diluent for Flolan or Sterile Diluent for Epoprostenol), Sterile Water for Injection, or 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection prior to administration. See Table 1 below for storage and administration time limits for the different diluents. Diluted Treprostinil has been shown to be stable at ambient temperature when stored for up to14 days using high-pH glycine diluent at concentrations as low as 0.004 mg/mL (4,000 ng/mL). Table 1: Selection of Diluent Diluent Storage Limits Administration Limits None See Section 16 16 weeks at 40°C Sterile Diluents for Treprostinil Injection, Flolan, or Epoprostenol 14 days at room temperature 48 hours at 40°C Sterile Water for Injection0.9% Sodium Chloride for Injection 4 hours at room temperature or 24 hours refrigerated 48 hours at 40°C 2.2 Initial Dose for Patients New to Prostacyclin Infusion Therapy Treprostinil injection is indicated for subcutaneous (SC) or intravenous (IV) use only as a continuous infusion. Treprostinil injection is preferably infused subcutaneously, but can be administered by a central intravenous line if the subcutaneous route is not tolerated because of severe site pain or reaction. The infusion rate is initiated at 1.25 ng/kg/min. If this initial dose cannot be tolerated because of systemic effects, reduce the infusion rate to 0.625 ng/kg/min.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Water side effects

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Side effects depend on the specific product. With insulin aspart products that use water as a vehicle, the most common reactions include:

Common side effects

  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) — when used with insulin products
  • Allergic reactions including rash or itching at the injection site
  • Skin changes at injection sites (lipodystrophy)
  • Swelling (edema)
  • Weight gain — when used with insulin products
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Injection site reactions: redness, swelling, or itching
  • Skin changes at injection sites: lipoatrophy (skin depression) or lipohypertrophy (skin thickening)

When to get medical help

  • Call your doctor or seek emergency care if you have signs of severe low blood sugar: shakiness, confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness
  • Get immediate help for signs of a serious allergic reaction: hives, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or anaphylaxis
  • Seek care if you develop dangerously low potassium (hypokalemia): muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, or difficulty breathing
  • Tell your doctor right away if you develop signs of fluid overload or heart failure: sudden weight gain, swelling, or shortness of breath
  • If using an insulin pump and your blood sugar rises unexpectedly, check for pump malfunction and be prepared to inject insulin manually
  • Premature newborns or patients with kidney problems receiving parenteral (IV) products containing aluminum should be monitored for signs of nerve or bone toxicity

Severe low blood sugar, serious allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis), and dangerously low potassium (hypokalemia) are rare but life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

Water warnings and precautions

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  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is the most serious risk with insulin products. It can be life-threatening, cause seizures or unconsciousness, and impair your ability to drive or operate machinery. Risk increases with changes in dose, meals, activity, or other medications.
  • Sterile Water for Injection must never be given plain by IV — it is hypotonic (lacks salts) and can cause hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells). It must be made approximately isotonic by adding the proper solute before intravenous use.
  • Fluid and electrolyte overload is possible with large-volume intravenous fluid administration, potentially leading to pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) or dilution of blood salts.
  • Aluminum toxicity: some parenteral water preparations contain aluminum, which can accumulate to toxic levels in patients with impaired kidney function — especially premature newborns — and may cause nerve and bone damage.
  • Hypokalemia (low potassium): insulin can shift potassium into cells, potentially causing dangerous drops in blood potassium levels, leading to abnormal heart rhythms or respiratory problems.
  • Heart failure risk: using insulin together with thiazolidinedione (TZD) diabetes pills can cause fluid retention and worsen or trigger heart failure.

