Most clinic menus list ingredients without explaining what they do, what dose they’re using, or what evidence supports the claims. Paste any menu, or pick from the 20 most common drips, and we’ll decode the bag for you.
Evidence Snapshot
3
RCT-supported
Strongest tier — randomized trial data for this use case.
3
Observational
Cohort, open-label, or extrapolated mechanism — plausible but not RCT.
0
Anecdotal / clinic claim
Marketing-driven; treat efficacy claims with skepticism.
Per-Ingredient Dossier
Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl)
Fluid
RCT-supported
Carrier fluid. The hydration itself is what most users actually feel — especially after dehydration from alcohol, GI illness, or heat.
Realistic IV dose
500mL - 1L per session
Evidence note
Standard of care for clinical dehydration. Wellness benefit in already-hydrated adults is short-lived.
Cofactor for 300+ enzymes. IV magnesium is a workhorse for migraine, eclampsia, and asthma exacerbations in hospitals — used at low doses in wellness drips for relaxation and muscle recovery.
Realistic IV dose
1-2g (Myers' uses 1g)
Evidence note
RCT-level for migraine abortion (Mauskop & Varughese 2012) and acute asthma. Wellness doses (1-2g) below the migraine dose, so benefit is modest.
Used in Myers' cocktail to balance magnesium. Doesn't drive much benefit on its own; mostly there to prevent magnesium-induced hypocalcemia symptoms.
Realistic IV dose
100-200mg (in Myers')
Evidence note
No standalone wellness data; standard adjunct in Myers' protocol since 1970s.
Who should avoid
•Hypercalcemia
•Concurrent ceftriaxone (precipitates)
•Digoxin users (arrhythmia risk)
B-Complex (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6)
Vitamin
Observational
Set of water-soluble vitamins driving energy metabolism. Routinely added to nearly every wellness drip.
Realistic IV dose
1-2mL of standard B-complex injection
Evidence note
Replenishment in deficient patients is well-supported. Benefit in non-deficient adults is largely the placebo of feeling 'lit up' from B-12 + B-3 flush.
Who should avoid
•Known thiamine (B1) hypersensitivity
•Levodopa users (B6 can blunt levodopa) — flag with prescriber
Vitamin B-12 (Methylcobalamin / Hydroxocobalamin)
Vitamin
RCT-supported
Required for red blood cell formation and neurologic function. IV/IM corrects deficiency faster than oral, especially in malabsorption.
Realistic IV dose
1000mcg (1mg) push
Evidence note
Strong RCT data for treating B-12 deficiency anemia and pernicious anemia. Energy boost in non-deficient adults is mostly anecdotal.
Who should avoid
•Cobalt allergy
•Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin
Observational
Antioxidant + cofactor for collagen synthesis. IV route bypasses gut absorption ceiling, so plasma levels are 30-70x higher than oral.
Realistic IV dose
1-25g (5g in Myers', 10-25g in 'high-dose' menus)
Evidence note
RCT support for sepsis adjunct (mixed results, CITRIS-ALI 2019); strong observational data for short-term immune support; oncology use is investigational (NIH NCI PDQ 2024).
Who should avoid
•G6PD deficiency (hemolysis risk above 4g)
•Active oxalate kidney stones
•Hereditary iron overload (hemochromatosis) — increases iron absorption
Safety Overview
Tell the clinic about any of these 16 conditions before they hang the bag:
Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl):Heart failure (NYHA class III-IV)
Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl):Severe hyponatremia (specialty fluid choice instead)
Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl):End-stage renal disease without dialysis access
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid):G6PD deficiency (hemolysis risk above 4g)
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid):Active oxalate kidney stones
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid):Hereditary iron overload (hemochromatosis) — increases iron absorption
Medical disclaimer: This decoder is informational only and is not medical advice. Evidence ratings reflect peer-reviewed literature available as of April 2026 and may not match your individual situation. IV therapy is a medical procedure — discuss every drip and ingredient with a licensed prescriber, share your full medication list, and confirm the clinic uses FDA-registered or properly compounded products. Stop the infusion if you feel unwell.
New ingredient guides every week
Get evidence reviews on new IV ingredients (taurine, methylene blue, exosomes) before clinics add them to menus.