Vitamin C Infusion Uses, Benefits, And Side Effects

Vitamin C infusions are becoming more popular to help address a number of health concerns. But what exactly is Vitamin C, and what health issues can it treat? Are there any side effects? Keep reading to explore the benefits of Vitamin C and get the information you need to decide if Vitamin C infusion therapy is right for you.

What is Vitamin C and why is it important?

Ascorbate, better known as Vitamin C, is a water-soluble vitamin. It is necessary to maintain normal growth, development, and maintain your overall health. Unlike some other vitamins, the body cannot produce Vitamin C on its own, nor is it able to store it in significant amounts. Therefore, the only way to ensure you have sufficient Vitamin C is through a healthy diet and supplements. Fruits and vegetables are the primary source for Vitamin C in your diet.

Examples of foods high in Vitamin C include:

• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Berries (especially blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries)
• Cauliflower
• Cantaloupes
• Dark leafy greens (especially kale, spinach, and Swiss chard)
• Green peas
• Guava and mango
• Papaya and pineapple
• Sweet peppers
• Tomatoes (especially pastes or juices)

Why is Vitamin C important?

Vitamin C is necessary for a variety of body functions, including:

• Tissue regeneration: Vitamin C is necessary for tissue growth and repair in a number of ways. It is necessary to form an important protein used by the body to build blood vessels, ligaments, skin, and tendons. It also is vital in cartilage, bone, and tooth repair and maintenance. Without Vitamin C, your body would not be able to heal wounds or form scar tissue.
• Iron absorption: Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, helping you avoid iron deficiency.
• Antioxidant: Vitamin C is just one of many antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can cause cellular damage. They are created by natural body functions and are believed to cause illness and aging. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and can block them from damaging cells.
• Neurotransmitter production: Vitamin C is used by the body to create important chemical messengers necessary to help your body function, known as neurotransmitters.
• Immune system function: Vitamin C is involved in multiple aspects of the immune system. It stimulates the production of white blood cells and helps protect them with its antioxidant properties. Vitamin C’s role in tissue regeneration also means it helps strengthen the skin barrier and promotes wound healing, further helping protect the body from illness and infection.

The body cannot function properly without Vitamin C. Severe and consistent Vitamin C deficiency could lead to a condition called scurvy.

In addition to researching what happens when the body does not get enough Vitamin C, scientists have also explored the possible benefits of taking high-dose vitamin C for various conditions. Intravenous (IV) supplementation of Vitamin C has emerged as a preferred administration method of high-dose Vitamin C treatments for a number of reasons.

What are the benefits to Vitamin C infusions over other forms?

There are several benefits to Vitamin C infusions over supplements in other forms. High-dose Vitamin C is added to IV fluids and delivered directly to the bloodstream through a long, thin tube attached to a needle that is inserted into a vein.

Sessions generally last about an hour, offering benefits such as:

• Helping you stay hydrated: IV fluids hydrate the body and contain electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals responsible for several functions in the body, including maintaining pH levels, fueling cells with nutrients, helping cells shed waste, and supporting proper function of the brain, heart, muscles, and nerves.
• 90% absorption: Because Vitamin C is delivered directly into the bloodstream, none is lost in the digestive process, allowing 90% or more of the treatment to be absorbed. With most oral supplements, digestion breaks down the vitamin, limiting how much is absorbed into the body to 50%.
• Can be combined with other treatments: Other vitamins, medications, and treatments can be combined with Vitamin C infusions, allowing you to streamline treatments. You can discuss with your doctor whether this is a beneficial option for you.

What are the benefits of Vitamin C?

Because Vitamin C is essential to so many body functions, it has been studied as a potential treatment for a wide array of conditions. Currently, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved high-dose Vitamin C injections or infusions for treating Vitamin C deficiency or for treating serious trauma or burn wounds.

Additionally, there are multiple “off-label” uses for Vitamin C infusions for other conditions that may prompt a doctor to prescribe Vitamin C. ‘Off-label’ means an FDA-approved treatment is being used for a different purpose than what it was initially approved for.

Cancer

High dose Vitamin C as a way to help enhance and support cancer treatments has been studied by experts since the 1970s. Researchers believe that in high enough quantities, Vitamin C can help kill cancer cells without harming other cells. Traditionally, research into Vitamin C as a cancer treatment was done with oral supplements, which led to inconclusive results.