Water interactions

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When water is part of an insulin aspart product, several drugs and substances can affect how well blood sugar is controlled:

  • Drugs that increase low-blood-sugar risk: other antidiabetic medications, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, MAO inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, octreotide, and sulfonamide antibiotics
  • Drugs that raise blood sugar and reduce insulin's effect: corticosteroids, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetics (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones
  • Drugs with unpredictable effects on blood sugar: alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium salts, and pentamidine (which may first cause low then high blood sugar)
  • Drugs that hide low-blood-sugar warning signs: beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine can mask symptoms like a racing heart, making it harder to notice a blood sugar drop

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Water prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analog (e.g., octreotide), sulfonamide antibiotics: These drugs may increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when KIRSTY is concomitantly administered with these drugs.
  • Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine, clozapine), corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), thyroid hormones: These drugs may decrease the blood glucose lowering effect of KIRSTY. Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when KIRSTY is concomitantly administered with these drugs.
  • Alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium salts: These drugs may increase or decrease the blood glucose lowering effect of KIRSTY. Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when KIRSTY is concomitantly administered with these drugs.
  • Pentamidine: Pentamidine may cause hypoglycemia, which may sometimes be followed by hyperglycemia. Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when KIRSTY is concomitantly administered with these drugs.
  • Beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, reserpine: These drugs may blunt signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. Increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when KIRSTY is concomitantly administered with these drugs.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS The table below presents clinically significant drug interactions with KIRSTY Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analog (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics. Intervention: Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when KIRSTY is concomitantly administered with these drugs. Drugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of KIRSTY Drugs: Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones. Intervention: Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when KIRSTY is concomitantly administered with these drugs. Drugs That May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of KIRSTY Drugs: Alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, and lithium salts. Pentamidine may cause hypoglycemia, which may sometimes be followed by hyperglycemia. Intervention: Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when KIRSTY is concomitantly administered with these drugs. Drugs That May Blunt Signs and Symptoms of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine Intervention: Increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when KIRSTY is concomitantly administered with these drugs.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

Check Water against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Water

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  • Allergy: Garzulys is contraindicated in anyone allergic to insulin aspart or any of its ingredients
  • Active hypoglycemia: Garzulys must not be used during an episode of low blood sugar
  • Kidney impairment: patients with kidney disease may be at higher risk of low blood sugar and may need more frequent dose adjustments and blood sugar monitoring
  • Liver impairment: patients with liver disease may also need closer monitoring and possible dose adjustments
  • Pregnancy: poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases risks for both mother and baby; insulin aspart products have been studied in the second trimester and have not been linked to major birth defects, but discuss all insulin use with your doctor
  • Breastfeeding: limited data exist on insulin aspart in breast milk; discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor
  • Children: Garzulys is approved for children aged 6 and older with diabetes mellitus
  • Older adults: use with caution; hypoglycemia risk may be higher and signs may be less obvious
  • Premature newborns: particularly vulnerable to aluminum toxicity from parenteral water preparations due to immature kidneys

Water overdose

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Overdose with treprostinil injection products (which use sterile diluent/water as a vehicle) can cause flushing, headache, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea — most cases resolve when the infusion is reduced or stopped. In rare serious cases, overdose has caused severe low blood pressure and, in one pediatric case involving a large accidental dose given through a central venous catheter, seizure-like activity and loss of consciousness — that patient recovered. If you suspect an overdose, seek emergency medical help immediately.

What Water does in the body

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When insulin aspart (delivered via water-based injection products) is given subcutaneously, its peak blood-sugar-lowering effect occurs within 1 to 3 hours after injection, and the effect lasts about 3 to 5 hours. The exact timing can vary from person to person and even in the same person on different days, depending on injection site, physical activity, and other factors. When given intravenously, insulin aspart produces a blood sugar profile similar to regular human insulin.

How your body processes Water

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For treprostinil injection products that use sterile diluent (water) as a vehicle: treprostinil is absorbed rapidly and almost completely after subcutaneous infusion, reaching steady-state levels in about 10 hours. It is heavily metabolized by the liver (primarily by the CYP2C8 enzyme) and eliminated mainly in urine. Its terminal half-life is approximately 4 hours. Patients with liver impairment clear the drug much more slowly — up to 80% less clearance — so they need lower starting doses and careful monitoring.

How to store Water

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Dispense in the original sealed carton with the enclosed Instructions for Use. Store unused NOVOLOG in a refrigerator between 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Do not freeze NOVOLOG and do not use NOVOLOG if it has been frozen.

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

Water: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Water — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

Why is 'water' listed as the active ingredient on my medicine?

