Vitamin Drips

What is IV vitamin therapy?

IV vitamin therapy means giving fluids, vitamins and minerals directly into a vein through a drip. In hospitals, intravenous treatment is an everyday part of care. Over the past decade, IV drips have also become a wellness product, sold in clinics and spas with promises of more energy, better immunity, faster recovery or clearer skin.

A typical wellness drip contains saline, B vitamins, vitamin C and minerals such as magnesium and zinc. One well-known mix is often called the Myers' cocktail.

When an IV drip is medically needed

There are good medical reasons for intravenous treatment, for example:

• dehydration when a person cannot drink enough
• severe vitamin or mineral deficiency, or when the gut cannot absorb nutrients, for example after some types of surgery or in severe bowel disease
• iron deficiency that does not respond to tablets
• nutrition for people who cannot eat

In these cases the treatment is prescribed by a doctor after blood tests, and the dose is based on what the person actually needs.

What about wellness drips?

For healthy people, there is little good evidence that IV vitamin drips improve energy, immunity, inflammation or chronic conditions. Most people who eat a varied diet get the vitamins they need from food, and the body excretes water-soluble vitamins it cannot use. Feeling better after a drip is often linked to the fluid itself, the rest and the expectation of feeling better.

Claims that drips cure or prevent illness, "detox" the body or treat conditions such as arthritis, migraine or fibromyalgia are not supported by solid research. Be cautious of any provider who guarantees results.

Risks to know about

An IV drip is a medical procedure, and it carries risks even when done carefully:

• infection, bruising or inflammation of the vein where the needle goes in
• too much fluid, which can be dangerous for people with heart failure or kidney disease
• too high doses of some vitamins and minerals
• interactions with medicines, and allergic reactions

People with heart, kidney or liver disease, pregnant women and anyone taking regular medication should talk to their doctor first.

Questions to ask before booking

• Who will examine me and place the drip, and what are their qualifications?
• Will you check my blood values and medical history first?
• What exactly is in the drip, and in what doses?
• What happens if I have a reaction?

If you are worried about tiredness, frequent infections or aches, the most useful first step is usually a visit to a doctor, who can look for causes such as anaemia, thyroid problems or vitamin D deficiency. Read more about anti-inflammatory foods that support your health every day.

This article is general information and not medical advice. If you have symptoms or questions about your own health, talk to a doctor. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.