IV vitamin therapy · Vitamin drips
IV vitamin therapy: Compare practices from our network
IV vitamin therapy delivers fluids, vitamins and minerals through a drip into a vein. It is a wellness service, not a treatment for illness, and the evidence for its claimed benefits is limited.
Our network
IV vitamin therapy providers from Adoreal's partner network.
Irvine, California · United States
South Coast Plastic Surgery (SoCo)
IV therapy within the practice's wellness service, including optional infusions in its packages before and after surgery.
Irvine, California · United States
South Coast Plastic Surgery (SoCo)
IV therapy within the practice's wellness service, including optional infusions in its packages before and after surgery.
Ready to see who performs IV vitamin therapy near you?
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How to choose an IV therapy provider
Board certification is the starting point. The details below are worth weighing carefully when you're choosing the provider who's right for your goals.
Here's what to look for before you decide:
It should happen in a medical setting.
Placing a cannula is a medical procedure. Ask who places it, what their qualification is, whether a doctor is on site, and how the practice handles an allergic reaction.
Ask what is in it, and where it was made.
You should be told the exact ingredients and doses. Ask whether the infusion is prepared by a licensed pharmacy and how the practice checks its quality.
A health check should come first.
Your medical history, medicines and allergies matter, especially if you have a heart or kidney condition. A provider who skips this is not treating it as the medical procedure it is.
Be wary of health claims.
Claims about energy, immunity, detox or anti-aging have not been accepted by regulators for healthy people. A provider who is honest about the evidence is more trustworthy than one who promises results.
It should not replace medical care.
If you feel unwell or think you have a deficiency, a good provider will send you to a doctor for proper tests rather than sell you a drip.
Before your consultation, prepare this question
“What exactly is in this, what is it meant to do, and what is the evidence for that?”
A provider who answers the last part honestly, including saying the evidence is limited, is one you can trust with a needle in your vein.
Find a IV vitamin therapy ProviderAbout the treatment
About IV vitamin therapy
IV vitamin therapy, often called a vitamin drip, is an infusion of fluid containing vitamins, minerals and sometimes other substances, given through a cannula into a vein. Practices offer a menu of different mixes, and a session usually takes 20 to 45 minutes.
It is different from the IV fluids and medicines used in hospitals to treat illness or dehydration. Vitamin drips offered in wellness settings are not licensed medicines for health claims, and regulators have not accepted that they provide general health benefits to healthy people.
What is IV vitamin therapy?
An infusion of fluid with vitamins and minerals, given through a cannula into a vein over about 20 to 45 minutes.
What the evidence shows
Benefits for healthy people have not been established. The UK advertising regulator says it has yet to see convincing evidence for the claimed benefits of specific IV drips.
What to expect
A health check, a cannula in your arm or hand, and a seated infusion with a clinician monitoring you. Most people return to normal activities straight away.
Risks and side effects
Bruising, soreness or a brief headache are the most common. Infection and allergic reactions are uncommon but possible.
When to seek medical attention
Seek care promptly if you notice:
- Swelling of the face, lips or throat, a widespread rash, or difficulty breathing
- Increasing redness, swelling, warmth or pain where the cannula was placed
- Fever or chills after an infusion
- Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath
Contact the practice directly, or seek emergency care, if you experience any of the above.
Common questions
IV vitamin therapy questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, ask us directly. A real person answers, and we won't push you toward anything.
Talk to us →Does IV vitamin therapy work?
Benefits for healthy people have not been established. The UK advertising regulator says it has yet to see convincing evidence for the claimed benefits of specific IV drips.
Is it the same as a hospital drip?
No. Hospitals use IV fluids and medicines to treat specific medical problems. Wellness vitamin drips are elective, and regulators treat them differently from licensed IV medicines.
How long does a session take?
Usually 20 to 45 minutes once the cannula is in place. Some longer infusions can take up to an hour.
Does it hurt?
Most people feel a quick pinch when the cannula goes in, and little after that. Some bruising or soreness at the site afterward is common.
Who should give the infusion?
A trained medical professional, such as a registered nurse, with a doctor available. Ask who will place the cannula and who is responsible if something goes wrong.
What is in the drip?
It varies by practice and by mix, but usually fluid with vitamins and minerals. Ask for the exact ingredients and doses, and where the infusion was prepared, before you agree to it.
Can it help recovery after surgery?
Some practices include IV sessions in their surgical packages, but public bodies have not established a recovery benefit. Ask your surgeon what any infusion is meant to do and whether it is needed.
Is it safe if I have a medical condition?
Tell the clinician about any condition, medicines or pregnancy first. If you are unsure, check with your own doctor before booking.
