Wellness & IV Therapy

IV Therapy

Intravenous infusions of vitamins, minerals, hydration, glutathione, and specialty compounds like NAD+ delivered directly into the bloodstream for energy, recovery, immune support, and anti-aging.

Also called: NAD+, vitamin drip, IV vitamin therapy, Myers cocktail, NAD IV, IV infusion, wellness IV, hydration IV, vitamin IV

Medically reviewed by Dr. Victoria Taraska, MD, FRCPC

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Typical cost

$100–$1,000

per infusion

Sessions

Single sessions or weekly/monthly memberships

typical course

Downtime

None. Return to normal activity immediately

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IV therapy has exploded from niche wellness clinics into mainstream med spas because the value proposition is clear: get vitamins and hydration delivered directly into your bloodstream in 30–60 minutes, with effects you can often feel immediately. From hangover cures to NAD+ anti-aging protocols, IV drips have become a regular maintenance treatment for an active wellness-focused clientele.

This guide breaks down what IV therapy actually does, the major formulations, what to expect at a med spa, and how to choose between the dozens of marketed options.

What IV therapy actually does

IV therapy delivers fluids and nutrients directly into your bloodstream via an intravenous catheter. The clinical advantage: 100% absorption rate, bypassing the digestive system entirely. Whether that matters depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.

The most common goals:

Rapid rehydration (legitimate medical use: IV fluids treat dehydration faster than drinking)
Vitamin and mineral replenishment (genuinely useful if you have deficiencies)
Hangover recovery (combines hydration + anti-nausea + B vitamins)
Athletic recovery (post-workout hydration + amino acids)
Immune support during illness (high-dose vitamin C + zinc)
Energy and wellness maintenance (Myers’ Cocktail, NAD+, B12)
Beauty and anti-aging (glutathione, biotin, NAD+)

The most common IV drips

Myers’ Cocktail ($175–$275)

The classic. Magnesium, calcium, vitamins B5, B6, B12, B-complex, and vitamin C. Marketed for fatigue, migraines, immune support, and general wellness. Most common entry-level drip.

Hydration Drip ($100–$175)

Saline + electrolytes. Quick and effective for dehydration, hangovers, post-flight fatigue, or after intense exercise. The most evidence-based formulation.

Immune Boost / Vitamin C ($175–$300)

High-dose vitamin C, zinc, B vitamins. Marketed for illness prevention and recovery. Real evidence supports vitamin C’s role during active illness.

Beauty Drip ($200–$350)

Biotin + glutathione + vitamin C + B vitamins. Marketed for skin, hair, and nail health. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant; biotin supports keratin production.

Hangover Recovery ($175–$275)

Hydration + anti-nausea medication (Zofran) + B vitamins + pain relief. Among the most effective and evidence-based IV uses: it works because it directly addresses hangover physiology.

Athletic Performance ($200–$350)

Hydration + amino acids (carnitine, taurine, glutamine) + B vitamins. Popular with marathoners, CrossFit athletes, and serious gym-goers.

NAD+ Anti-Aging ($500–$1,000+ per session)

Premium tier. NAD+ is a coenzyme that declines with age and is critical to cellular energy production. Sessions take 2–4 hours due to slow infusion required. Typically done as a loading series of 5–10 sessions.

Glutathione Push ($75–$150)

Often added to other drips. Powerful antioxidant marketed for skin brightening, detox, and immune support.

What to expect at a med spa IV appointment

A typical first appointment runs 45–75 minutes total:

Brief medical history review (5–10 min): a nurse asks about allergies, medications, and goals
Vein assessment (2–3 min): usually arm vein, sometimes hand
IV insertion (1–2 min): feels like a brief pinch
Infusion (20–60 min depending on formula): you sit/lie comfortably; reading, scrolling, napping
Removal and brief recovery (5 min)

You can usually drive immediately after and return to normal activity. Some patients feel an energy boost within minutes; others report effects building over the following 24 hours.

How often is too often?

Honest guidance:

One-time / as-needed is the best use case for most healthy adults (hangover, post-flight, illness recovery, big event prep)
Monthly maintenance is reasonable for general wellness: the cost is comparable to other monthly self-care
Weekly is appropriate for athletes during heavy training but excessive for non-athletes
NAD+ loading series (5–10 sessions over 2–4 weeks) followed by monthly or quarterly maintenance is the standard anti-aging protocol

More frequent than monthly without a specific clinical reason is more about ritual than evidence: your kidneys efficiently excrete excess water-soluble vitamins, so you’re literally paying for expensive urine.

