IV therapy is the administration of vitamins, minerals, amino acids or specific molecules through a vein. A substance given this way bypasses the digestive step and enters the systemic circulation directly — this is a difference in speed, not a guarantee of benefit. It is commonly called a “vitamin drip”. Whether IV therapy works depends on the substance, the person’s need and the goal; on this page I take these three variables one by one.
I am a specialist in anaesthesiology and reanimation; venous access, infusion and fluid-electrolyte management are core areas of my specialty. The intravenous route gives a difference in speed, not a guarantee of benefit; I do not recommend regular vitamin drips to someone whose blood tests show no deficiency.
How does the intravenous route differ from a tablet?
A vitamin taken by mouth is absorbed through the stomach and gut, passes through the liver and enters the circulation; at each of these steps the amount absorbed varies with the person, the state of the gut and the type of substance. The intravenous route skips these steps: the substance enters the blood directly and the blood level rises quickly.
Two conclusions follow. First, the intravenous route is a real advantage for someone with impaired gut absorption, someone who cannot take things by mouth, or someone who needs rapid correction. Second, a rapidly rising blood level does not mean the substance will benefit you; in a person with no deficiency a high blood level is excreted by the kidneys or returns to balance within a short time. Phrases like “one hundred percent absorption” are misleading for this reason; what is true is that the intravenous route is a difference in speed.
Does IV therapy really work?
The honest answer: it depends on the substance.
For a diagnosed deficiency — when oral intake is not enough or absorption is impaired — replacing the vitamin or mineral by injection or through a vein is a treatment carried out under the follow-up of the relevant specialty; it is not the subject of this page.
For supportive formulas in specific complaints — such as the Myers’ cocktail — the literature is limited and contradictory: the review that defines the formula rests on clinical observation and was published in a journal issued by a dietary supplement manufacturer 1; in a placebo-controlled pilot trial in fibromyalgia both groups improved and no significant difference was found between them 2. I do not hide that.
For specific molecules — NAD+, citicoline, exosomes — human data are limited. A small pilot study in healthy men showed that during the first two hours of the infusion NAD+ did not rise in plasma, being taken up by tissues or broken down, and that only later did its plasma level and breakdown products increase; clinical outcomes were not measured 3. Study 3 was carried out by authors connected with a clinic that provides IV NAD+; it was funded by a research organisation in this field, and the product was supplied free of charge. I write the evidence status of each molecule on its own page.
What I consistently observe in clinical practice is a reduction in the burden of fatigue during demanding periods, recovery phases and periods when oral intake falls short. I write this as experience, not as a promise.
The IV treatments I offer
| Treatment | What is given | When I consider it | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myers’ cocktail | B-group vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium (chloride or sulphate), calcium | Demanding periods, recovery, support in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue | Myers’ IV cocktail |
| NAD+ | The coenzyme of cellular energy metabolism | Brain-fog complaints accompanied by fatigue and low energy | NAD+ IV therapy |
| Citicoline (CDP-choline) | Precursor of a building block of the neuronal membrane | Difficulty focusing and recalling; after stroke, together with neurology | Citicoline IV therapy |
| Exosome IV | Extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells; a cell-free product | General well-being and systemic support; an area where evidence is still developing | Exosome IV |
I do not rank these treatments against each other; they can be planned in sequence in the same person, and I make that decision at consultation.
Who do I consider it for?
I assess the intravenous route particularly in three situations: when oral intake is insufficient or gut absorption is impaired; when someone is going through a demanding period or a recovery; and when we are assessing a specific molecule for a specific complaint.
The person I do not consider it for is also clear: someone with no deficiency on their blood tests, no complaint, and a wish for “regular drips”. I do not turn IV therapy into routine maintenance. Blood tests are requested at the first consultation; the decision on the intravenous route is made on the tests and the complaint.
Being honest about the level of evidence
The evidence for IV therapy cannot be summarised in one sentence. For a diagnosed deficiency, replacement is carried out under the follow-up of the relevant specialty; for supportive formulas the literature rests on small trials and clinical observation 12; for newer molecules human data are limited 3. Alongside studies reporting improvement there are studies reporting limited benefit; I do not give unsourced percentages. On each page I write the evidence status of that treatment separately.
Where do these treatments sit in a functional medicine plan?
I plan IV treatments as a supportive part of the functional medicine assessment; the main plan is oral supplementation and lifestyle adjustment. Ozone treatments are explained separately on the ozone therapy page.
