Drug Rehabs That Use IV Therapy

Addiction rehab often involves a comprehensive treatment plan that utilizes a wide variety of services. One of the lesser-discussed services that can greatly benefit an individual undergoing addiction treatment is IV therapy.

IV therapy can serve many purposes in substance abuse treatment from physical health benefits to mental health benefits.

Scroll on to learn about IV therapy in alcohol and drug addiction treatment including how it supports recovery, potential risks and side effects, and cost considerations.

Intravenous (IV) therapy is a treatment approach that allows fluids, medications, vitamins, and nutrients to be directly administered to the bloodstream through a vein. IV therapy allows medications and other infusions to access your body faster than oral administration as the bloodstream flows throughout the body.

In the context of addiction therapy, IV therapy can help improve the efficacy of other treatment methods, serve as a fast route for medication administration, and support improved physical and mental health.

Types of IV therapies commonly used in drug and alcohol rehab include fluid administration, nutrient infusion therapy, vitamin infusion therapy, and medication infusion to help with withdrawal symptoms and co-occurring mental health conditions.

There are many benefits of IV therapy in addiction treatment. It can have a positive impact on your physical health, mental health, and overall well-being.

IV therapy is thought to be able to improve physical health by:

• Helping the body detox from addictive substances
• Helping treat dehydration
• Helping treat vitamin deficiencies
• Helping treat nutrient deficiencies
• Boosting the immune system
• Improving metabolic function
• Increasing energy
• Reducing withdrawal symptoms
• Repairing damage from substance abuse
• Reducing pain

IV therapy is believed by some to improve mental health by:

• Improving memory
• Stabilizing mood
• Improving cognitive function
• Reducing the symptoms of mental illness
• Reducing cravings

In addition to the numerous physical and mental benefits, IV therapy has been shown to improve treatment outcomes overall. Using IV therapy in combination with other traditional treatment methods can make them more effective.

That being said, it is thought IV therapy can improve the likelihood of long-lasting recovery when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

There are several ways IV therapy can be used in drug addiction treatment. Generally, IV therapy is used to infuse nutrients and vitamins and administer necessary medications.

In many circumstances, IV therapy is commonly used to administer vitamins and minerals in high concentrations. This can be helpful in addiction treatment in particular as certain vitamins and minerals that can be depleted by alcohol or drug abuse are needed to improve physical and mental functions.

Additionally, deficiencies caused by chronic substance abuse can have negative health consequences and can worsen mental health. By correcting these deficiencies via infusion therapy, you may experience improvements in your general well-being and may be more receptive to additional treatment services.

Vitamins and minerals depleted by substance abuse include:

• Amino acids
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Selenium
• Vitamin E
• Calcium
• B vitamins
• Vitamin A
• Zinc
• Folate
• Vitamin C

Sometimes, combinations of vitamins and minerals are used in IV therapy to achieve certain outcomes. One commonly used mix is Myers’ Cocktail (vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium).

Another vitamin infusion commonly used in addiction treatment is NAD+. An active form of vitamin B3, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is an essential coenzyme used for many functions in the body. In particular, it plays a role in how your cells make energy and respond to stress and neurological functioning.

Damage to the body such as chronic substance use can lower your naturally occurring NAD levels. Early research has shown that NAD+ infusions can support addiction recovery by helping the body heal, improving cognitive function, and improving mental illness symptoms.

Another way IV therapy is utilized in addiction recovery is to administer any necessary medications. Medications vary from person to person, of course, but can help treat physical symptoms, mental symptoms, or any acute health problems that arise.

It is very common for people to have mental health disorders alongside their substance use disorder (SUD), these are called co-occurring conditions. Co-occurring conditions can include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and more.

Co-occurring conditions can be the cause of addiction or be a symptom of addiction. In both cases, SUD and other mental health problems tend to exacerbate one another, creating a vicious cycle of using addictive substances to cope with mental symptoms.

As a result, sometimes medications like antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds are administered during IV therapy in addiction treatment.

Other medications can include those to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. This can make it easier to focus on recovery and avoid relapse.

IV therapy, much like any other treatment method, is a very personal experience that is meant to address the unique needs of each patient. That being said, it is vital for those desiring these interventions to find a treatment facility that creates customized IV therapy plans.

Based on the extent of your addiction, your health status, and your symptoms, your healthcare provider will determine what types of IV therapy may be most beneficial for you.

IV therapy can be integrated into any part of the recovery process but is often used even at the very start of treatment. Typically, at the beginning of a rehab program, you’ll receive a detoxification treatment.

Detox services are designed to help remove any remaining addictive substances from the body to create a clean slate for treatment. Detoxing from addictive substances can be incredibly challenging and even dangerous if done on your own. This is because substance abuse can lead to psychological and physical dependence, which causes withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

Withdrawal symptoms are the body’s reaction to a sudden reduction or cessation of substance use. They are most unpleasant and uncomfortable, but in extreme cases, they can be hazardous and cause acute problems that can even be fatal.

That being said, it is vital that treatment facilities offer detox services. During detoxification, your care team will monitor your vitals, help you manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and administer any necessary medications.

This is where IV therapy comes in. IV therapy serves countless roles in the detoxification process. First and foremost, it can be used for basic needs like hydration. Detoxing can often lead to dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea. As a result, you may receive fluids and electrolytes through an IV.

