IV therapy can be used for a wide range of health conditions and provide therapeutic benefits beyond what oral supplementation can achieve.
The primary advantage of IV therapy is that it allows us to administer nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract in the process. When nutrients are taken orally, their structure can be altered as they pass the lining of the small intestine or when they are transported through the liver (known as the “first pass effect”).
Another factor that influences the ability of oral nutrients to make it into the blood is digestive capacity. If a patient has inflammation in their intestines, nutrients won’t be efficiently absorbed through the intestinal wall. If patients are not responding to oral supplements as expected, a possible trial of IV treatment with the same nutrients to see if benefit is noticed could be considered.
IV therapy should not be a painful process. Practitioners trained in parenteral therapy learn the safe dosages of nutrients that can be administered and how to dilute them properly to prevent vein irritation. The only part of the process that may be expected to be uncomfortable is the initial insertion of the needle – fortunately, the needle gauge that is used is significantly smaller than that used for laboratory blood draws, and oftentimes any discomfort is mild and short-lived.
IV therapy is safe if it is administered in a careful, cautious manner. Adverse reactions to injected substances are rare, with most unwanted side effects coming from administering high doses too soon or too quickly. Allergic reactions to IV therapeutics are very rare but possible, thus a detailed history of patient allergies is crucial.