The procedure and pain management
Topical anaesthetic cream is standard. Because I am an anaesthesiologist, I treat pain management as a separate part of the procedure.
I plan venous access and the infusion as part of this; what you feel is a brief sting as the line is placed.
Aftercare
Same day
- You can return to daily life; you can drive
- Drink plenty of water
Expected findings A small bruise at the venous access site may last 1–2 days. If redness, warmth or swelling develops at the access site, contact the clinic.
Advice for the other treatments is on the relevant page.
Safety and anatomy
Because allergic reactions can occur rarely, treatments are carried out under medical supervision.
With some substances a passing feeling of warmth can occur during the infusion. Each treatment has its own safety notes on its page.
Product status: The products I use are licensed or authorised medical products. Approval belongs to a product and to a specific indication, not to a technique or to a physician.
Who is not suitable
Treatment is not performed, or is postponed, in the following situations:
- Active infection or inflammation in the treatment area
- Autoimmune disease in an active phase
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Known hypersensitivity to the product components
- Uncontrolled chronic illness
- Untreated bleeding disorder or unregulated anticoagulant use
I do not perform these treatments during active cancer treatment. For a person with a history of cancer, I make the decision together with the treating specialist.
In intravenous treatments, with heart or kidney failure the decision is made at consultation, with fluid load in mind.
Contraindications specific to each method are listed on the relevant page.
Without being a medical contraindication, I also consider expectation and treatment to be mismatched in these situations:
- People without a deficiency on blood tests who want regular vitamin infusions
- People expecting a lasting result from a single session
- People who want to stop their current treatment — follow-up with the relevant specialty continues
- People with an undiagnosed complaint — a diagnosis comes first
Suitability is determined by consultation in every case.
Pricing
Under the applicable regulations, price information cannot be published on our website. The cost of a treatment depends on the product used, the technique chosen and the extent of the treatment. You can call the clinic for detailed information.
Frequently asked questions
Does IV therapy really work?
It depends on the substance. For a diagnosed deficiency, replacement is carried out under the follow-up of the relevant specialty; for supportive formulas the literature is limited and contradictory; for newer molecules human data are scarce. I do not recommend regular drips to someone with no deficiency.
What is the difference between a tablet and a drip?
The intravenous route bypasses the digestive step and enters the circulation directly; this is a difference in speed, not a guarantee of benefit. It is a real advantage for impaired absorption or when rapid correction is needed; in someone with no deficiency a high blood level returns to balance quickly.
How often is IV therapy done?
According to need. I do not recommend regular, open-ended use; I decide the frequency at consultation according to the complaint, the tests and the goal.
Planning your visit
My clinic is in Nişantaşı, Şişli, on the European side of Istanbul, approximately 45 minutes from Istanbul Airport.
For IV therapy I suggest planning a stay of two to three days: arrival, consultation and treatment, and departure. Because this treatment may be planned as more than one session, it may require more than one visit. The first session takes place in Istanbul, and we plan the schedule of any following sessions together according to your travel arrangements, with remote follow-up in between. Flying is generally appropriate 24 hours after an injectable treatment.
Consultations are conducted in English. Follow-up after you return home is arranged remotely, and I remain reachable for any questions during the period in which the result develops.
You can read how I offer these treatments at my clinic, IV Point, on the IV therapies page.
Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin — Specialist in Anaesthesiology and Reanimation Diploma Registration No: 113606
Published: 2026-09-21 · Last updated: 2026-09-28 This content has been medically reviewed by Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin.
References
- Gaby AR. Intravenous nutrient therapy: the “Myers’ cocktail”. Altern Med Rev. 2002;7(5):389–403. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12410623/ — The journal’s publisher is a dietary supplement manufacturer; the review is based on the author’s clinical experience.
- Ali A, Njike VY, Northrup V, et al. Intravenous micronutrient therapy (Myers’ Cocktail) for fibromyalgia: a placebo-controlled pilot study. J Altern Complement Med. 2009;15(3):247–257. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19250003/
- Grant R, Berg J, Mestayer R, et al. A pilot study investigating changes in the human plasma and urine NAD+ metabolome during a 6 hour intravenous infusion of NAD+. Front Aging Neurosci. 2019;11:257. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31572171/ — One author is medical director of a clinic that provides IV NAD+ and a director of the organisation that funded the study; one author received consulting fees from that organisation; the product was supplied free of charge (the article’s conflict-of-interest statement and acknowledgements).