IV Therapy
WHAT IS IV THERAPY
IV Therapy, or more specifically a recipe called the Myer’s Cocktail has been around since the 1950’s
IV (intravenous) nutrient therapy is the use of readily absorbable forms of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in an IV bag to deliver them directly into the blood. Liver detoxification of oral supplements leave only a small percentage left for your cells to use to perform their vital biochemical pathways. In contrast, IV vitamin injections ensure that 100% of nutrients end up into your blood and into your cells for optimal cellular performance.
It is commonly aimed at boosting immunity and improving absorption of key nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It’s customized to support the body’s systems when the demands for those nutrients are higher. Patients may turn to IV therapy treatments alongside other modalities in possibly addressing concerns ranging from, for example, feeling run down, fighting infections, athletic performance, conditions that compromise gut nutrient absorption, or even to supporting chemotherapy treatments.
WHAT IS IN THE IV AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
There are many types of IVs, each with a specific focus. For example, an IV-Myers Cocktail contains mainly water-soluble B vitamins and vitamin C. This IV therapy may be used to help patients who get frequent colds. Those preparing for a sporting event or recovering from surgery may also see improvement with this IV. Some other conditions that have responded to the IV Myers are; asthma, migraines, fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, cardiovascular disease, upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, seasonal allergies, narcotic withdrawal, athletic performance, and hyperthyroidism (Gaby 2017).
A few of the common components of IV Therapy:
Vitamin C
- More info on High Dose Vitamin C (click here for my Blog Post)
- At certain concentrations vitamin C has exhibited strong anti-viral effects (ie can be used in the treatment of shingles)
- Antioxidant meant to support immune function, skin health, and adrenal function
- May support patients with renal disease
-May support patients with iron deficiency/anemia
-Safe and well-tolerated for cancer patients
-May reduce chemotherapy-associated toxicity in cancer patients
- May benefit those with severe allergies
- Has been shown to reduce pain post-operatively
- Safe and effective treatment for fatigue
- Vitamin C IV appears to improve markers for mental stress
B-Vitamins - Supports cellular energy, hormone balance, adrenal function, detoxification, and various cellular processes.
- High dose vitamin B12 therapy has been beneficial for patients with peripheral nerve injuries
- Patients with restlessness (akathisia) benefited from high dose vitamin B
- Therapeutic use of vitamin B1 may slow the development and progression of heart disease
- Vitamin B supports the treatment of diabetic neuropathy
Magnesium - Promotes mental relaxation and relaxes muscles.
Trace minerals (Zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, molybdenum) - Provides immune support, thyroid support, and antioxidant power.
Electrolytes + hydration - Supports pre-flight health and wellness.
Glutathione - Has very strong anti-oxidant properties. This makes it a powerful tool when trying to boost the immune system, and also possibly in neurological conditions (such as Parkinson’s).
- Useful in most skin conditions due to its skin lightening ability
- Useful in immune modulation of auto-immune conditions
- Assists in lung health (click here from my blog post for more info)
Advanced IV Therapy
This is reserved for existing patients who are on an advanced IV protocol.
Intramuscular Injections
Vitamin B12 Shot - also known as an energy shot, this dose of activated B12 means that the B12 molecule (cobalamin) is attached to a hydroxyl group or a methyl group, which makes the B12 more recognizable by your cells to use for various biochemical pathways, such as:
- Cellular energy, hormone detoxification, neurotransmitter balance, DNA replication, and neural/nerve health
People choose B12 injections over oral B12 since it bypasses the gut. For some individuals, they cannot absorb B12 because of gut issues, causing fatigue and states of B12 deficiency.
Vitamin D3 Shot - Vitamin D is highly implicated in hormone health, mood regulation, bone health, and immune support. High doses are achieved through intramuscular injection to support these systems. A one-time high dose is safe and supportive when fighting the cold or flu. Once vitamin D testing has been done it might be determined that more regular Vitamin D3 injections are required to get your levels up quickly, something very difficult to achieve with oral dosing alone.
