Is IV Therapy Safe?
Risks and Who Should Avoid It

IV therapy is generally low risk for healthy adults when a registered nurse gives it after proper medical screening, but it is a medical procedure and it does carry real risks. The common ones are minor: bruising, discomfort or irritation where the needle goes in. Less common risks include infection, an allergic reaction to an ingredient and, in people with heart or kidney problems, too much fluid. Some people should avoid certain ingredients altogether, for example high-dose vitamin C in people with G6PD deficiency. This guide sets out those risks honestly, with sources, explains who should avoid a drip or check with a doctor first, and describes how we screen every client at mobivIVe. We have given more than 15,000 IV treatments since 2021, every one by a registered nurse working under the protocols of our medical director, Dr Chris van Zyl.

This guide was written under the medical direction of Dr Chris van Zyl (registered as M.C. van Zyl, HPCSA MP0287067), mobivIVe’s medical director. Our IV drips are given by registered nurses after a medical screening questionnaire.

Is IV therapy safe?

For most healthy adults, a short vitamin drip given by a trained nurse with sterile equipment is low risk, but it is not risk free. Cleveland Clinic lists the main risks as infection or bruising at the needle site, a blockage in a blood vessel, vitamin toxicity if doses are too high and interactions with medicines. It also warns that many hydration clinics and spas are largely unregulated and suggests asking whether a licensed medical director provides oversight. In South Africa injectable vitamins, glutathione, NAD+ and saline are Schedule 3 medicines, which is why the setting and the person giving the drip matter as much as the ingredients.

What are the most common side effects of an IV drip?

The most common side effects are local: a small bruise, mild stinging or a cool feeling in the arm while the fluid runs. Some people notice a taste in the mouth with certain vitamins, or feel light-headed if they have not eaten. Irritation of the vein (phlebitis) is the complication hospitals track most closely. A large review of 76,977 hospital IV catheters found phlebitis in 4.5% to 19.3% depending on how it was defined, and leakage of fluid into the surrounding tissue in 13.7% (Marsh et al., Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2020). Those catheters often stayed in for days; a drip that runs for about 45 minutes is a much shorter exposure, but the same care applies.

Can an IV drip cause an infection?

Yes, any needle in a vein can let bacteria in, which is why sterile technique is essential. The MSD Manual reports severe infections, including deaths, linked to improperly sterilised equipment in IV vitamin settings. Good practice means single-use sterile cannulas and lines, cleaning the skin before insertion, preparing each bag for one person and removing the cannula as soon as the drip is finished. Watch the site for a day or two afterwards. Increasing redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever are not normal, and you should contact us or a doctor straight away if you notice them.

Can you have an allergic reaction to an IV drip?

Allergic reactions are uncommon, but they can happen with any injected substance. The MSD Manual notes that large doses of thiamine (vitamin B1) can cause anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, and that a fast infusion can drop blood pressure and cause light-headedness or fainting. Signs to report immediately include itching, a rash, swelling of the lips or face, tightness in the chest or difficulty breathing. This is one reason a nurse stays with you for the whole infusion and controls the flow rate. Always tell us about previous reactions to vitamins, medicines, plasters or latex.

What is fluid overload and who is at risk?

Fluid overload means the body receives more fluid than the heart and kidneys can comfortably handle. Healthy kidneys clear extra saline easily, but people with heart failure, kidney disease or high blood pressure may not. The MSD Manual warns that fluid overload can occur in people with heart conditions or high blood pressure, and that magnesium or potassium infusions can cause abnormal heart rhythms in people whose blood levels are already abnormal. This is why we ask about your heart, kidneys and blood pressure before every drip. A smaller 200ml bag, available at no extra cost, is one option the nurse may suggest.

Is high-dose vitamin C safe for everyone?

No. People with G6PD deficiency, an inherited enzyme condition, should not receive high doses of vitamin C because of the risk of haemolysis (red blood cells breaking down). This is stated in the US National Cancer Institute’s professional summary on high-dose vitamin C, which also notes kidney failure after vitamin C in people with existing kidney disorders. A review of 74 studies found high-dose IV vitamin C was no more harmful than placebo in double-blind trials, but recorded cases of oxalate kidney damage, kidney stones and haemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients (Yanase et al., Critical Care Medicine, 2020). If you know or suspect you have G6PD deficiency or kidney stones, tell us first.

Who should avoid IV therapy or check with a doctor first?

Anyone with a heart, kidney or liver condition, anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone on chronic medication should check before having a drip. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding IV vitamin therapy if you are under care for heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease or pregnancy, and the MSD Manual gives similar advice for the Myers cocktail. Also tell us about G6PD deficiency, kidney stones, diabetes, blood thinners, previous allergic reactions and recent surgery. For pregnancy we have a separate formula, The Prego Hydration, but you still need to tell us and may be asked to check with your own doctor first.

Why does medical screening and a registered nurse matter?

Screening catches the people for whom a drip, or a particular ingredient, is not suitable before anything goes into a vein. At mobivIVe every client completes a medical screening questionnaire, and a registered nurse reviews it before placing the cannula. Our nurses work under the protocols of our medical director, Dr Chris van Zyl (HPCSA MP0287067), which set out which drips suit which situations and when to refer you to a doctor. A nurse also knows how to choose a suitable vein, keep everything sterile, set a safe flow rate and respond if you feel unwell. If the answers raise a concern, the nurse will not go ahead until it is resolved.

What should I expect during and after a drip?

Expect a short screening chat, a small pinch as the cannula goes in, then about 45 minutes of sitting comfortably while the bag runs. Eat something beforehand and drink water. Tell the nurse straight away if the arm becomes painful, swollen or very cold, or if you feel dizzy, itchy or short of breath. Afterwards a plaster goes on and you can usually carry on with your day. A small bruise may appear and fades within a few days. If you have questions afterwards, WhatsApp or call us on 061 509 6038. For what goes into each drip, see What is an IV drip? and our drip menu.