Choosing a med spa for IV therapy

Look for:

Licensed RNs performing the IVs, not unlicensed staff
Sterile technique (single-use needles, proper site prep, clean facility)
Medical director overseeing protocols
Clear formulation transparency: they should tell you exactly what’s in each drip
Willingness to customize based on your medical history and goals
Reasonable upsell behavior: pressure to do NAD+ on your first visit is a yellow flag

Avoid: clinics that won’t show you what’s in the IV, won’t review your medical history, or push aggressive add-ons on a first visit.

Browse IV Therapy / NAD+ providers near you on ClinicCompass to compare local pricing and book a consultation.

Where to compare IV therapy

IV drip and NAD+ pricing varies widely by formulation and membership. Compare Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, and Nashville. Wellness-focused patients often pair IV therapy with hair restoration or a medical weight loss program.

Why people choose IV Therapy

100% absorption directly into the bloodstream (bypasses digestion)
Immediate effects for hydration and energy; cumulative benefits for NAD+ and anti-aging
Customizable formulations (Myers, Beauty, Immunity, Hangover, NAD+, etc.)
Most appointments take 30–60 minutes with no recovery

Are you a good candidate?

Anyone seeking energy, recovery, hydration, immune support, anti-aging benefits, or relief from hangovers, jet lag, or post-workout fatigue

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By location

Find IV Therapy near you

1,615 clinics across 404 cities list IV Therapy on ClinicCompass. 994 of them (62%) say on their own websites that they offer financing or payment plans; ask about approval and interest before you book.

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Texas → Lawrence Kansas → London Ontario → Melbourne Florida → York Pennsylvania → Coeur d'Alene Idaho → Kenosha Wisconsin → Augusta Georgia → Barrie Ontario → Reading Pennsylvania → St. Catharines Ontario → St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador → Owensboro Kentucky → Morristown New Jersey → Hartford Connecticut → Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario → Regina Saskatchewan → Charleston West Virginia → Rochester Michigan → Miami Beach Florida → Gainesville Georgia → Columbia Maryland → Woodbury Minnesota → Clearwater Florida → North Vancouver British Columbia → Rockwall Texas → Flower Mound Texas → Birmingham Michigan → Overland Park Kansas → Brentwood Tennessee → Georgetown Kentucky → New Braunfels Texas → Longmont Colorado → Santa Clarita California → Brandon Florida → Ajax Ontario → Jupiter Florida → Hinsdale Illinois → Westlake Village California → Paramus New Jersey → Milton Ontario → Doral Florida → Fairfax Virginia → Summerville South Carolina → Wesley Chapel Florida → Orland Park Illinois → Brookfield Wisconsin → Aurora Ontario → Dublin Ohio → Westlake Ohio → Cambridge Ontario → Peachtree City Georgia → Cedar Park Texas → Garden City New York → Kailua Hawaii → Berkeley California → Twin Falls Idaho → Lake Oswego Oregon → Issaquah Washington → Whitby Ontario → Pickering Ontario → The Bronx New York → Rio Rancho New Mexico → Jackson Wyoming → St. Cloud Minnesota → Pocatello Idaho → Thousand Oaks California → Los Gatos California → Puyallup Washington → Sudbury Ontario → Red Bank New Jersey → Highlands Ranch Colorado → Framingham Massachusetts → Ridgewood New Jersey → Largo Florida → Danville California →

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IV Therapy guides & cost breakdowns

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Wellness

NAD+ IV Therapy: What the Hype Gets Right (and Wrong)

NAD+ is the most expensive drip on every med spa menu and the most hyped molecule in longevity circles. Here's an honest read on the evidence, the price, and whether you're the person it makes sense for.

Read post →

Frequently asked

IV Therapy questions, answered

How much does IV therapy cost?

Standard IV drips (Myers' Cocktail, hydration, vitamin C, immunity) typically run $150–$300 per session in the US. Premium formulations with glutathione, B12 boosters, or beauty add-ins run $250–$400. NAD+ infusions are the premium tier at $500–$1,000+ per session due to the cost of the NAD+ itself. Most med spas offer membership pricing, typically $99–$199/month for monthly drips with discounted add-ons. B12 injections (the IM shot, not IV) are much cheaper at $25–$50.

Does IV therapy actually work, or is it a placebo?

Honest answer: depends what you're using it for. **Strong evidence**: IV hydration genuinely treats dehydration faster than oral intake; IV iron, B12, and high-dose vitamin C have clear medical applications. **Weaker evidence** for wellness IVs in healthy people. Most healthy adults don't have nutrient deficiencies that an IV would correct. The energy/wellness benefits many people report are partly the placebo of taking 45 minutes for self-care plus the immediate effect of hydration. NAD+ has growing but still early research support for cellular energy and anti-aging. Bottom line: helpful for specific situations (hangover, post-workout, post-flight, illness recovery); less validated as routine maintenance.