Other complex “mini boost” shots used alongside other modalities in support for migraines, weight-loss, skin, and fatigue.
REFERENCES
Gaby, A. (2017). Nutritional medicine. Concord, NH: Fritz Perlberg Publishing
Conner, T. A., McQuade, C., Olp, J., & Pai, A. B. (2012). Effect of intravenous vitamin C on cytokine activation and oxidative stress in end-stage renal disease patients receiving intravenous iron sucrose. Biometals, 25(5), 961-969. doi:10.1007/s10534-012-9562-6
Giancaspro, V., Nuzziello, M., Pallotta, G., Sacchetti, A., & Petrarulo, F. (2000). Intravenous ascorbic acid in hemodialysis patients with functional iron deficiency: a clinical trial. J Nephrol, 13(6), 444-449.
Stephenson, C. M., Levin, R. D., Spector, T., & Lis, C. G. (2013). Phase I clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of high-dose intravenous ascorbic acid in patients with advanced cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, 72(1), 139-146. doi:10.1007/s00280-013-2179-9
Ma, Y., Chapman, J., Levine, M., Polireddy, K., Drisko, J., & Chen, Q. (2014). High-dose parenteral ascorbate enhanced chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy. Sci Transl Med, 6(222), 222ra218. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3007154
Schencking, M., Vollbracht, C., Weiss, G., Lebert, J., Biller, A., Goyvaerts, B., & Kraft, K. (2012). Intravenous vitamin C in the treatment of shingles: results of a multicenter prospective cohort study. Med Sci Monit, 18(4), Cr215-224. doi:10.12659/msm.882621
Hagel, A. F., Layritz, C. M., Hagel, W. H., Hagel, H. J., Hagel, E., Dauth, W., . . . Raithel, M. (2013). Intravenous infusion of ascorbic acid decreases serum histamine concentrations in patients with allergic and non-allergic diseases. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 386(9), 789-793. doi:10.1007/s00210-013-0880-1
Ayatollahi, V., Dehghanpour Farashah, S., Behdad, S., Vaziribozorg, S., & Rabbani Anari, M. (2017). Effect of intravenous vitamin C on postoperative pain in uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with tonsillectomy. Clin Otolaryngol, 42(1), 139-143. doi:10.1111/coa.12684
Suh, S. Y., Bae, W. K., Ahn, H. Y., Choi, S. E., Jung, G. C., & Yeom, C. H. (2012). Intravenous vitamin C administration reduces fatigue in office workers: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Nutr J, 11, 7. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-11-7
Batista, G. M. S., Rocha, H. N. M., Storch, A. S., Garcia, V. P., Teixeira, G. F., Mentzinger, J., . . . Rocha, N. G. (2020). Ascorbic acid inhibits vascular remodeling induced by mental stress in overweight/obese men. Life Sci, 250, 117554. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117554
Shibuya, K., Misawa, S., Nasu, S., Sekiguchi, Y., Beppu, M., Iwai, Y., . . . Kuwabara, S. (2014). Safety and efficacy of intravenous ultra-high dose methylcobalamin treatment for peripheral neuropathy: a phase I/II open label clinical trial. Intern Med, 53(17), 1927-1931. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.53.1951
Lerner, V., Bergman, J., Statsenko, N., & Miodownik, C. (2004). Vitamin B6 treatment in acute neuroleptic-induced akathisia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychiatry, 65(11), 1550-1554. doi:10.4088/jcp.v65n1118
Arora, S., Lidor, A., Abularrage, C. J., Weiswasser, J. M., Nylen, E., Kellicut, D., & Sidawy, A. N. (2006). Thiamine (vitamin B1) improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in the presence of hyperglycemia. Ann Vasc Surg, 20(5), 653-658. doi:10.1007/s10016-006-9055-6
Didangelos, T., Karlafti, E., Kotzakioulafi, E., Margariti, E., Giannoulaki, P., Batanis, G., . . . Kantartzis, K. (2021). Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Diabetic Neuropathy: A 1-Year, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 13(2). doi:10.3390/nu13020395