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It can seem a little odd at first. In these products, sterile water plays the essential role of carrying or dissolving the actual active medication — like insulin — so it can be safely injected or infused. It also appears on its own as a medical-grade irrigating fluid used to flush body surfaces, or in eye wash products to rinse out irritants. The type of water used in medicines is highly purified and carefully manufactured — it's very different from tap water.

Is Sterile Water for Injection the same as the eye wash or the irrigation product?

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No — these are very different products that should never be used interchangeably. Sterile Water for Injection is used only as a diluent for other drugs given by needle, and it must always be mixed with an appropriate additive before IV use. Sterile Water for Irrigation is for flushing body surfaces and is not safe to inject by IV. Eye wash products are made specifically for rinsing the eye. Always use the exact product your doctor or the product label specifies.

My insulin vial says 'Insulin Diluting Medium' — what does that mean for me?

▾
The Insulin Diluting Medium for Garzulys and INSULIN DILUTING MEDIUM FOR Kirsty are used to dilute their specific insulin products when a lower concentration is needed — for example, in very young children or people who need very small doses. Your prescriber or pharmacist will tell you if and how to use a diluting medium with your insulin. You should never dilute insulin on your own without specific instructions.

What are the most important warning signs to watch for with insulin products that contain water as a vehicle?

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The biggest thing to watch for is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs include shakiness, sweating, confusion, a racing heart, or feeling very weak. Severe low blood sugar can cause seizures or loss of consciousness and is a medical emergency. Also watch for signs of a serious allergic reaction — hives, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing — and call for help right away if any of those occur.

Can I use these eye wash products every day?

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Eye wash products like Crane Safety Eye Wash, Eyes Alive Eye Wash, and similar products are meant to flush and cleanse the eye — for example, after exposure to a foreign material, pollen, or chlorinated water. They can be used as needed according to their label directions. If your eye irritation is ongoing, severe, or not improving, check with your doctor rather than relying on an eye wash as a long-term solution.

Are there any medicines I should tell my doctor about before using an insulin product that contains this diluting medium?

▾
Yes — quite a few medications can affect how your insulin works. Some can push your blood sugar too low (like certain blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors, or antidepressants called MAO inhibitors), while others like steroids or some diuretics can push it too high. Alcohol is also tricky because it can unpredictably raise or lower blood sugar. Beta-blockers can hide the warning signs of a low. Make sure your doctor and pharmacist have a full list of everything you take.

Is Water available over the counter?

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Both. Some Water products are sold over the counter and others need a prescription. According to their FDA listings, the eye drops and topical solution forms are sold over the counter and the injection and other oral form forms need a prescription. The package says which kind you have. Your pharmacist can tell you which product is right for you.

When was Water first available?

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The earliest FDA record we hold for Water is from 1965: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Water was first used.

Who makes Water?

▾
45 companies currently list Water products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, Henry Schein, Inc., Niagara Pharmaceuticals Inc.. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Water on HelloPharmacist

🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerWater vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Water NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Water Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Water forms and strengths (how it comes)

Water is available in 5 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Water inactive ingredients by manufacturer.

Injection

By injection · Into a muscle · Into a vein · Irrigation · On the skin · Under the skin
Brands Amaranthus Tuberculatus Pollen Bacteriostatic Water Insulin Diluting Medium for NovoLog Sterile Diluent for Remodulin Sterile Diluent for Treprostinil Sterile Water
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Bacteriostatic Water and Sterile Water injection products: used only to dilute or dissolve drugs for intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection per the drug manufacturer's instructions
  • Insulin Diluting Medium for Garzulys: used to dilute Garzulys (insulin aspart) to improve glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus
  • INSULIN DILUTING MEDIUM FOR Kirsty: used to dilute Kirsty (insulin aspart) to improve glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus
Important instructions
  • Bacteriostatic Water and Sterile Water: use only as a diluent per the instructions of the drug being reconstituted — never inject plain water intravenously without additives
  • Insulin Diluting Medium for Garzulys: used with Garzulys subcutaneous injection, given within 5–10 minutes before a meal; rotate injection sites to reduce skin changes
  • INSULIN DILUTING MEDIUM FOR Kirsty: used with Kirsty subcutaneous injection, given within 5–10 minutes before a meal; rotate injection sites within the same region
  • Follow your prescriber's instructions for dosing and administration of the specific insulin product
Available strengths 6 strengths
0.025 g/mL 0.65 mL/0.65 mL 0.7 mL/mL 1 mL/mL 100 mL/100 mL 1000 mL/1000 mL
105 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Eye drops

