This Position Paper highlights that recently there has been a proliferation of wellness clinics offering on-site and mobile intravenous (IV) hydration and vitamin infusions, said to promote well-being and improved health. Some celebrities tout the benefits of these infusions and companies aggressively advertise their services on internet search engines. These companies advertise that hydration and vitamin infusions can be used to boost the immune system, increase energy levels, and treat everything from colds to hangovers, without any supportive data.
There is little evidence that these infusions provide benefit, as there is a lack of clinical trial data, except for some specific therapeutic situations. There is, however, evidence of the risks involved, albeit case reports. There are numerous accounts of adverse events, ranging from relatively minor infusion site reactions to thrombophlebitis, cellulitis, hematoma, and blood clots, and also to cases of fungal infection and septic shock. In most cases, the side effects will develop the few days following the infusion, at a time when there is no medical oversight. Additionally, underlying medical conditions, including chronic and acute kidney diseases, congestive heart failure, and liver diseases and cirrhosis, may be more sensitive to volemic changes.
Often these infusions are administered outside of a hospital or clinic setting and, sometimes, not under medical supervision using vitamins of unknown quality, preparation, and purity. This position statement highlights that these infusions should be given under medical supervision for valid medical reasons, with informed consent related to its benefits and risks, by a licensed and trained individual, be that a physician or other qualified healthcare provider, using pharmaceutical grade products prepared by a licensed pharmacist in a setting suitable for the preparation of intravenous products. Currently these “infusion clinics” are largely unregulated, highlighting the need for greater regulatory oversight. This statement was published to stress the need for greater patient awareness and education concerning the use of hydration clinics that are advertised as “safe” and treated like a spa treatment. These excessively positive advertisements overstate their therapeutic potential and understate their potential safety risks.
