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What is IV Therapy?

Posted on by American Medical Wellness

IV Therapy

What is IV Therapy? IV Therapy is the infusion of vitamins, minerals, and other therapeutic agents directly into a vein. This allows for the delivery of higher doses of nutrients than are possible through traditional oral means. It can also be used to achieve faster absorption and greater bioavailability.

IV Therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions, including:

  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Anemia
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Depression
  • Heart disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Insomnia
  • Migraines
  • Osteoporosis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Type II diabetes
  • Urinary tract infections

IV Therapy has also been used to help prevent and treat the common cold.

When is IV Therapy given?

IV Therapies are most often used when oral nutrient absorption is compromised by conditions such as digestive disorders, diabetes, gastroparesis, or renal disease. They may also be used in cases where patients need higher doses of nutrients than can be accomplished through oral administration. IV Therapy is useful because it bypasses hepatic metabolism, allowing for rapid entry into the circulatory system. This quickly elevates serum levels to many times greater than normal. However, this magnitude increase over a short period of time can cause discomfort or reactions in some people. To determine whether an individual will have any adverse effects from IV vitamins, they should try sub-therapeutic doses of the vitamins first. A typical dose would be 1/10th to 1/20th of the recommended daily intake, taken by mouth over a period of several hours. If no side effects are experienced, gradually increase the time interval between each dose before finally self-administering full therapeutic doses intravenously.

When IV Therapy is used to treat infectious diseases, it can be given along with antibiotics. “The use of Vitamin C in conjunction with antibiotic therapy has been shown to reduce both severity and duration of illness when treating infections which include pneumonia, tuberculosis, and urinary tract infections… When using Vitamin C during an infection, you should try 2 grams every hour for three doses, then reduce your dosage to 15 grams a day until the infection has cleared.”

What are the benefits of IV Therapy?

IV therapy has many benefits that can be used to treat different conditions. IV therapy is a direct route of administration, so it can be used to bypass the digestive system and get the nutrients directly into the bloodstream. This is beneficial because it can help to elevate serum levels faster than traditional means and can provide a greater bioavailability of the nutrients. IV Therapy can also be used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, atherosclerosis, depression, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, insomnia, migraines, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease, peripheral artery disease, and type II diabetes. Additionally, when used in conjunction with antibiotics, IV therapy can also be used to reduce the severity and duration of illness when treating infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and urinary tract infections.

Some of the benefits of IV Therapy include:

  • Greater absorption and bioavailability of nutrients
  • Rapid entry into the circulatory system for maximum effect
  • Can be used to treat a variety of conditions
  • Can be given along with antibiotics for infections
  • May reduce severity and duration of illness when treating infections.

Are there any risks associated with IV Therapy?

There are some risks associated with IV Therapy, including:

  • Reactions to the high concentration of nutrients in the bloodstream
  • Ventus (flushing or redness on the skin)
  • “overdose” effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
  • Allergic reactions
  • Infection at the site of the IV
  • Formation of blood clots

To help minimize these risks, it is important to start with a low dose and increase it gradually. Also, be sure to monitor for any adverse effects and discontinue therapy if they occur. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting IV Therapy.