In the eye
Brands Advanced Eye Relief Eye Wash Easy Care First Aid Eyewash Eye Wash EyS Eye Wash Green Guard First Aid Eye Wash Medi-First Plus First Aid Eye Wash Ocufresh Pur-wash
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Crane Safety Eye Wash: cleanses the eye to remove loose foreign material and relieve irritation and burning
  • Dynamic Eyewash with Eyecup and Easy Care First Aid Eyewash: cleanse the eye to help relieve irritation or burning by removing loose foreign material
  • Eyes Alive Eye Wash: flushes the eye to relieve irritation, discomfort, burning, stinging, smarting, or itching, and to remove loose foreign material, air pollutants, or chlorinated water
Important instructions
  • Apply directly to the eye as needed to flush and cleanse
  • Follow the directions on the individual product label for proper use
Available strengths 9 strengths
0.983 mg/mL 980 mg/mL 991 mg/mL 99.05 g/100 mL 929 g/946 mL 0.988 mL/mL
Show 3 more strengths Show fewer strengths
14.85 mL/15 mL 95.1 mL/100 mL 99.05 mL/100 mL
37 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Other oral form

Irrigation
Brands Sterile Water
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Sterile Water for Irrigation: used as an irrigating fluid or pharmaceutical aid
  • Sterile Water for Irrigation: may be used as an adjunct in preparing non-intravenously administered nutrient mixtures
Important instructions
  • Sterile Water for Irrigation: for irrigation use only — not for intravenous injection or infusion
  • Sterile Water for Irrigation: volume and rate of use depend on the procedure; follow physician's directions
Available strengths 2 strengths
1 mL/mL 100 mL/100 mL
12 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Topical solution

On the skin
Brands Eye Wash
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Eye Wash (topical): cleanses the eye to help relieve irritation or burning by removing loose foreign material
Important instructions
  • Eye Wash (topical): apply to the eye as directed on the product label to flush and cleanse
Available strengths 2 strengths
991 mg/mL 99.1 mL/100 mL
5 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Water on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Water appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

45 companies list 70 Water product records with the FDA, mostly as injection, eye drops, other oral form; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1965. Brand names on the directory include Pur-wash, Opticlear, Ocufresh and 13 more; the rest are generics.

5
Dose forms ⓘ
45
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
26
Brand names
70
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1965
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC9%
Henry Schein, Inc.6%
Niagara Pharmaceuticals Inc.6%
B. Braun Medical Inc.4%
ICU Medical Inc.4%
Unifirst First Aid Corporation4%
Other makers67%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Water is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Water is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Water is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

204,877
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$45.5M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Water prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Water ranks #390 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 76% of them.

Where Water ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #390 of 1,601
#385 Icosapent Ethyl 211,612 Rx #386 Amantadine 210,143 Rx #387 Valsartan and Hydrochl... 208,319 Rx #388 Fremanezumab-vfrm Inje... 205,598 Rx #389 Solifenacin 205,369 Rx #390 Water 204,877 Rx #391 Metformin / Sitaglipti... 203,107 Rx #392 Silver Sulfadiazine 202,248 Rx #393 Levalbuterol Oral Inha... 197,722 Rx #394 Hydromorphone Injectio... 195,712 Rx #395 Chlorpromazine 195,153 Rx

Utilization by Water product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 1000 mg/mL irrigation solution is the most-dispensed Water product — about 40% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

water 1000 MG/ML Irrigation Solution Most dispensed

82,279 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 40% of Water prescriptions shown $2.6M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $32 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 10 of 40 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 150985

water 991 MG/ML Ophthalmic Irrigation Solution

30 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Water prescriptions shown $105 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $3.51 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 30 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1053429

Other Water products — combination packs and listings not yet matched to a specific clinical product (kept visible so every prescription is accounted for)

122,568 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 60% of Water prescriptions shown $42.9M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $350 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 26 of 164 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity.