However, in recent years, the benefits of high-dose Vitamin C in intravenous form have appeared to be more effective. When given with conventional chemotherapy drugs in a study, Vitamin C helped kill cancer cells, as well as reduced the toxic side effects of chemotherapy. It appeared to do this by surrounding tumor cells and acting as a pro-oxidant- stimulating the production of hydrogen peroxide, which kills cancer cells.

Much research is needed before Vitamin C is fully approved as a treatment for cancer. Pharmaceutical companies have little motivation to invest in studies since they are unable to patent a natural substance, and thus they are more likely to invest in studies of more profitable treatments.

General wellness and immune system benefits

Many people get Vitamin C infusions for general wellness purposes, and as a means of naturally boosting immune health. This is helpful for those prone to Vitamin C deficiency who have difficulty remembering to take supplements daily. Those who already get enough Vitamin C in their diet may not experience general wellness benefits to the same degree as others.

Some touted preventative health benefits of Vitamin C are unproven. Among these are:

• Reducing risk of cancer
• Preventing heart disease
• Preventing eye disease like macular degeneration
• Preventing the common cold

While the potential benefits of Vitamin C cannot be denied, there is no scientific evidence fully backing these claims.

Allergies

Vitamin C functions as a natural antihistamine and antioxidant. Studies show it can help decrease symptoms related to an allergic reaction – inflammation, swelling, and others.

While allergy medicines block histamine receptors, Vitamin C reduces how much histamine you produce. Vitamin C infusions are believed to be more effective for this purpose over oral supplements, with one study finding that Vitamin C infusions decreased histamine levels in blood by approximately 50%. Another showed Vitamin C IV reduced allergy symptoms like itching, runny nose, restlessness, sneezing, and sleep problems in 97% of participants, with only one patient out of 71 experiencing side effects.

More research must be conducted before Vitamin C infusions become an approved treatment for allergies. However, you can speak to your doctor to determine if Vitamin C IV therapy may be effective in relieving your allergy symptoms.

Weight loss

Vitamin C is sometimes used as a weight loss aid. Researchers believe that Vitamin C deficiency may be linked to difficulty in burning fat. While Vitamin C is an important part of body functions necessary for weight loss, there is no conclusive evidence that Vitamin C causes weight loss. Vitamin C is not a substitute for healthy diet and exercise, even for those who may experience fat-burning benefits.

Covid-19

Given the importance of Vitamin C to various body functions, it seems obvious that Vitamin C could have an impact on Covid-19. First, it’s important to note that there is no evidence showing that Vitamin C alone could prevent nor cure Covid-19.

Those with a Vitamin C deficiency are more likely to get infected by Covid-19 and are more likely to develop severe symptoms. This is due to impaired immunity caused by insufficient Vitamin C. Many of the conditions that put people at high risk of developing severe Covid-19 symptoms also make it more likely that a person would be Vitamin C deficient, such as cancer, diabetes, inflammatory conditions, being immunocompromised, and those who smoke.

There are many studies still underway to determine the benefits of treating Covid-19 with Vitamin C.

Studies reflect that Vitamin C supplementation has shown promise in the following ways:

• Helps elderly people with severe respiratory infections
• Reduces length and hospital stay and severity of pneumonia in elderly patients
• Reduces duration of mechanical ventilation for ICU patients
• Helps reduce symptoms stemming from acute respiratory distress syndrome.

How can I know if I am Vitamin C deficient?

Given that Vitamin C is so essential to health, you may be wondering whether you are getting enough Vitamin C. Roughly 7% of adults in the U.S. are Vitamin C deficient.

The most common risk factors leading to Vitamin C deficiency are:

• Alcoholism
• Anorexia
• Dialysis
• Poor diet
• Severe mental illness
• Smoking

If you need more Vitamin C, you may notice some of the following indicators:

• Dry, damaged skin
• Bleeding gums
• Persistent Iron Deficiency
• Fatigue and Poor Mood

If you think you may be experiencing Vitamin C deficiency, you should contact your doctor and let them know about your concerns. They can conduct tests to determine whether or not you are experiencing vitamin deficiency, and help you create a plan to ensure you get more Vitamin C in your diet or through supplementation.

