Are IV Drips for Hangovers Worth the Hype

When you wake up with a hangover, it's natural to want to feel better fast. Maybe you have a go-to hangover cure like black coffee and a greasy breakfast burrito, or a sports drink and ibuprofen.

Lounges featuring IV (intravenous) therapy are rising in popularity. So, you may be wondering if IV drips work for hangovers too.

But before you schedule an appointment, it may help to know if there's any scientific evidence to show they work. Are IV drips really worth the hype?

What's in an IV drip?

An IV drip is a way to deliver fluids directly into your bloodstream. In a medical setting, IV drips are relied upon to quickly deliver important, sometimes lifesaving, treatments including:

• Medications

• Fluids

• Electrolytes

• Blood products

But what about IV treatments that are available outside of a hospital? They can contain a variety of ingredients, but they typically include some mixture of:

• Water

• Electrolytes like sodium

• Minerals like magnesium or calcium

• Vitamins like B-complex or vitamin C

• Antioxidants like glutathione

Some IV drips may include medication for treating pain and reducing acid in the stomach.

Do IV drips cure hangovers?

No. There's no evidence that IV drips can cure hangovers. In fact, there isn't evidence to support any one cure for a hangover.

So why do people turn to IV drips for help with hangover symptoms?

Common hangover symptoms like headache, muscle aches, and nausea are often blamed on dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. It makes sense that an IV drip to deliver fluid and electrolytes quickly into the bloodstream would help with a hangover.

But recent research shows that there may not be a strong link between how severe your hangover is and any imbalances you may have in electrolytes, glucose, or hormones. How hangover symptoms develop is likely due to a variety of factors, including:

• The type of alcohol you consumed

• How much you drank

• How efficiently your body breaks down alcohol

What hangover symptoms can an IV drip help relieve?

Let's look at the evidence behind using IV drips to relieve hangover symptoms.

Dehydration

Alcohol can make you pee more. By blocking the release of the hormone vasopressin, alcohol acts like a diuretic (a medication that makes you urinate more). If you don't replace those fluids, you can become dehydrated. Dehydration can make certain hangover symptoms worse, like headache, thirst, and fatigue.

In most cases, IV drips won't rehydrate you any better than drinking fluids (oral hydration). And some research shows that IV hydration after a night of drinking doesn't improve symptoms of a hangover.

So, while it's important to replenish fluids after a night of drinking, there's no evidence that getting fluids in an IV drip will help you recover from a hangover faster.

Nausea and abdominal pain

Alcohol can irritate the lining of your stomach and cause extra acid production in your stomach. This can lead to hangover-related nausea and stomach pain. Some IV drips marketed toward treating hangovers contain antacids and anti-nausea medications.

IV antacids like ranitidine are used to treat excess stomach acid production and pain in a hospital setting. But research for the IV treatment of hangover-related nausea and abdominal pain is lacking. Over-the-counter (OTC) antacid medications that you take by mouth work just as well as the IV forms.

Body pain and headaches

Many people reach for OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and headaches after drinking. They can help decrease inflammation and pain caused by alcohol consumption.

Some pain relievers are given through an IV drip to help treat pain and fever. But there isn't any research on using these medications in an IV to help manage hangover symptoms. OTC pain relievers likely work just as well for hangover symptoms.

Keep in mind that some pain medications should be avoided when you're drinking or have a hangover. Ketorolac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) used to treat moderate to severe pain. But it can increase your risk of bleeding when taken with alcohol.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) doesn't cause bleeding. But it can increase your risk of liver damage when taken with alcohol. So, it's best to avoid these pain relievers - both orally and through an IV - when you're drinking.

Fatigue

Most people feel tired when they're hungover. This can be due to dehydration. Also, if heavy drinking leads to vomiting, that can cause you to lose important nutrients and electrolytes. This imbalance can make you feel more fatigued and weak.

IV hydration may be a tempting solution for fatigue. However, there's no research to support this use for a hangover. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend fulfilling your nutritional needs with real food over supplements whenever possible.

Where can you get an IV drip for a hangover?

If you're still curious about using an IV drip for your hangover symptoms, there are plenty of options. IV drips for a hangover can be found at:

• IV bars or clinics: These are non-medical facilities that usually offer a range of IV drip options.

• Medical spas: Also known as med spas, these facilities operate under a licensed healthcare professional (like a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist). They commonly offer medical-grade treatments in addition to spa services and IV drip therapies.

• Mobile IV services: Usually given by a licensed nurse or other qualified healthcare professional, mobile IV drip therapies can be scheduled and brought directly to wherever you need them, like your office or hotel room.

Hangovers can be miserable, but they're not dangerous. Still, it's good to keep an eye out for symptoms that may mean you're experiencing something other than a typical hangover. Get medical attention if you or a loved one:

• Experience hangover symptoms that last for more than 24 hours

• Are unable to keep any food or drinks down

• Have symptoms of alcohol poisoning including slow or irregular breathing, low body temperature, and seizures

Are there risks when getting an IV drip for a hangover?

While IV drips may seem relatively harmless, there are some risks to keep in mind.

Minor risks include pain where the needle is inserted and injury to the blood vessel. More serious risks include infection or making electrolyte imbalances worse instead of better.

Some heart and kidney problems make it harder for the body to accommodate a sudden increase of fluid in the bloodstream. IV drips can be dangerous for people with these conditions.

Keep in mind that the medications in IV drips you can get at an IV clinic or medical spa aren't regulated by the FDA. So there's no guarantee of the strength, purity, or safety of what you're being given by IV.