IV therapy in Medellín

It's a drip of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants given through a vein, formulated by a doctor based on what you need. You may also see it called IV vitamin therapy, vitamin drips or IV drips. At noon, each session takes 45 to 60 minutes and is done after a medical consultation, in a suitable setting.

People who ask for it are usually looking for help with fatigue, antioxidant support or recovery. Whether an IV makes sense for what's going on with you is something your doctor decides at your consultation.

What goes into your IV, in what amounts, and how many sessions you need are decided by your doctor after reviewing your medical history and what you're looking for. You don't pick it from a menu. Ask your doctor what you're getting and what each ingredient is for.

An alert from INVIMA, Colombia's national food and drug regulator, that you should know about: cosmetic products must not be injected. If a product has an NSO code (Notificación Sanitaria Obligatoria, the mandatory notification that cosmetics carry in Colombia), don't let anyone inject it.

Depending on what you're looking for, another path may fit you better:

• Losing weight: medical weight loss, with a consultation, tests, a nutrition plan and follow-up.
• Improving your diet or getting ready for surgery: nutrition.
• Dull or dehydrated skin: skin boosters, which are tiny injections into the skin and don't go into a vein.
• Fatigue that doesn't get better: your doctor goes over your history with you and tells you whether an IV makes sense or whether another step is a better fit.

At your consultation, we'll tell you what makes sense for you.

There's no single list of contraindications, because it depends on what's in the IV and on your health. That's why there's always a medical consultation first. Tell your doctor about:

• Any conditions you have or have had.
• Everything you take, including vitamins and supplements.
• Your allergies, especially to medications.
• Whether you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Whether you've had IV therapy before and how it went.

If it's not right for you, we'll tell you.

Every procedure has risks, and IV therapy does too. INVIMA, Colombia's health regulator, issued an alert about cosmetic products being promoted for injection, including in IV therapy. Among the risks it listed:

• Bacterial infections and sepsis.
• Acute allergic reactions.
• Inflammation at the injection site, such as phlebitis.
• Extravasation, which is when the fluid leaks out of the vein.

The CDC points out that an unsafe injection can spread hepatitis B and C, as well as bacterial or fungal infections. Before you decide, your doctor goes over the risks of your IV with you one by one.

Bring a list of everything you take and your questions about the IV. One thing you can check: according to the CDC, a needle and syringe are used only once and then thrown away.

Since there's no recovery time, you can go about your day. If you later have a fever, chills, dizziness, nausea, or pain, swelling or redness where the IV went in, let your doctor know promptly. If you're short of breath or you faint, go to the emergency room. That's what the CDC advised in 2026 while investigating reactions after glutathione injections in the United States.