Intravenous nutrient therapy is one of the most frequently asked-about treatments at Purety Clinic. The concept is straightforward — bypassing the digestive system to deliver nutrients directly into the bloodstream — but the experience is different enough from a conventional medical appointment that first-time patients often have questions. Here's exactly what to expect.
Why IV Instead of Oral Supplements?
The digestive system is a significant bottleneck for nutrient absorption. Depending on your gut integrity, transit time, and the specific nutrient, oral supplements typically absorb at 20–60%. Intravenous delivery bypasses all of this, achieving 100% bioavailability — every milligram enters circulation.
This matters especially for:
- Vitamin C: Gram-level doses (25–75g) are only achievable intravenously. At these concentrations, Vitamin C selectively generates oxidative stress in cancer cells while protecting healthy tissue — an effect impossible to replicate orally, where doses above 3–5g typically cause GI distress and diarrhea.
- NAD+: Oral NAD+ precursors (NMN, NR) have meaningful but limited effects. IV NAD+ reaches therapeutic concentrations in hours that would take months to approximate orally.
- Magnesium: One of the most common nutrient deficiencies in adults — and oral magnesium causes loose stools at the doses needed for many therapeutic applications.
Before Your Session
Preparation is straightforward. Arrive well hydrated — drink water in the hours before your appointment. Eat a small meal or snack beforehand (an empty stomach during some infusions can cause lightheadedness). Wear comfortable clothing with sleeve access at the elbow.
If you're scheduled for high-dose Vitamin C (25g or more), you'll need a G6PD screening test beforehand — this is a simple blood test to rule out a genetic enzyme deficiency where high-dose Vitamin C can cause red blood cell destruction. Most patients don't have this, but it's a required safety screen. We can run it at the same visit as your first infusion if it's a lower dose.
No other special preparation is needed for most formulas.
During the Infusion
A small IV catheter (typically 22–24 gauge) is placed in the forearm or antecubital fossa. The placement takes 30–60 seconds and causes minimal discomfort. You'll then relax in a comfortable reclining chair in our IV therapy suite.
Most patients read, work on a laptop, listen to music, or simply rest. Infusion time varies by formula:
- Myers Cocktail: 30–45 minutes
- High-Dose Vitamin C (25–50g): 60–90 minutes
- NAD+ (500–1000mg): 2–4 hours (administered slowly to minimize side effects)
- Glutathione push: 15–20 minutes (often added to the end of another infusion)
- Chelation: 2–3 hours
During NAD+ infusions specifically, some patients experience flushing, chest tightness, or nausea if the rate is too fast. We administer NAD+ slowly for this reason and adjust the rate if you feel any of these effects. They resolve promptly when the rate is reduced — this is not a sign of a problem.
What You Might Feel During and After
During a Myers Cocktail, many patients feel a warmth or mild flush as the magnesium enters the bloodstream — this is normal and passes quickly. Some patients notice a metallic taste from the B-vitamins.
After your session:
- Energy and clarity: Many patients feel noticeably more energized and mentally clear within hours of a Myers Cocktail or NAD+ infusion. This can range from subtle to dramatic depending on how depleted you were going in.
- Fatigue the following day: Some patients, particularly after NAD+ or high-dose Vitamin C, feel fatigued the day after. This is a normal sign that the body is actively processing the infusion. It typically resolves within 24–48 hours.
- Minimal downtime: You can drive home and resume normal activities after most infusions. No restrictions apply.
How Many Sessions Will You Need?
It depends on your goal. For acute illness — a cold, flu, or pre-travel immune boost — a single session is often sufficient. For chronic fatigue, long COVID, or mitochondrial dysfunction, a series of 6–10 sessions spaced weekly or biweekly typically produces the most durable results, followed by monthly maintenance. NAD+ for neurological support or addiction recovery is often given as a consecutive 4–10 day series.
At your consultation, Dr. Birch will recommend a specific protocol based on your condition and response to the first session.
If you're ready to experience IV therapy at Purety Clinic in Santa Barbara, we offer consultations to determine which formula is right for your goals. Many patients combine IV therapy with ozone treatments (EBO2) for amplified immune and detoxification effects.