Are there any side effects to Vitamin C infusions?

Vitamin C is a fairly safe treatment but can cause some side effects if taken at doses that are too high.

Though Vitamin C is water-soluble, it can accumulate in the body and cause adverse effects such as:

• Digestive symptoms: The most common side effects of high-dose Vitamin C intake are nausea and diarrhea. Some people report experiencing acid reflux as well; however, there is no scientific evidence to support that this is a side effect.
• Iron overload: Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. People with conditions that lead to high iron accumulation in the body may experience iron overload, which can seriously damage your central nervous system, thyroid, pancreas, liver, and heart.
• Kidney stones: Vitamin C is broken down by the body into oxalate, a form of bodily waste that typically exits the body in urine. Excess levels of oxalate can bind to minerals in urine, forming crystals that lead to kidney stones.

There are also risks associated with getting an IV infusion. IV treatments are generally safe if they are administered properly by a licensed and trained healthcare professional following hygiene protocols.

However, even in that scenario, there is still a chance of some adverse effects, including:

• Infection at the site of injection
• Vein damage
• Air embolism

Contraindications

Vitamin C may interact with certain medications. This is because Vitamin C makes urine more acidic, which may change how your body breaks down certain medications, affecting the levels of them in your body. This may decrease their effectiveness or increase the side effects of medications.

A few examples of medications with Vitamin C contraindications include:

• Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
• Magnesium salicylate (Novasal)
• Mexiletine (Mexitil)
• Salsalate

There is some controversy that high-dose Vitamin C may negatively impact radiation and chemotherapy, making them less effective. However, there is no conclusive evidence of Vitamin C having negative effects on radiation or chemotherapy.

What can I expect from a Vitamin C infusion therapy appointment?

Before getting Vitamin C therapy, you should consult with a doctor to determine whether it is the right treatment for you. The doctor should review your family medical history, as well as your personal history, to assess your risk of side effects or contraindications.

Vitamin C therapy sessions last an hour or less. You should make sure to vet your vitamin IV therapy provider to make sure they are properly licensed and trained. The risk of side effects from intravenous therapy is significantly lessened when proper procedures and hygiene practices are followed.

What You Need to Know

V lines are quite a common sight in medical settings, especially hospitals and long-term rehabilitation facilities. If you’ve wondered exactly how it works, this IV blog series discusses several different types of treatments. We examine the benefits of IV treatments to recovering from illness.

Today, we’re going to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and side effects of vitamin IV therapy. We’ll also look at how these treatments in medical settings differ from trendy IV infusions in “IV lounges.”

Introduction to Vitamin IV Therapy

IV therapy is used in healthcare settings to deliver nutrients, blood products, or medications to the body. The ingredients are dissolved in a liquid solution and delivered into a vein through an IV line.

Doctors use several different types of IV therapy in rehabilitation settings:

• Antibiotic drips
• Blood transfusions
• Pain medication IVs
• IV hydration therapy
• Total parenteral nutrition
• IV nutrition therapy
• Vitamin IV therapy

Intravenous therapy is used for infection control, dehydration, malnutrition, wound care, and more. Here we focus specifically on IV vitamin therapy, which involves delivering one or more vitamins to the body.

Vitamin infusions have gained popularity in mainstream use. You can get infusions purported to fight fatigue, boost your immune system, and plump your skin at IV boutiques.

While it may sound intriguing, this type of vitamin IV therapy can be frivolous at best and dangerous at worst. Boutique IVs are also quite different from the type of vitamin therapy used at long-term care centers.

Vitamin IV Therapy in Rehabilitation Care Centers

Vitamin IV Therapy in a long-term rehabilitation center is focused on medical needs. IV drips are popular quick fixes for otherwise healthy adults while patients in rehabilitation centers may need vitamin IV therapy for medical purposes.

In long-term care centers, doctors use vitamin IV therapy to support healing and recovery. They assess your overall medical history and perform a thorough evaluation to determine whether or not you might benefit from IV therapy.

Your care team might suggest vitamin IV therapy as one part of a comprehensive, individualized care plan based on your health status and laboratory results. If you’re dehydrated, anemic, or low on certain vitamins, for example, your doctor may include IV therapy in your treatment plan.

