I recently tried Myers’ cocktail, an intravenous vitamin injection. Read on for my experience and what the research says.

I became curious about intravenous (IV) vitamin therapy after a trip to Colombia. My friend got an IV during an overnight layover after he had been sick to his stomach for days while on our trip. A registered nurse came to his hotel room.

Inspired by his experience, I decided to see what the hype is about.

I chose to try Myers’ cocktail IV therapy. Myers’ cocktail is named for the late John Myers, MD. The Myers’ cocktail IV that I received included:

I’ve heard other anecdotal stories from folks who have tried IV therapy, whether simply getting saline to rehydrate or a vitamin cocktail like Myers’. I was curious, so I did a good bit of research before making my appointment: high vitamin doses can have some risks.

Appointment start

After signing up for my appointment online, I received an intake questionnaire. I also signed a consent form and then had a quick phone call with a registered nurse (RN) to discuss my medications. I made sure that the staff member administering the IV would also be an RN. I also received pre-treatment information.

I set my appointment up for a Friday morning, knowing that I would be fatigued from the work week then. I also had a sore throat, likely from allergies, and had been coughing. I didn’t feel stressed, but I did feel exhausted.

When I arrived, I met the two RNs working at the clinic. Together, they walked me through the process. I sat in a room with four comfy chairs. One of the RNs took a pulse oximetry reading and also checked my blood pressure. The RN asked why I came in, and I shared that I was feeling fatigued and worn down.

The RN then asked me which arm I preferred to use, and I said the right. She had difficulty getting the IV in a small vein on my arm, so she switched to a larger vein in my left arm.

During the IV

As the IV drip delivered the vitamins into my bloodstream, my arms, fingers, and feet got chilly. The clinic has blankets for this reason, though I didn’t get quite cold enough to need one.

Toward the end of the IV drip, I noticed feeling more energized and more awake. I didn’t feel these effects the first time I did an IV drip of saline only, about a month or so before this experience.

The IV administration took about 25 minutes. While I waited, I watched a Netflix show and relaxed. I received verbal and written aftercare instructions when I was done.

Later that day

About 30 minutes after the IV drip finished, I felt relaxed and sleepy. My eyes felt heavy, like it was time to take a nap.

About six hours later, my sore throat was still nagging me. I also noticed feeling very tired and had a slight headache.

My fiancé came home and invited me to happy hour with some of our friends, so I decided to go socialize. I had an early dinner and drank some white wine.

Next day

The next day, I woke up with my usual morning energy. I didn’t feel hungover at all or have any kind of headache. Instead, I felt rested and totally okay.

I don’t necessarily attribute this to the Myers’ cocktail IV, though. I drink a lot of water regularly, and had slept a full 8 hours.

Myers’ cocktail has been studied sparingly since its creation in the ’70s.

A 2023 review stresses that the body’s vitamin and mineral needs can be met through diet. The review also states that there is a lack of high quality evidence to suggest that high dose vitamin infusions are necessary or offer any health benefit in the absence of a specific vitamin deficiency or medical condition. And, it notes that there may be harms from taking high quantities of some vitamins and minerals.

A 2009 study on Myers’ cocktail for fibromyalgia pain involved 34 adults who were randomly assigned either weekly IV vitamin therapy or a placebo. No significant differences were seen between the Myers’ cocktail therapy and placebo, though most subjects experienced relief as compared to baseline.

A 2002 case report claims that Myers’ cocktail has been found to be effective against acute asthma attacks, migraine episodes, fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasm, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders.

I have no plans to try IV therapy again; it’s not for me. I didn’t notice enough effects to make going back worth it, and it’s quite expensive. I prefer to hydrate with water and take several vitamins on a regular basis.

If you decide to try IV vitamin therapy, be sure that a licensed medical professional is providing your care. Clinics are not regulated by the FDA, and it’s very important to be aware of what you are getting into. You may also want to first talk with your primary care provider ahead of getting IV vitamin therapy.