Introduction

A common sight in hospitals is patients hooked up to an IV drip. But what do they do and why or when do we need them? More recently, IV therapy has become popular in many countries, even when it is not medically necessary. This article covers the basics of an IV infusion drip and the benefits of IV infusion therapy for your health.

Understanding IV infusion therapy

The IV in IV infusion therapy stands for intravenous, which describes the method through which liquids and medicine are delivered to the body through a tube inserted into a person’s veins in the arms or hands. IV infusion therapy is mainly used to administer medication or in cases of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which generally occurs due to illness, injury, excessive exercise, exposure to heat, or having surgery. Dehydration is when there is not enough water in your body. Since our body is mostly made up of water, dehydration can cause problems for the body’s normal functioning, such as electrolyte imbalance. 

Electrolyte imbalance occurs when there are not enough or too much of specific minerals in the body, which may indicate a case of kidney disease. Electrolytes are important minerals in the body that help balance body fluids like blood or urine, maintain the rhythm of the heart, and support nerve and muscle function. 

In IV infusion therapy, a thin plastic tube, called a cannula, is inserted into the veins of the hand or arm, which is then connected to a wider tube that connects to a bag containing the IV fluids and medicine. This bag is attached to a machine that monitors the fluid level within the bag. This ensures a set amount of medicine is delivered through the drip. The machine and bag are fixed on a drip stand so that gravity can help the fluid or medicine in the bag flow smoothly through the tubes and allow the patient to move around while still being connected to the machine and bag. The advantage of using an IV infusion drip is that it allows the medicine and fluids to be administered much faster and more directly into the bloodstream than oral administration (swallowing through the mouth).

The first attempts at an IV infusion began in the early modern period, around 1658, by Sir Christopher Wren. In 1664, J.D Major was the first to attempt an IV infusion on human patients, which turned out to be unsuccessful.¹ The first successful attempt of an IV infusion on human patients was achieved in the 18th century by O’Shaughnessy and Latta.¹ 

IV fluids usually contain water, electrolytes (salts) and sugar (dextrose or glucose) (NICE). Three types of IV fluids are usually administered:^{1, 2, 3}

• Isotonic solutions:
  • Normal saline or NS (contains 0.9% sodium chloride or salt NaCl)
  • Lactated Ringer’s (5% dextrose (sugar) in water)

Isotonic solutions have a concentration similar to our blood, so there is no movement of water in or out of the blood cells (osmosis). So they remain in the spaces between blood cells but help in expanding the volume of fluid in the blood vessels, which in turn helps raise blood pressure in patients with hypovolemia (low levels of blood fluid volume). 

• Hypotonic solutions
  • ½ NS (contains 0.45% NaCl)
  • ⅓ NS (contains 0.33% NaCl)

Hypotonic solutions are mainly used to treat dehydration and hypernatremia (excessive sodium levels in the blood). These solutions contain lower salt concentrations than the concentration in the blood cells and their surrounding spaces. This imbalance causes fluid and essential electrolytes, like sodium and chloride, to move into the blood cells and rehydrate them. Hypotonic solutions are known to support the waste elimination process in the kidneys. Hypotonic solutions should not be given to patients with liver disease, trauma, or burns because it may promote dehydration. 

• Hypertonic solutions
  • D5NS (contains 5% dextrose in NS solution)
  • D1/2NS (contains 5% dextrose in ½ NS)
  • D5LR (contains 5% dextrose in Lactated Ringer’s solution)
  • D10W (contains 10% dextrose in water)

Hypertonic solutions are used to treat cases of cerebral oedema (excessive build-up of fluid in the brain) and severe hyponatremia (low concentration of sodium in the blood). It should not be used to treat cellular hydration. That’s because these solutions contain a high amount of dissolved salt or sugar, so when they are introduced into the body, they cause fluid to move out of the cell and its surrounding spaces and into the blood vessel compartment. This helps to expand the volume of fluid in the blood vessels. Hypertonic solutions should not be given to patients with kidney or heart diseases. 

Some IV fluids offered by IV therapy services include a mix of vitamins, minerals and electrolytes depending on the client’s needs, such as anti-nausea, for pain, heartburn, hangovers and other treatments (Harvard Health). Myers’ cocktail is a type of IV fluid used in IV vitamin therapy, which contains high doses of vitamin C, B complex and minerals like magnesium and calcium mixed with water (Penn Medicine). They claim that people without any deficiencies or illnesses can benefit from the positive effects of IV vitamin therapy. But there is no published evidence to support the effectiveness of this therapy for any chronic conditions.⁸

Health and wellness benefits

There are many health benefits offered by the fluids in an IV infusion drip. These include hydration, improved immune function, energy-boosting effects, exercise-related recovery, and hangover relief. 