Conditions that may benefit from vitamin IV therapy include:

• Anemia
• Vitamin deficiency
• Gastrointestinal conditions
• Malnutrition
• Thyroid problems
• Cancer

Vitamin IV Therapy Pros and Cons

Vitamin IV therapy can be very useful but it’s not without its disadvantages. It’s important to talk to your doctor and medical team about whether the advantages outweigh the drawbacks and how to avoid risks.

The Pros

When you’re ill, your body may divert energy away from your digestive system, making it difficult to absorb and process nutrients. Your body may need help getting the vitamins and minerals it needs to recover and thrive.

One of the main benefits of IV therapy is that it’s quick-acting because nutrients are delivered directly into the bloodstream. The fast, direct delivery can make a tremendous difference in the way you feel and how well your body responds.

Vitamin IV therapy offers these additional benefits:

• Helps correct vitamin imbalances or deficiencies
• Bypasses the gastrointestinal system and the digestion process
• Delivers higher concentrations of vitamins at once
• Provides a better absorption rate compared to oral vitamins or food
• Allows for more precise dosing based on what your body needs
• Provides an alternative vitamin source for those who can’t ingest or haven’t responded to oral supplements

The Cons

Though vitamin IV treatments carry some disadvantages, most of the drawbacks can be minimized with supervision by a qualified healthcare professional who follows judicious safety protocol.

Vitamin IV infusions can pose some challenges, such as:

• Treatment must be administered in a hospital, unless qualified professionals are available to administer the treatment.
• High concentrations of certain vitamins in the body can lead to problems. In extreme cases, too much vitamin A, for example, can cause side effects from headaches and dizziness to death.
• The treatment is contraindicated for those with kidney disease or heart conditions as the organs may not be able to process high concentrations of vitamins at one time.
• Can interfere with electrolyte balance. Too much potassium, for example, can lead to a heart attack.
• Limited studies prove the effectiveness of vitamin infusions in mainstream use.
• Unregulated treatment practices in mainstream use can increase complications.
• It’s not recommended for long-term use or a replacement for a good diet.

In addition to these disadvantages, IV therapy can also lead to some side effects.

Vitamin IV Therapy Side Effects

As with any medication, IV therapy can cause side effects for some people. That’s why it’s so important to receive treatment from qualified staff who can monitor your body’s reactions.

Some people have encountered side effects from vitamin IV therapy, such as:

• Infection at the injection site
• Rashes
• Vein inflammation and bruising
• Blood clots
• Air embolism

Various side effects from the prescribed vitamins themselves can also happen. To avoid these side effects, it’s important to tell your doctor about any medications or supplements you take and reactions you’ve had in the past. Then, your team must monitor you for reactions.

Complications like infection and air embolisms are more common with unqualified providers or careless protocols. Fewer risks occur in the hands of a reputable provider, so make sure you know what to look for.

Evaluating a Vitamin IV Therapy Provider

If vitamin IV therapy is part of your or a loved ones’ rehabilitation treatment, you need to be sure the facility you choose takes precautions to minimize risks and boost recovery. The nursing staff should have in-depth IV skills and be present to monitor your body’s response to the injection.

Rehab Select is one of few facilities in Alabama to offer on-site, medical-grade IV therapy. Licensed staff is available around-the-clock to provide and assess IV treatments in the comfort of your room. If you have any further questions about IV therapy, reach out to Rehab Select online or over the phone.

Side effects of intravenous drips – ivtherapy

Side effects of intravenous drips – ivtherapy

Side effects of intravenous drips

Is intravenous vitamin C safe?

All of our patients are concerned about this issue, since vitamin C is included in all of our cocktails.

A 2010 study evaluating the use of vitamin C among medical practitioners found that after evaluating more than 9,000 patients, only minor side effects were noted, which included lethargy/fatigue, changes in mental status, and venous irritation. Clinically, if these effects occur, they are temporary and easily corrected.

Precautions to be taken when treating with drips:

Start with small doses of vitamin C.

We are also required to rule out kidney disease (ureter disease, kidney failure).

Rare hemolysis may occur in patients with erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and therefore may be tested in some cases.
Localized pain at the infusion site may occur if the infusion rate is too high or the pH is too low. This is easily fixed by either slowing down the speed or changing the formula.

Vitamin C can lower calcium, chloride and potassium levels and as a result some patients may experience trembling or pain. This is treated by further adjusting the formula with these ingredients.

