How safe is IV therapy? When done by nurses with years of experience administering intravenous treatments, it is extremely safe.
Many of the potential negative side effects for IV insertions are taken out of the equation with us at IV Revival. Our staff consists of nurses with intensive experience — our owner, Megan Jore, has been a nurse for over nine years. However, we feel it’s important for you to know the potential risks of IV therapy and how you can avoid them.
Is It Sterile?
Like with any medical procedures that pierces the skin, there is a small risk for infection. The skin is the first layer of defense your body has against bacteria. Bypassing that defense can increase your chances of getting sick because it is a direct path to your bloodstream.
Thankfully, the risk of infection is extremely low. Risks are typically higher when the needle is not sterile, and your skin is not cleaned before the needle is inserted. An experienced nurse would never expose you to a compromised needle nor would they leave the injection sight uncleaned.
The needle we use at IV Revival is extremely small and leaves almost no open wound, thus reducing your risk of an infection even further.
If you’re concerned about going to a clinic, try our mobile therapy. We will come right to your door and you can watch us set up the IV and clean the injection site. You will be in the comfort of your home too. There will be no guesswork as to who sat on your couch last!
Is There A Risk Of Vitamin Toxicity?
You may have seen articles about celebrities being hospitalized after receiving vitamin therapy. This is a valid health concern, but rest easy. Not all IV therapy clinics offer treatments that can cause harm if you have too much in your system.
Vitamins and minerals that you can have too much of are fat soluble. This means they are stored in your fat and are not dissolved by water. They are vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Too much vitamin A, also called hypervitaminosis A or vitamin A toxicity, is the typical cause of hospitalization from IV vitamin treatments. It can be acute or chronic. Acute is when your body builds up too much vitamin A in a short period of time, such as during an IV session. Chronic is over a long period of time.
Acute symptoms include blurry vision, bone pains, poor appetite, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, yellowed skin, hair loss, and more. Symptoms of chronic cases include drowsiness, irritability, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, increased pressure on the brain.
Vitamin A toxicity can cause liver damage, osteoporosis, excessive calcium buildup, kidney damage, and increased pressure on your brain.
Thankfully, vitamin toxicity is easily avoidable. Choose treatments with water soluble vitamins and minerals instead of fat-soluble ones.
To make it easy, IV Revival’s menu is 100% water soluble, meaning there is no risk! Everything on our menu is completely safe, even if you have the daily recommended amount of vitamins already in your system prior to the IV. Because it is intravenously inserted, your body will absorb exactly what you need and will flush what you don’t over the next few days.
Who Preps and Inserts My IV?
Only a trained medical professional should prepare and insert an IV. Poor needle placement, air in the tube and vein inflammation can all occur if the staff is not properly certified.
Poor needle placement can cause the IV fluid to leak into your soft tissues, resulting in swelling. This is harmless, but it can lead to cool, firm or pale skin around the injection sight. It will heal within a few days.
Air in the IV tube can be a cause for concern too. Called an air embolism, this is where a large amount of air enters the vein via the IV. Small air embolisms will dissipate in your bloodstream without causing any harm to you. Large air embolisms are extremely rare in IVs and should not be a concern.
If a large amount of air enters your vein (over 1 CC per kilogram of weight of air), it can travel to your heart, brain or lungs and can cause serious medical complications such as heart attacks, strokes, or respiratory failure. A majority of air embolisms are caused by scuba diving or surgeries.
When administered by a medical professional, IVs are one of the safest medical procedures you can get.
So Is IV Therapy Safe?
Yes! IV therapy is extremely safe when done through a reputable clinic and administered by medical professionals. Know your medical records and any pre-existing conditions. If you’re worried about getting too much of a good thing, go for water soluble vitamins and minerals instead.
If you’re curious about trying IV therapy, consider requesting an appointment with us at IV Revival. Our team of trained nurses can answer any questions you may have and will provide you with a safe and comfortable experience in your own home. Give us a call today.