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Water, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 38 of 234 listed Water NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Water products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Water — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 70 of 70 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 70 Water NDCs →

Water side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)

After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Water — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.

The effects most often named in FDA reports that mention Water are nausea, pyrexia, pain; about 79% of the reports were classed as serious. These are voluntary reports, so they show what people report, not how often it happens.

19,127
Reports mentioning it
79%
Reported as serious
12
Distinct effects shown
Most reported effects
Nausea
1,169
Pyrexia
1,047
Pain
974
Diarrhoea
844
Dyspnoea
844
Fatigue
796
Vomiting
771
Headache
762
Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy
691
Premature Baby
676
Age groups
Adult · 2,499Elderly · 910Neonate · 416Child · 265Adolescent · 188Infant · 79

Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Water in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Water FDA approval history

How Water went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.

Water was first approved by the FDA in 1965; the first generic version was approved in 1984. It remains available in U.S. pharmacies today.

1965
First FDA approval
1984
First generic approved
Lower-cost ANDA competition begins
2026
Available today
Active in U.S. pharmacies

Source: Drugs@FDA.

Water recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list 4 Water recalls since July 2021. Three of them are still ongoing or began in the last six months and are listed first. A recall names specific lots from one company, so check the lot number on your own bottle rather than assuming every product is affected; your pharmacist can check whether your supply came from an affected lot.

Ongoing Class II Apr 2, 2026 · B BRAUN MEDICAL INC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility; potential for leakage from the diaphragm port once the foil is removed.
  • Sterile Water for Injection USP, 3000 mL bags, Rx only, Pharmacy Bulk Package, B. Braun Medical Inc., Bethlehem, PA 18018-3524, NDC: 0264-7385-60. Lots: Lot # J5H165, Exp Date: 31 May2028; Lot # J5E237, Exp Date: 30APR2028. FDA record D-0495-2026 →
Ongoing Class II Dec 22, 2025 · Baxter Healthcare Corporation
Presence of particulate matter: plastic particles from the bottle rim were observed floating into the solution
  • Sterile Water for Irrigation, 250 mL, Single-Dose Plastic Bottle, Rx Only, Baxter Healthcare Corporation Deerfield, IL 60015 NDC: 0338-0004-02. Lots: Lot #: G171359, expiry: 05/31/2027 FDA record D-0296-2026 →
Ongoing Class II Aug 26, 2025 · B BRAUN MEDICAL INC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility- Potential for fluid leakage from the port due to port misalignment.
  • STERILE WATER FOR INJECTION USP, 3000mL, Rx only, B. Braun Medical Inc., Bethlehem. PA 18018, NDC 0264-7385-60. Lots: Lot #: J3L519, J3L528, Exp.: 31AUG2026 Lot #: J4C522, J4C523, Exp.:28FEB2027 FDA record D-0652-2025 →
Class II Apr 13, 2022 · Terminated · Mckesson Medical-Surgical Inc. Corporate Office
cGMP deviations: Temperature abuse
  • Sterile Water for Injection USP, 2000 mL, Rx only, Baxter Healthcare Corp., NDC 0338-0013-06 Lots: McKesson Medical-Surgical (MMS) is not able to identify the particular lot number received by a particular consignee for the recalled prescription products. Each letter includes the date it was distributed to customers and the dates that i… FDA record D-1031-2022 →

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Water RxCUI 11295 3 dose forms · 13 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Inhalation Solution RxCUI 2108561 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 1000 MG/ML RxCUI 204918
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Irrigation Solution RxCUI 379002 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 1000 MG/ML RxCUI 150985

Look up RxCUI 11295 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

Water supply and shortage status

Whether Water is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.

Water is currently listed in shortage by the FDA (10 presentations on record).

