IV therapy has become all the rage in the last few years so you might have heard about it whether it be from a doctor, your friends, or on social media. IV therapy is a big nutrition and wellness trend going around the US and there are many celebrities that also advocate for it.
This leaves many people to wonder whether IV therapy really works or if it’s just a trend that people are following.
What is IV Therapy For?
IV therapy is when vitamins and minerals are administered directly into the bloodstream in very high doses. Your body typically absorbs vitamins and minerals very slowly from the food you eat and the drinks you have.
However, when the vitamins are put into an IV, the body is able to absorb them very quickly and at very high doses.
Vitamin IV therapy can be given for a number of different reasons but many doctors and healthcare providers will give it to patients that are having chronic conditions such as one of the following:
- Dehydration
- Hangovers
- Withdrawal
- Migraines
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Cardiovascular disease
If you have one of these problems currently or have had one in the past, a doctor might recommend you begin to get vitamin IV therapy to help you with some of the symptoms so you can live a more normal and healthy life.
How Can IV Therapy Help?
One of the main benefits of IV therapy is that it allows your body to become properly hydrated. Most people do not drink enough water and their bodies might be in a constant state of dehydration.
As your body is able to absorb the different vitamins and fluids, you will find that you automatically feel better because you’re hydrated. Being hydrated versus dehydrated can really make the world of a difference.
Another way that IV therapy is very beneficial is because it’s an excellent way for people with digestive or absorption issues to get vitamins. Since they have problems that might not allow them to absorb nutrients through food, the IV allows them to get the vitamins directly into the blood.
Unfortunately, though, there have not been many studies or findings done regarding IV therapy. This means that while many people say it benefits them and they feel different afterward, there has not been enough research to say for sure the benefits of IV therapy.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even though there have not been studies showing that IV therapy can help those undergoing cancer, there are many patients who say the treatment helps them feel better and allows them to go about their days more easily.
This is an important fact because those facing cancer or other chronic illnesses often need something that will lift their spirits and give them more energy as they are going through treatments.
Risks of IV Therapy
As with all things, there are also risks when it comes to IV therapy that you should be aware of before beginning. Since the vitamins are being put into the bloodstream directly, some people might experience an overload of vitamins in the bloodstream since they are not going through the stomach as they do with food.
If this does happen, your body can experience vitamin toxicity. This depends on the amount of vitamins already in the bloodstream as well. If your body is very depleted of vitamins, the chance of vitamin toxicity is much lower.
One of the best ways to reduce the chance of vitamin toxicity is for the healthcare provider to know your medical history and all the current supplements and medications that you take. This can help them know the right dose for your IV and ensure that it will not affect the supplements you already take.
In most cases, the kidneys can take out the excess vitamins and minerals but in people with renal problems, the kidneys might go into overdrive and they experience vitamin toxicity which can be dangerous.
Some other risks of IV therapy when not done properly are:
- Electrolyte upset or imbalance
- Potassium overdose
- Overhydration
- Toxic levels of vitamin A in rare cases
Cost of IV Therapy
The cost of receiving IV therapy varies widely depending on the place you go, the city you live in, and the amounts and vitamins that are in your mixture. Most insurance companies do not pay for IV therapy so you will be stuck paying for it out of pocket.
Since IV therapy needs to be done weekly or biweekly for the most efficient results, you might find that you need to spend a large amount of your paycheck on getting the treatments.
Even if you are getting IV therapy, you still need to make sure you are taking other health measures like eating well, exercising, and taking supplements when needed. You also need to make sure you are drinking enough water, especially if you are exercising and sweating a lot.
Who Can Benefit the Most from IV Therapy?
If you have an intestinal disease or problem where you cannot absorb nutrients well, you will benefit the most from IV therapy and your doctor might recommend you do treatments weekly or more.
Almost anyone can benefit from IV therapy as long as they don’t have other health issues like liver disease, kidney disease, or heart disease.
Many athletes decide to get IV therapy because their vitamin and mineral levels can be depleted quickly with all the exercise and sweating they do during practices and games.
The Bottom Line
IV therapy is good for a number of different health issues, especially for those who have absorption problems of nutrients in the intestines. Athletes also like to get IV therapy if they are dehydrated or if they are experiencing fatigue.
The risks of IV therapy are minimal as long as you don’t have a chronic illness that affects the liver and kidneys.
Always make sure you talk to your doctor or healthcare provider before choosing to begin IV therapy.