What Is an IV Drip?
A South African Guide

An IV drip is a bag of sterile saline, mixed with vitamins, minerals or antioxidants, that runs straight into a vein through a thin tube, usually over about 45 minutes. Because the fluid goes directly into the bloodstream, it skips the gut, which is why IV vitamin levels in the blood can rise far higher than with tablets. People choose a drip as a hydration and vitamin top-up, before a big event, after a long flight or when they want to feel refreshed after a late night. At mobivIVe we have given more than 15,000 IV treatments since 2021, in walk-in lounges in Sunninghill, Stellenbosch and Queenstown (Komani) and through mobile nurses who come to your home, office or hotel. This guide explains what goes into a drip, how it compares with oral vitamins, what it costs in South Africa, who should check with us first and how to book. Every drip is given by a registered nurse after a medical screening questionnaire.

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.

What is an IV drip?

An IV drip (intravenous therapy) delivers fluid and nutrients directly into a vein through a small cannula, usually in the arm or hand. Hospitals have used IV fluids for decades to give fluids and medicines quickly. Wellness IV therapy uses the same method to give a saline bag mixed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants such as vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium and glutathione. A trained nurse places the cannula, connects the bag and controls the flow rate, then stays with you while it runs. When the bag is empty the cannula is removed and a small plaster goes on. Injectable vitamins and saline are Schedule 3 medicines in South Africa, so a drip should only be given under medical oversight, never at a salon or by an untrained person.

How is an IV drip different from taking vitamins orally?

The main difference is how much reaches your blood: oral vitamins are absorbed through the gut in limited amounts, while IV nutrients go straight into the circulation. A study by the US National Institutes of Health found that 1.25g of vitamin C taken by mouth produced a peak blood level of about 135 micromol/L, compared with about 885 micromol/L when the same dose was given intravenously, roughly 6.5 times higher (Padayatty et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, 2004). The researchers concluded that oral vitamin C levels are tightly controlled by the body. Higher blood levels do not automatically mean better results, and for most healthy people a balanced diet covers daily needs. A drip is simply a different route, not a replacement for good food.

What is usually in an IV drip?

Most drips start with a saline (salt water) bag and add a mix of water-soluble vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Common ingredients include vitamin C, an antioxidant the body needs to make collagen; B vitamins such as B12 and thiamine (B1), which help the body turn food into energy; magnesium and calcium; zinc and selenium; and glutathione, the body’s own antioxidant. Many drips are built on the Myers cocktail, a classic mix of B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and calcium (see What is a Myers cocktail?). At mobivIVe you choose a 200ml or 1000ml saline bag at no extra cost, and extra vitamins can be added. You can browse every formula and its ingredient list on our drip menu.

What are the benefits of an IV drip?

The clear, measurable effect of a drip is that it delivers fluid and nutrients quickly and raises blood levels of those nutrients more than tablets can. Beyond that, the evidence is honest about its limits. Cleveland Clinic notes there is limited scientific evidence of a direct general wellness benefit from IV vitamins and that high-quality studies are still needed. What people tell us they value is practical: a hydration and vitamin top-up in under an hour, a calm 45 minutes in a lounge chair, or a nurse coming to them before a wedding, after a long-haul flight or during a busy week. We do not claim that a drip treats, cures or prevents any illness, and you should keep seeing your own doctor for any medical condition.

How long does an IV drip take?

Most of our drips take about 45 minutes from the moment the bag starts running. Allow about an hour in total for the screening questions, placing the cannula and a short rest afterwards. Some formulas run longer because they are given more slowly: The Heartbeat and The Sinus Reliever take about 60 minutes, The Anagen, The Open Airways and The Sex Drive about 90 minutes, and our NAD+ drips about 90 minutes (250mg) or 120 minutes (500mg). NAD+ is always given slowly in a 200ml bag because a fast infusion can feel uncomfortable. You can read, work on your phone or simply rest while the drip runs.

How often can you have an IV drip?

There is no single correct frequency; it depends on your health, your screening answers and the drip you choose. Many clients book occasionally, for example before an event or after travel, while others follow a structured programme such as our Reverse Aging Programme (5 x NAD+ 250mg and 2 x Anti-Clockwise) or Heartbeat Programme (8 x Heartbeat). More is not automatically better. The MSD Manual points out that very few studies have tested the Myers cocktail in people without a deficiency. Our nurses review your screening each visit and work under Dr Chris van Zyl’s protocols, so they will advise if a drip is not suitable or if you should speak to a doctor first.

How much does an IV drip cost in South Africa?

At mobivIVe our drips cost R750 to R3,050, depending on the formula. Examples: The Student Drip R750, Dr John Myers (our Myers cocktail) R1,050, The Babelas Beater R1,250, The Kick-Start and The Light Switch R1,350 each, MobiNAD+ 250mg R1,300, and The Royal IV, our all-in-one formula, R2,650. A custom Fingerprint drip, where you choose your own vitamins with the nurse, starts from R440. The 200ml or 1000ml saline bag is included; a 1000ml bag with dextrose is R200 extra. For mobile visits a call-out fee applies: R400 minimum, or R150 per person for groups (first 15km).

Lounge or mobile: where can I have a drip?

You can walk into one of our treatment lounges or have a registered nurse come to you. Our lounges are in Sunninghill Village Shopping Centre, Sandton; 5 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch; and Medipark, 43 Grey Street, Komani (Queenstown). Mobile nurses cover Johannesburg, the Winelands and Cape Town areas including Camps Bay, Sea Point, Durbanville, Bellville, Table View, Bloubergstrand, Somerset West and Strand. A mobile drip suits group bookings, hotel stays, office wellness days and anyone who would rather stay home. The drips, ingredients and screening are the same in both settings; only the call-out fee differs.

Who should not have an IV drip?

A drip is not suitable for everyone, and some people need a doctor’s input first. The MSD Manual advises that pregnant and breastfeeding women and people with kidney disease, high blood pressure or a heart condition should avoid the Myers cocktail, and that fluid overload can occur in people with heart conditions. People with G6PD deficiency should not receive high-dose vitamin C. A registered nurse gives every drip after a medical screening questionnaire, under the protocols of our medical director, Dr Chris van Zyl. If you have a heart, kidney or liver condition, are pregnant, or take chronic medication, tell us before you book. Our screening questionnaire is there to catch these situations; if anything is unclear, the nurse will hold the drip until it is resolved.

How do I book an IV drip with mobivIVe?

You can book online in a few minutes. Choose your drip, then pick a lounge or select “Your Home, Office, etc.” for a mobile visit, and choose a date and time. You will complete a short medical screening questionnaire before your appointment, and the nurse will go through it with you on the day. If you are unsure which drip suits you, or you have a medical condition you want to check first, WhatsApp us on 064 512 8018. You can also compare ingredients and infusion times on our drip menu before you decide.