Intravenous (IV) therapy involves the administration of fluids, medications, or nutrients directly into a vein, whether central or peripheral, and is used in a variety of medical situations.
What is Intravenous Therapy?
Intravenous therapy, also known as IV infusion, involves administering bioactive substances directly into the bloodstream. This treatment is commonly used for its restorative and regenerative effects, providing essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and amino acids.
The therapy delivers immediate results and has a wide range of applications. Therapeutic protocols are tailored to the specific needs of each patient, considering the tolerability of the ingredients. For each treatment plan, an optimal composition of the substances must be determined, taking into account factors such as the compatibility of the active ingredients with one another and with the patient, the overall osmotic balance, and individual tolerability.
IV Therapy, the international term for intravenous therapy, is focused on restoring optimal nutrient levels to support the body’s natural healing processes.
Compared to traditional oral supplements, where a significant portion of the active ingredient is lost due to the filtering effects of the intestines and liver, intravenous treatment allows for higher dosages to be administered from the start. The active ingredients delivered intravenously have much greater absorption, as they bypass the digestive system and reach the target organs or tissues directly—such as muscles, the brain, or the skin.
This method leads to immediate and long-lasting benefits, which patients typically notice shortly after the treatment, with effects lasting for days or even weeks.
Areas of Application
Administered by a nurse under a physician’s prescription, intravenous therapy can be performed in both hospital and home settings.
It is particularly useful for addressing common conditions, including:
- Psycho-physical stress
- Chronic fatigue
- Sleep disorders
- Overweight
- Nutritional disorders
- Medication abuse or alcohol after-effects
In general, IV Therapy is also suitable for helping to slow down body and cellular aging processes such as anti-aging, going to: prevent age-related diseases; give greater physical energy and mental clarity; improve the immune system; indirectly increase productivity in the workplace.
The therapy has proven beneficial in various clinical contexts, including:
- In preventive medicine: with the aim of maximizing the efficiency of the immune system
- In restorative therapy: Infusion therapy is used for regenerative purposes after intense exertion, debilitating illness, or stressful therapy
- In potentiative and detox medicine: to improve clinical conditions in many pathologies, including migraine, chronic asthma, hepatosteatosis, metabolic syndrome and many others
How an Intravenous Therapy Session Works
Before beginning IV therapy, a doctor conducts a consultation with the patient to assess symptoms, treatment needs, and any potential contraindications. Additional instrumental and laboratory tests may be required to evaluate the patient’s health and tailor the treatment to their individual needs.
Once the necessary tests have been completed, a customized therapeutic program is developed, detailing the infusion cocktail, the number of sessions, and the duration of the treatment. In some cases, specific monitoring may be recommended throughout the treatment course. The patient’s informed consent is required before starting therapy.
During the session, the patient lies comfortably on a couch while the doctor or nurse inserts a butterfly or cannula needle into a vein, typically in the arm. The IV is administered via slow drip infusion, with each session lasting between 30 and 60 minutes. Afterward, the patient can resume their normal activities.
Sessions are usually scheduled on a daily, biweekly, weekly, or monthly basis, depending on the therapeutic plan, with treatment courses ranging from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 30 sessions.