Considering the amount of fluid and sodium used as a carrier of vitamin C, any condition that may be affected by an increased fluid load (eg, congestive heart failure, ascites, edema, pleural effusion, etc.) should be controlled more protocol carefully and specifically. Therefore, in our clinic, such diagnoses in the anamnesis are contraindications to the appointment of droppers.

As with any intravenous injection, infiltration or irritation of the veins is always a possibility.

What health benefits can be expected from intravenous vitamin drips?

Correction of any possible vitamin C deficiency (fatigue, bleeding).
Immunomodulation (immunity enhancement).
Cytotoxic for cancer (has chemotherapeutic potential).
Supports white blood cells.
Stimulates the formation of collagen.
Inhibits hyaluronidase (prevention of cancer spread).
Improves wound healing after operations, biopsies.
Supports bone marrow and especially platelets.
Anti-inflammatory effect.
Antistress and antidepressant properties.

As you can see, the positive effect of vitamin C on health is so great that you should not be afraid of minor side effects, with the right approach, they can be minimized.

05/10/2019

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The composition of the dropper Energy

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a strong antioxidant that supports the immune system, has an anti-inflammatory effect, accelerates the regeneration of healthy cells. The vitamin is involved in the synthesis of collagen, which is necessary for the formation of healthy cartilage and bone tissue, maintaining skin elasticity and density. Ascorbic acid strengthens the walls of blood vessels, thins the blood, prevents the formation of blood clots.

Cocarnit (group B vitamins, cocarboxylase)

Cocarnit (group B vitamins, cocarboxylase) – substances included in the preparation are active participants in fat, protein, carbohydrate metabolism. Cocarnit helps to process amino acid residues, utilizes ballast cells, stimulates the activity of enzymes responsible for intracellular metabolism. The vitamin complex maintains a physiologically normal level of hemoglobin, which is the main oxygen carrier in the body. Cocarnit has a positive effect on the state of the cardiovascular, nervous, digestive systems.

Riboxin

Riboxin – (a drug based on inosine) supports the functionality of the cardiovascular system, participates in the synthesis of enzymes, has a positive effect on the condition of the skin and mucous membranes. Inosine prevents cardiac arrhythmia, helps to maintain the work of the heart in case of insufficient oxygen supply. Regular intake of Riboxin reduces the risk of developing coronary disease. The drug increases the force of contraction of the heart muscle, participates in the synthesis of AIF, strengthens blood vessels, and prevents the formation of blood clots.

How the procedure works

The doctor prescribes the Energiya intravenous drip after consultation and history taking. If, based on the results of the interview, a refined diagnosis is required, the specialist will write out referrals. During the procedure, the patient takes a comfortable position (reclining or lying down). The vitamin complex is administered intravenously. The duration of one session is 30 minutes.

The effect of the energy drop

The Energia drop first of all makes up for the lack of nutrients the body needs for full-fledged physical and mental activity. The components that make up the infusion therapy do not cause addiction and dependence. This is an effective help to the body, which supports the functioning of functional systems during the period of its weakening.
Infusion therapy quickly gives results. Already after the first session, fatigue decreases, a surge of strength is felt, cheerfulness appears. In the process of treatment, positive changes are fixed. Patients note an improvement in appearance, which is expressed in the disappearance of edema in the face, restoration of shine and strength of the hair, increased skin elasticity, and strengthening of nails. The emotional state stabilizes (people tolerate the effects of stress better), standard everyday situations do not cause strong irritation. Normal sleep is restored, the need for frequent use of stimulants (coffee, strong tea, energy drinks) disappears.
The Energy dropper enhances and consolidates the effect of cosmetic procedures, helps to quickly recover from viral infections.

Number of sessions

Number of sessions, from 5 to 10 (according to indications), the frequency of holding is once a week. Repetition of the course with the appointment of an energy dropper – on average, after six months.

Indications for use

• Fatigue.
• Apathy, melancholy or depression.
• Decrease in intellectual functions (it is difficult for a person to concentrate on solving work tasks, analyze the situation, make the right decision).
• Sleep disturbance (drowsiness or insomnia).
• Feeling constantly tired (increased use of coffee and other stimulants only aggravates the opening).
• Long-term drug therapy (impairs the speed and nature of metabolic processes).