IV Therapy: What is It and Should I Try It?

By now, you’ve probably heard all about IV nutrient therapy, also called IV vitamin therapy or drip therapy. It’s all the rage among celebrities, and it’s now becoming more accessible to the rest of us. But precisely what is it, is it safe, and is it worth your time and money? Let’s dive in and find out.

What is IV vitamin therapy?

Intravenous (IV) therapy delivers fluids with medication or nutrients directly into a vein. IVs are routinely used in hospital settings to deliver medication, blood, or blood products to patients or fluids to treat dehydration.

Because it bypasses the digestive system, IV is the fastest way to get fluids into your body. Those medications or nutrients can then be used by your body almost immediately.

How does IV therapy work?

IV therapy can be done in a clinic setting or your own home. After you choose the nutrient mix you want, you will be hooked up to an IV with a needle in your hand or arm and a drip bag that slowly infuses the fluid into a vein. The process usually takes between 20 and 60 minutes.

Other than the needle stick, the procedure isn’t painful. You may feel a cooling sensation as the fluids enter your bloodstream, but that’s normal.

What is IV therapy used for?

Providers of the service claim they custom mix a bag of fluids for your specific needs. For example, they can include nutrients that promise to:

• Rehydrate.
• Boost immunity.
• Relieve fatigue.
• Balance hormones.
• Detoxify the body.
• Relieve stress.
• Reduce anxiety.
• Aid with athletic recovery.
• Improve skin.
• Boost metabolism.
• Promote better sleep.
• Decrease jet lag.
• Cure hangovers.

Some IV therapy providers claim their therapies can treat medical illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease and fibromyalgia, but there is no clinical evidence for those claims. If you have a chronic medical condition, you need to talk to your doctor before considering IV therapy. In some cases, it can do more harm than good. (More on that below.)

Is IV therapy safe?

As far as we can tell at the time of this writing, there is little regulation of providers who offer IV therapy or the contents of a drip. So a word of caution: You have no way of knowing what is actually in your drip bag or what a provider’s credentials are. Be sure you choose a reputable provider (preferably a doctor, though nurses and nurse practitioners also offer this service) and research them carefully before making an appointment.

Better still, ask the advice of your primary doctor first if you have any counterindications. It is possible to accumulate too much of certain vitamins and minerals, which can have side effects that range from uncomfortable to toxic.

Of particular concern is chelation therapy, a treatment offered by some IV therapy providers. Chelation is the removal of heavy metals from the body. We don’t recommend receiving chelation therapy from an IV therapist because chelation drugs can cause harm or even death, according to Poison Control.

There are other potential risks to consider, as well:

• There is always a risk of infection with a vein puncture.
• There is a risk of an air bubble entering your bloodstream, which can cause a stroke.
• People with heart, kidney, or blood pressure problems should not have IV therapy because of a risk of fluid overload.
• People with kidney disease or renal failure should not have IV therapy because they can’t properly eliminate electrolytes from their bodies.

So what’s in the bag?

Depending on your health concern, your “custom” mix could include vitamins such as B12 or high-dose vitamin C, electrolytes and other minerals, the antioxidant glutathione, and amino acids, among others.

Does IV therapy work?

There is no clinical evidence that they offer any health benefit. Several studies have been done, but most were flawed in some way.

The one good-quality clinical study to date was not promising. Researchers investigated the effectiveness of IV vitamin therapy at reducing the chronic symptoms of 34 fibromyalgia patients.

Some of the patients received a “Myers’ cocktail,” a solution containing magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, and B vitamins, once a week for eight weeks. A control group received a “dummy cocktail.” The study found no difference between the two groups. Interestingly, though, many people in the control group experienced a placebo effect, believing that their symptoms had improved even though they did not receive the “real” cocktail.

Placebo effect or not, many people swear by the therapy. Some say that it helps them feel more energetic, eases stress and anxiety, reduces disease symptoms, and makes them feel healthier overall.

How much does IV therapy cost?

Prices vary widely from region to region and depending on the mix of nutrients you choose. We have seen costs ranging from $55.00 and up. Insurance usually doesn’t cover elective IV therapies.

In a nutshell

Because there is little regulation of IV vitamin therapy, it can be hard to know if it’s safe or will be effective for you. Our best advice is to talk to your doctor first if you’re considering it.

Some medical professionals see no harm in it (and even find value in the placebo effect). Others prefer their patients get the necessary vitamins and nutrients from a healthy diet.

In some cases, such as in patients with certain gastrointestinal conditions whose stomachs can’t absorb nutrients, IV vitamin therapy can provide needed nutrition, writes Dr. Sam Torbati for Cedars-Sinai Hospital. But he feels most people are better off getting their nutrients from food or a multivitamin.

He adds, “The most important thing they’re getting is water with salt, which you could get from a sports drink.”

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Here at HealthNeed Medical Urgent Care, our main goal is to provide an easy and friendly walk-in experience that will have you face to face with one of our many medical specialists within minutes of checking in and without an appointment. Our team of medical experts offers treatments anywhere from bandaging small scrapes and cuts to IVs. Come check out our offices that are open 365 days a year. We provide pediatric as well as senior medical care, with most health insurances accepted.

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