What is a Myers' Cocktail?

The Myers' Cocktail is the most popular IV drip formula, invented by Dr. John Myers in the 1970s. Standard formulation: magnesium, calcium, vitamins B5, B6, B12, B-complex, and vitamin C in a saline base. Marketed for: energy, immune support, fatigue, migraines, fibromyalgia, and general wellness. Takes 30–45 minutes. Typically $175–$275 at US med spas. It's the entry-level IV most patients try first.

What does NAD+ IV therapy do?

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme critical to cellular energy production that declines significantly with age. IV NAD+ supplementation is marketed for: anti-aging, cognitive clarity, addiction recovery, athletic recovery, and chronic fatigue. The research is genuinely promising for cellular aging benefits but still developing: much of the strongest data comes from animal studies. Patients report feeling more focused and energetic; some describe an immediate sense of well-being. Sessions take 2–4 hours (it's a slow infusion to prevent side effects). Cost: $500–$1,000+ per session, often done as a 5–10 session loading series.

Are there side effects from IV therapy?

Common: cold sensation during infusion, vitamin taste in the mouth (from B vitamins), mild flushing. Less common: nausea, headache, dizziness, bruising at injection site. NAD+ specifically can cause chest tightness, flushing, or muscle aches during the infusion. These resolve when the infusion rate is slowed. Rare but serious: vein irritation/phlebitis, infection at the IV site, allergic reaction. As with any injectable, the provider's experience matters significantly: choose med spas with licensed nurses and proper sterile technique.

How often should I get IV therapy?

Depends on your goals. **Acute use** (hangover, illness recovery, post-flight): single sessions as needed. **General wellness**: most patients do monthly maintenance. **Athletic recovery**: weekly during training; bi-weekly during off-season. **NAD+ for anti-aging**: typically a loading series of 5–10 sessions over 2–4 weeks, then monthly or quarterly maintenance. Many med spas offer monthly membership packages that work out to roughly $99–$199/month with discounted add-ons.

What's the difference between IV therapy and just taking vitamins?

IV therapy delivers nutrients directly into the bloodstream at 100% absorption rate, bypassing digestion entirely. Oral vitamins have variable absorption, typically 10–50% depending on the nutrient, your gut health, and what you ate with them. For people with absorption issues (Crohn's, celiac, post-bariatric surgery) or specific deficiencies (B12 in vegetarians), IV is genuinely more effective. For most healthy adults with a decent diet, the practical difference is smaller than marketing suggests: oral vitamins work fine if you're not deficient.

Who shouldn't get IV therapy?

Patients with congestive heart failure, severe kidney disease, or specific electrolyte disorders should avoid IV therapy without medical clearance: the fluid load and mineral content can be dangerous. NAD+ specifically should be avoided in pregnancy, certain cancers, and severe heart disease. Anyone with a history of severe vein issues, blood clotting disorders, or G6PD deficiency (relevant for high-dose vitamin C) should disclose this. A med spa nurse should review your medical history before any first-time IV session.

Sources

Where this information comes from

Clinical facts on this page are checked against these primary sources.

1.FDA reminds compounders not to use dietary supplement grade glutathione for injectables, U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationDocuments at least 30 patients who had adverse events (fever, chills, pain, dizziness, signs of shock and sepsis-like symptoms) after IV glutathione compounded from dietary-supplement-grade material contaminated with endotoxins, backing this page's caution that IV therapy safety depends heavily on the provider's sterile technique and that infection or a serious reaction, while rare, is a real risk.
2.FDA reminds compounders to use ingredients suitable for sterile compounding, U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationConfirms FDA adverse event reports of severe chills, shaking, vomiting, and fatigue following NAD+ injections compounded from food-grade (not sterile-grade) NAD+ contaminated with endotoxins, supporting this page's point that NAD+ specifically carries infusion-related risks and that provider sourcing and sterile technique matter.
3.Vitamin C-induced Hemolysis: Meta-summary and Review of Literature, PubMed Central, National Institutes of HealthConfirms high-dose intravenous vitamin C can precipitate hemolysis, disproportionately in patients with G6PD deficiency (71.4% of reviewed hemolysis cases), backing this page's caution that G6PD deficiency is relevant for high-dose vitamin C and should be disclosed before treatment.
4.A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD+, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (PubMed Central, National Institutes of Health)An early human pilot study of IV NAD+ infusion (administered slowly over 6 hours) that illustrates why this page describes NAD+ human research as still developing, with infusions given slowly to manage the compound's rapid plasma clearance.

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