IV therapy
IV drip or vitamin shot: what is the difference?
Written by the Forever Young IV Bar teamPublished
An IV drip runs liquid into a vein through a small tube, usually over a longer visit. A vitamin shot is an injection of a vitamin, such as B12, that is often given into a muscle. Which one fits depends on your goal and health history, and your provider decides what is right for you.
What an IV drip is
Cleveland Clinic describes IV fluids as liquids injected into a person's veins through an IV tube. In medical care they are used to prevent or treat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
The nurse places a small tube in a vein and connects it to a bag of fluid, which runs through the line while you sit. The IV can also be used to deliver medications or nutrition. Your provider chooses the type and amount of fluid.
What a vitamin shot is
A vitamin shot is an injection of a vitamin or a small mix of nutrients. MedlinePlus notes that a prescription form of vitamin B12 can be given by injection. In research on B12 deficiency, the shots are usually given into a muscle (an intramuscular injection).
Shots are brief. They do not need a bag of fluid or a long visit. At our studio, vitamin shots are listed on the shots page, and your provider can tell you what a shot contains.
How they compare
Here are the main differences in plain terms.
- How it is given: a drip goes into a vein through a small tube. A shot is a single injection, often into a muscle.
- What it carries: a drip can carry fluid plus added nutrients. A shot usually carries one nutrient or a small blend.
- Time: many drips take about 45 minutes, and your provider will confirm the time for yours. A shot is much shorter.
- Who it may suit: a drip is a medical fluid treatment, used for dehydration. A B12 shot is used when a provider finds a B12 problem, such as pernicious anemia.
Safety questions for both
Both involve a needle, so ask how the clinic keeps things clean. The CDC's One & Only Campaign asks patients and providers to insist on "One Needle, One Syringe, Only One Time" for each injection.
Cleveland Clinic lists the possible complications of an IV: infection, a bruise from blood leaking into nearby tissue (hematoma), a swollen vein (phlebitis), and rare problems such as a collapsed vein. If too much fluid goes in too quickly, people can get a headache, high blood pressure and trouble breathing. Tell your nurse if something feels wrong.
How to choose
Start with your goal and your health history. If you are tired often, see a provider first, because tiredness has many possible causes. If you are curious about B12, ask whether a blood test makes sense. MedlinePlus says B12 deficiency is most common in people over 50, people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, people who have had stomach or intestinal surgery, and people with digestive conditions such as celiac or Crohn disease. A shot is not the only option. A review of trials found oral B12 and B12 shots had similar effects on blood B12 levels in people with deficiency, though the evidence was low quality. Results vary, and your provider decides what is suitable.
Book a visit or ask a question
A consult is a good place to compare options. You can book online at foreveryoungivbar.com/book/ or call 469-613-7033. Our Plano studio is at 2609 Technology Drive, Suite 108 (inside Habitat Commons). A nurse can also come to you for mobile visits across Dallas-Fort Worth, which are booked by phone.