Intravenous Vitamin Infusions

Vitamins and minerals are critical to keeping the body in working order, providing antioxidants, supporting immunity and a healthy metabolism, maintaining healthy bones, and maintaining overall health.

There have been numerous studies about administering a high dose of Vitamins C and B, Magnesium, Zinc and Glutathione, in tablet form or via intravenous infusion, which show that an intense vitamin dose of this kind can be beneficial. The studies are not conclusive and do not suggest that an intense dosage of vitamins in this way is a magical ‘fix’ of some kind, but many patients have subjectively reported feeling an improvement in anxiety, stress, pain and energy levels.

At CBD Doctors, we now offer intravenous vitamin infusions for patients who believe they may benefit from them. Our infusions can be administered in conjunction with blood tests to monitor existing vitamin and mineral levels, and are only administered following health advice from your doctor. The infusions are not a treatment for any existing medical conditions, and should not be considered a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise.

Potential benefits

During my 37 years as a doctor, I have seen anecdotal evidence of the benefits that vitamin and mineral “doses” can provide, together with some studies suggesting an improvement to health in certain circumstances.

This long career has taught me to take every patient seriously, and to take every question about the potential benefits of alternative medicine and unproven treatments very seriously.

While there is no conclusive study or evidence that proves the effectiveness of vitamin and mineral infusions, there are studies and anecdotal evidence suggesting that they can have some benefit. For example, I have had patients report that magnesium has helped them with stress and pain management. This is supported by  a randomised double-blind clinical trial showing that short-term magnesium therapy alleviates stress in patients with Fibromyalgia (link).

Main controversies are connected to Vitamin C, B complex, Magnesium, Mayer’s cocktail, glutathione… There are biochemical and biological science behind, but they are NOT supported with randomised controlled, double-blind trials; that means that they don’t offer anything better than the placebo. Is this fact or fiction?

I have a feel that for some people who are really struggling with their long covid syndrome, chronic tiredness, chronic anxiety, may like to get better and they don’t care if it’s from the medication or the placebo…

Australian health professionals can only guide our patients with the best intention of making sure they are not engaging in dangerous treatments, that they are not the subject of a scam, and that they are not exposed to products/interventions with huge cost. We also need to advocate for evidence-based medicine as a mainstream treatment, and vitamin / mineral infusions and different alternative treatments should only be an addition to conventional treatment.

Our aim is combine alternative and Western medicine to work together to improve our patients’ wellbeing, wherever possible. If you think you may need intravenous infusion therapy with vitamins or any antioxidants (IV infusion-drip), talk to your doctor or specialist general practitioner.

Useful link: Vitamin and mineral supplements: when they are needed? link