Optimizing Health: Defining the Purpose of IV Therapy

Part of what makes medicine and healthcare so fascinating is its evolution. It’s constantly innovating and progressing in order to treat, cure, and improve our health and well-being. That could mean building on existing interventions, discovering new treatments, or making a complete scientific discovery from scratch. 

Plenty of medical interventions have branched out from the limited use they were created for into broader applications. Cryotherapy was designed to treat specific skin conditions but has become a tool for athletic recovery. CBD (cannabidiol) went from being a limited compound used to manage chronic pain to being a widespread ingredient in tinctures and creams for a variety of wellness purposes. And wearable trackers started off as basic monitoring devices to everyday gadgets to make personal health a priority.

IV (intravenous) therapy solutions are another one of those incredible examples. Originally used for a confined set of medical purposes, mainly delivering fluids and blood in emergencies, it’s expanded far beyond that today.

What’s IV Therapy?

If we were to quickly define IV therapy for the average person, it could be described as a treatment that serves to deliver fluids, medicine, vitamins, or another type of substance directly into a vein. It’s the fastest way to get important material to the bloodstream quickly, as it doesn’t have to pass through the digestive system. Perhaps the drug doesn’t have strong oral bioavailability, or the patient has difficulty absorbing nutrients through the gastrointestinal tract. [1] Rather than wait a long time or worry about whether there’s incomplete absorption, healthcare providers can opt for this efficient method instead. 

While IVs are still aptly used in all sorts of traditional healthcare settings, it’s now ever-popular in med spas and wellness clinics for detoxification, hydration, and more, as well as for athletes for recovery and performance enhancement. 

How Long Does IV Therapy Take?

In general, the length of a bout of IV therapy can be anywhere from half an hour to two hours, but it depends on the type of treatment taking place and your individual situation. For instance, going into a clinic for a vitamin drip will take between 20 minutes to an hour. [2] However, if you were to ask, “How long does an IV bag take for antibiotic infusions,” the answer could be several hours over several days. These types of longer therapies are typically reserved for those with chronic conditions or severe health conditions. 

The Purpose of IV Therapy

Because all you need is an eligible substance, a catheter, and a qualified professional to perform an IV procedure, IV therapy serves many purposes in health and wellness and targets a broad audience. 

• Rehydration – Whether it’s for an emergency purpose or general wellness, rehydration has long been a staple of IV therapy. IV drips can be used to quickly replace loss of fluids from fever and vomiting or to promote electrolyte balance. These IV bags typically include minute amounts of salt or sugar dissolved in sterile water. [3]

• Medication Administration – Rather than going the oral route, some situations benefit more from IVs due to their speed and accuracy. In emergency scenarios like stroke, providers can instantly get the medication into the bloodstream, while medication to treat cancer can reap an IVs ability to offer slow and consistent dosage.

• Nutrition Delivery – If a patient experiences issues with malabsorption or is healing from injury, nutrient IV therapy can deliver a concentrated variety of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients right into the bloodstream. The IV bag could contain just one specific vitamin or mineral or a cocktail made to target a specific health concern.

• Cold and Flu Support – Nutritional therapy can also include immune system support, which involves delivering strong doses of zinc, vitamin C, and other nutrients that work to boost your body’s natural defences. Together, these components can help the body fight off infection and promote recovery.

• • Detoxification – The goal of detoxification typically brings a number of these methods together, with the base hydration saline solution working to flush out toxins, vitamins and minerals looking to support the body’s inner workings, 

• Anti-Aging – While NAD+ is commonly delivered through injection, clinics have started to provide it in IV form. Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) – a coenzyme that is found in your body’s cells naturally decreases with age. Replenishing it is said to provide a host of anti-aging benefits related to metabolism, skin quality, and more. [4]

• Athletic Performance Boost and Recovery – IV drips provide an efficient way for athletes to keep their performance at an all-time high. They can be used as a supplement for other post-exercise recovery techniques to reduce muscle soreness and replenish fluids and nutrients. These drip bags could include electrolytes, other hydration solutions, and amino acids.

• Stress and Hangover Relief – After a night out, IV therapy is useful for preventing the onset of hangover symptoms like nausea and headaches. This typically involves replenishing nutrients, rehydration, and medications like anti-nauseas, antacids, and pain relievers such as NSAIDs.

Start Offering IV Therapy in Your Clinic

IV therapy is a highly sought-after service that can elevate your practice and broaden your patient pool. Its diversity allows you to target a vast audience base and offer solutions for wellness, recovery, hydration, relief, and more. Introducing this new therapy can help you retain current patients, attract new ones, and provide a high level of personalization – an extremely valuable aspect of healthcare today. [5]

Looking for a reputable provider for IV therapy solutions? Legere Pharmaceuticals represents the highest standards in safety and reliability, boasting IV therapies formulated with FDA-approved drugs and standards. Our long list of IV therapy offerings can help your practice target a wide range of patient needs. Contact Legere Pharmaceuticals today and start growing your practice!