Hydration

More than 70% of our body is made up of water, which tells us how essential water is for our bodies. Osmosis is an important process in our body, where water moves in and out of the semi-permeable membranes of the cells to maintain the balance of concentration of solutions and dissolved solutes, like salts and sugars.² When our body is dehydrated, it can cause energy levels to drop, electrolyte imbalance, headaches, reduced skin health, and digestive functions, and in serious cases, it can affect your brain, kidneys, and heart.² IV infusion drips with isotonic solutions are generally used in most cases of dehydration.⁴

Improved immune function

The immune system protects the body from foreign substances, like germs, bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins. A strong immune system means that you won’t be susceptible to infections and illnesses. Vitamins and minerals are important types of nutrients required in small quantities by the body.. Vitamins B and C and minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc support energy production in the cells, transporting oxygen in the blood and improving cognitive performance.⁵ They also play a role in reducing mental and physical fatigue.⁵ Deficiencies in these vitamins and minerals can cause various illnesses like scurvy, muscle dysfunction and other neurological disorders such as depression.⁵ 

Energy boosting effects

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the energy source for all cellular processes in our body. Energy, in the form of ATP molecules, is produced from three major cycles in the body that break down fatty acids, sugars, and amino acids from the food we eat.⁶ The vitamins and minerals, namely Vitamin C, vitamin B12, calcium and magnesium, are said to improve energy levels and reduce fatigue. ⁵ 

Exercise-related recovery

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts are prone to cases of overexertion due to excessive exercise or severe dehydration. In such instances, IV infusion drips are used to provide immediate treatment for dehydration and exercise-associated muscle cramps.⁷ Progressive dehydration in athletes can impact their cognitive function and even cause death.⁷ Muscle cramps are one of the reasons why elite athletes are not able to finish their races.⁷ In exercise-related hyponatremia, hypertonic IV fluid infusions are administered to the athlete to balance blood sodium levels.⁷ However, there is no published study so far that provides support for the use of IV infusions to prevent cases of overexertion, muscle cramps or dehydration. Routine IV therapy is not a recommended practice for athletes.⁷ According to the guidelines set by the World Anti-Doping Agency, IV infusions are not allowed in their governed competitions. 

Hangover relief

When you have consumed an excessive amount of alcohol beyond your tolerance, you are bound to experience symptoms of a hangover, such as:

• Nausea
• Headaches
• Difficulties in concentration
• Sensitivity to loud noises or bright lights
• Physical fatigue
• In serious cases, food poisoning

In serious cases, IV infusion drips can provide immediate relief to the body when the person is unable to drink fluids or take medicines orally. Dehydration is one of the causes of hangovers, but IV therapy cannot ‘cure’ hangovers; instead, it provides relief for some and not all symptoms (Penn Medicine, Harvard Health). 

Safety and considerations

Although there are IV therapy services that claim that these IV fluids have miraculous effects, even when you do not have any deficiencies or serious illness, there has been no published evidence to support any of these claims and their supposed benefits listed above! It is very important to speak to a professional medical practitioner about the use of IV therapy and the different fluids to determine if you actually need them. Improper administration of the IV infusion drip can also cause infiltration, infection, air embolism, phlebitis, thrombus and hematoma.

IV therapy is an expensive service, so be aware that certain clinics may price their services higher by convincing you that different IV fluids have different benefits. However, you can alternatively drink fluids or take generic vitamins or over-the-counter medication to achieve the same benefits at a lower cost. To sum up, if you are a healthy individual, do not take any unnecessary IV therapies before speaking to a medical professional because it could lead to other complications like hypervolemia or hypovolemia. 

Summary

IV infusion drips were traditionally used strictly in military and medical settings, but today, wellness and hydration clinics promote and sell IV therapy services. IV infusion drips are mainly given to patients in dehydration or electrolyte imbalance cases. They also help patients receive enough nutrition when they are unable to drink or eat on their own. IV fluids contain electrolytes, nutrients and medicine if necessary. IV fluids are divided into three types, namely, isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions. 

IV infusion drips have benefits on our health, such as hydration, improved immune function, energy-boosting effects, exercise-related recovery and hangover relief. There is limited research and no published evidence that supports any of these claims in healthy individuals. So, you must speak to a professional medical practitioner to determine whether you really need an IV infusion before you consider paying for any IV therapy services.