Intravenous (IV) therapy is a popular health and wellness trend. Many celebrities promote IV therapy on social media and podcasts, and some claim that it helps them feel more alive and healthy. Although it may not be a cure-all for hangovers, it may help relieve symptoms related to dehydration.
IV therapy is not the standard medical protocol for hangover relief; rather it is somewhat of a boutique and elective treatment. During the treatment, the patient receives a high dose of vitamins directly into their bloodstream. This allows the body to rapidly absorb nutrients at higher doses. Some of the issues that patients claim IV therapy helps include:
- Migraines
- Fatigue
- Withdrawal
- Hangovers
- Dehydration
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Cold symptoms
The Myers’ cocktail is the most popular mixture of vitamins and minerals. The name comes from John Myers, who first administered this treatment in the 1970s. A Myers’ cocktail includes:
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- B-complex vitamin
- Vitamin C
How Does IV Hydration Work For Hangovers?
The theory behind administering an IV for hangovers is that it can reduce dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and harmful metabolite buildup. Basically, injecting fluids directly into the veins gives the body quick access to water and nutrients lost via urination or vomiting while drinking alcohol. By adding fluids, you can help dilute and flush out the harmful toxins left behind from alcohol breakdown. That helps support kidney and liver function.
What Is In An IV Drip For Hangover Relief?
Simple IV fluid drips for hangovers aim to replenish fluids and relieve dehydration. They contain sterile water and at least one electrolyte. The most common fluids for mild dehydration are traditional saline (water and 0.9% sodium chloride) and Ringer’s solution (a mixture of water, sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, and lactate).
Most hangover IV infusions contain a 0.9% sodium chloride base, but you can customize the therapy with other additives. Those additives may not improve or cure your hangover, but they provide vital nutrients that the body can use. Sometimes, an anti-nausea medication may be added to the drip to help relieve gastrointestinal issues.
Are There Risks Of IV Therapy?
One of the risks of this type of therapy is that the nutrients bypass the body’s gatekeeping functions. That can overload your bloodstream with vitamins all at once, which does not allow the stomach to digest them slowly. Although it is rare, vitamin toxicity can occur as a result, but that depends on the amount of vitamins and minerals you receive via IV. A high dose of vitamin C, for example, may cause the body to produce oxalates, which increases the risk of developing kidney stones. For that reason, people with renal disease should be cautious about IV therapy.
Using vitamin therapy too frequently may cause nutritional imbalances. It’s possible for IV therapy to upset electrolyte levels. Overhydration (yes, this is a real thing) is another possible risk from frequent IV therapy. You may also experience nausea, confusion, or headaches as a result of overhydration.