⚠️Currently in shortage (FDA) — Water
Current Sterile Water, Irrigant, 100 mL/100 mL (NDC 0338-0004-03)
Baxter Healthcare · Since 04/28/2023 · Updated 10/02/2026
Reason: Other
Current Sterile Water, Irrigant, 100 mL/100 mL (NDC 0338-0004-02)
Baxter Healthcare · Since 04/28/2023 · Updated 10/02/2026
Current Sterile Water, Irrigant, 100 mL/100 mL (NDC 0338-0004-04)
Baxter Healthcare · Since 04/28/2023 · Updated 10/02/2026
Current Sterile Water In Plastic Container, Irrigant, 1 mL/1 mL (NDC 0990-6139-22)
Otsuka ICU Medical LLC · Since 04/28/2023 · Updated 10/01/2026
Reason: Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug
Current Sterile Water In Plastic Container, Irrigant, 1 mL/1 mL (NDC 0990-6139-03)
Otsuka ICU Medical LLC · Since 04/28/2023 · Updated 10/01/2026
Reason: Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug
Current Sterile Water In Plastic Container, Irrigant, 1 mL/1 mL (NDC 0990-7139-09)
Otsuka ICU Medical LLC · Since 04/28/2023 · Updated 10/01/2026
Reason: Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug
Current Sterile Water In Plastic Container, Irrigant, 1 mL/1 mL (NDC 0990-7139-36)
Otsuka ICU Medical LLC · Since 04/28/2023 · Updated 10/01/2026
Reason: Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug
Current Sterile Water, Injection, 1 mL/1 mL (NDC 0409-4887-50)
Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company · Since 11/23/2021 · Updated 09/22/2026
Current Sterile Water, Injection, 1 mL/1 mL (NDC 0409-4887-20)
Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company · Since 11/23/2021 · Updated 09/22/2026
Current Sterile Water, Injection, 1 mL/1 mL (NDC 0409-4887-99)
Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company · Since 11/23/2021 · Updated 09/22/2026

Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.

💵 What Water costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Injection, Solution · Intravenous 1 mL/mL $0.315 per mL NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Water brand names

Water is sold under 16 brand names in the FDA directory — Pur-wash, Opticlear, Ocufresh, Eye Stream and others. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Pur-wash Opticlear Ocufresh Eye Stream Sterile Water Eye Wash Bacteriostatic Water Amaranthus Tuberculatus Pollen Sterile Diluent for Remodulin Green Guard First Aid Eye Wash Insulin Diluting Medium for NovoLog EyS Eye Wash Advanced Eye Relief Eye Wash Medi-First Plus First Aid Eye Wash Easy Care First Aid Eyewash Sterile Diluent for Treprostinil

Who makes Water: manufacturers and labelers

45 companies list Water products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, Henry Schein, Inc., Niagara Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC 6 Henry Schein, Inc. 4 Niagara Pharmaceuticals Inc. 4 B. Braun Medical Inc. 3 ICU Medical Inc. 3 Unifirst First Aid Corporation 3 ALK-Abello, Inc. 2 American Regent, Inc. 2 Baxter Healthcare Corporation 2 Becton Dickinson and Company 2 Cardinal Health 107, LLC 2 Hospira, Inc. 2 Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC 2 ProPharma Distribution 2 A-S Medication Solutions 1 Asclemed USA, Inc. 1 BIOHERB Co., Ltd. 1 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated 1 Bavarian Nordic A/S 1 Baxter Healthcare Company 1 Biocon Biologics Inc. 1 CMC Group Inc. 1 CVS Pharmacy 1 Chain Drug Marketing Assoc., Inc. 1

…and 21 more on the FDA NDC directory.

Sources for this Water page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jan 20, 2026
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Water.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Water after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
36
Finished products in the current FDA directory
70
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
45
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
44
Linked representative label ⓘ
Biocon Biologics Inc.
Linked label effective
Jan 20, 2026
Composite sections available
25
Linked SPL Set ID
3db1d482-7e1f-aec6-79ef-3f305b4d8277
Linked SPL Document ID
2448d65b-6ba8-f4da-792b-6c2a3f6577fb
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Biocon Biologics Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →