Intravenous (IV) vitamin therapy (also known as IV micronutrient therapy and hydration therapy) facilitates rapid, high blood levels of vitamins.
The Myers' cocktail is a popular formula among complementary and alternative medicine providers for IV vitamin therapy (1
(See also Overview of Dietary Supplements.)
Claims
IV vitamin therapy is supposedly best used for people who cannot get enough vitamins and minerals because they cannot eat enough food or an illness prevents them from absorbing nutrients (2).
Some advocates claim that IV vitamin therapy can enhance wellness even in people who do not have vitamin (or mineral) deficiencies. Clinics and companies offering the Myers' cocktail and other high-dose IV vitamin formulations claim that these infusions can do the following:
Treat dehydration after extreme exercise or too much alcohol intake
Boost the immune system
Increase levels of energy and reduce fatigue
Relieve stress, anxiety, and depression
Eliminate toxins from the body
Make skin healthier
Treat asthma, allergies, chronic sinusitis, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, diabetes, heart disease, acute muscle spasms, and Parkinson disease
Treat migraine and tension headaches
Evidence
There is insufficient scientific evidence that IV vitamin therapy has any of the above beneficial effects or is effective for treating any disease (3, 4).
In 2018, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged a company marketing and selling the Myers' cocktail and other IV vitamin and mineral infusions of making "deceptive and unsupported health claims" about the ability of these infusions to treat such diseases as cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and heart failure. The FTC argued that these health treatments and efficacy claims were false or not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence (see FTC Cases and Proceedings).
Adverse Effects
In people with abnormalities in blood levels of magnesium or potassium, infusions containing magnesium or, less commonly, potassium, can cause arrhythmias or muscle weakness.
If the infusion is administered too quickly, it can lower blood pressure (probably due to the magnesium), which can lead to light-headedness and fainting. However, some people may have a gradual increase in blood pressure.
Other adverse effects that have been reported are depression, insomnia, and upset stomach.
The safety of IV vitamin therapy in pregnant and breastfeeding women has not been studied.
Drug Interactions
Which drugs interact with IV vitamin treatments depends on which vitamins and minerals are infused and their doses. Following are a few examples of interactions:
Magnesium may interact with antihypertensives, resulting in low blood pressure.
References
1. Gaby AR: Intravenous nutrient therapy: the "Myers' cocktail". Altern Med Rev 7(5):389-403, 2002.
2. Wells C, Butcher R, McCormack S: Intravenous multivitamin therapy use in hospital or outpatient settings: a review of clinical effectiveness and guidelines. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; October 15, 2020.
3. Ali A, Njike VY, Northrup V, et al: Intravenous micronutrient therapy (Myers' Cocktail) for fibromyalgia: a placebo-controlled pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 15(3):247-257, 2009. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0410
4. Flannery AH, Adkins DA, Cook AM: Unpeeling the evidence for the banana bag: evidence-based recommendations for the management of alcohol-associated vitamin and electrolyte deficiencies in the ICU. Crit Care Med 44(8):1545-1552, 2016. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000001659