Another way IV therapy can be used in the detox process is to help curb cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms. Anti-craving medications may be administered as well as medications for common withdrawal symptoms like nausea, high blood pressure, pain, or irregular heart rate.

Lastly, IV therapy can enhance the body’s natural detoxification mechanisms. Certain vitamins and minerals can improve your body’s ability to metabolize and process substances. By improving your overall health, your body may be able to detox faster.

As mentioned previously, IV therapy can be an immensely beneficial part of a comprehensive treatment plan. On its own, IV therapy hasn’t been proven to be able to treat addiction. That being said, it has shown promise in making traditional treatment methods more effective when used simultaneously.

In any treatment program, it is vital that the patient and their healthcare provider have a discussion about their needs and goals regarding addiction recovery. This way, they can devise an individualized treatment plan that addresses recovery from all angles. Part of this treatment plan can include IV therapy to address any physical or mental health needs you may have.

In many cases, treatment can involve a lot of trial and error. You may try one kind of treatment and decide it is not beneficial for you. On the other hand, you may need to increase the frequency or intensity of certain treatment options to reap the benefits.

Because mental illness commonly occurs alongside addiction, there are dual diagnosis programs that treat both addiction and mental health problems simultaneously. One of the ways dual diagnosis treatment addresses mental health conditions is through behavioral therapy.

Behavioral therapy focuses on reframing thought processes and behavioral patterns and learning healthy coping mechanisms to treat mental illness, and in turn, addiction. IV therapy can be used to support behavioral therapy by infusing vitamins, supplements, and medications that help reduce mental illness symptoms.

This is also the case with counseling. By reducing these symptoms, having more stabilized moods, and having a clearer cognitive function, counseling and therapy can be more effective and impactful.

Once you choose to seek out treatment, you’ll have to find a recovery facility that suits your needs. This can seem overwhelming at first due to the large list of options, but there are a few ways you can determine whether a treatment center delivers quality care.

One of the first things we recommend to keep an eye out for are accreditations and experienced staff. Certain accreditations like the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation and Joint Commission accreditation are great indicators of a reliable treatment facility. As for staff, look for recovery centers that promote the extensive experience of their staff as well as the appropriate certifications and licenses their staff have.

Another way you can determine if a rehab center is reputable is to take a look at client reviews and testimonials. A rehab’s website can be very promising, but if you want to gain insight into the patient experience, reviews are the way to go. Positive reviews can indicate a safe and welcoming environment that is ideal for addiction recovery.

Finally, you’ll want to ask potential treatment centers questions about their facility, staff, amenities, and treatment services.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Do you offer IV therapy?
• How long is your treatment program?
• What do your housing arrangements look like? Will I be sharing a room?
• What amenities do you offer?
• Do you allow pets?
• Do you accept insurance?
• Is your program inpatient or outpatient?
• What are your visitor restrictions?
• What is the cost of your treatment program?
• How will my treatment plan be developed?
• Do you offer payment plans/scholarships?
• What aftercare support do you offer?
• What certifications and licenses do your staff have?

The cost of IV therapy for addiction can vary based on many factors, so it’s hard to gauge how much it will cost generally. That being said, being familiar with these factors can help you understand how much of the cost you may be responsible for.

Factors that affect cost include:

• Treatment center
• Length of program
• Extent of addiction
• Type of treatment
• Insurance status/provider
• Location (city, state)
• Payment options

Some treatment facilities offer flexible payment options such as payment plans, financing options, or even sliding scale payments. This varies from center to center, so be sure to ask questions for more details at the facility of your choosing.

For those who have health insurance, insurance will often help cover your treatment at least partially. Some treatment facilities do not accept insurance, so be sure to choose one that meets your financial needs.

In addition to that, you’ll want to coordinate with your insurance company to understand what is covered under your plan and what steps you may have to take for coverage. For example, you may need to meet your deductible, pay coinsurance, receive an official diagnosis, or receive a particular type of treatment to receive coverage.

While there are many benefits to IV therapy, it, like any other medical treatment, does not come without potential risks and side effects. Being aware of potential risks and side effects can empower you as a patient and help you determine if the treatment is right for you.

Side effects can include:

• Swelling at the infusion site
• Bruising at the infusion site
• Damage to blood vessels
• Bleeding from insertion
• Vein inflammation

Potential risks include:

• Rash or allergic reaction
• Abscess
• Cellulitis (swelling in deep skin layers)
• Hematoma
• Blood clot
• Skin necrosis
• Infection
• Air embolism

In most cases, people experience mild side effects following IV therapy. However, it’s important to know the risks so you can be prepared in the case of developing one of the above reactions. Typically, these extreme reactions occur after at least three days of IV therapy.

It’s important to note that proper treatment facilities take steps to mitigate these risks. First and foremost, their staff should be well qualified to perform IV therapy via IV therapy training. This is why it’s important to find a facility with experienced staff and to ask about their licenses and certifications.

Side effects like bruising and bleeding can be hard to avoid and are unfortunately part of IV administration for many people, but with proper care, extreme risks are much less likely.

IV therapy can have countless benefits and play a large role in the substance abuse recovery process. Many facilities use IV therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan and to support the functionality of other treatment options. However, it does not come without potential risks and side effects.

If you or a loved one is seeking addiction treatment with IV therapy, give our helpline a call for additional guidance.