IV therapy
I am tired all the time. Where does IV therapy fit?
Written by the Forever Young IV Bar teamPublished
Tiredness is a symptom with many possible causes, from sleep problems to anemia to thyroid conditions. If it lasts for weeks, MedlinePlus says to call your provider. IV fluids can address dehydration, but research on vitamin drips for tiredness is limited. Results vary, and your provider decides what is right for you.
Why tiredness is a symptom, not a diagnosis
MedlinePlus defines fatigue as a feeling of weariness, tiredness or lack of energy that can interfere with daily activities. It notes that fatigue itself is not a disease, it is a symptom, and that it can be a normal response to physical activity, emotional stress, boredom or lack of sleep.
It can also be a sign of something else. MedlinePlus lists possible causes including anemia, iron deficiency, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, an underactive or overactive thyroid, depression, persistent pain and certain medicines. If you have been feeling tired for weeks, MedlinePlus says to contact your provider so they can help find the cause.
What an IV can and cannot do
Cleveland Clinic lists energy level among the things dehydration can affect, and says IV fluids prevent or treat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. So if your tiredness comes from dehydration, fluids may be part of the answer. Your provider can tell you whether that applies to you.
For vitamin blends added to a drip, the research is thin. A small randomized, placebo-controlled trial tested the Myers' cocktail in 34 adults with fibromyalgia. The authors found no statistically significant difference between the vitamin group and the placebo group, partly because of a high placebo response and the small number of people. Both groups improved on some measures. That means we cannot say the vitamins caused the improvement, and the trial did not test tiredness in people without fibromyalgia.
We will not promise that a drip will fix tiredness. Results vary, and IV therapy is not a substitute for care of a medical condition.
What a provider may check
MedlinePlus says that when fatigue does not get better after several weeks, your provider will ask about your sleep, daily activities, appetite and exercise, will likely do a physical exam and may order lab tests. Once there is a diagnosis, they can tell you what treatments might help.
Habits with the best track record
MedlinePlus suggests these steps for reducing fatigue:
- Get regular physical activity.
- Improve your sleep habits.
- Manage stress.
- Eat a healthy diet and avoid alcohol.
- Keep a fatigue diary to spot patterns through the day.
- Do not stop or change any medicine without talking to your provider.
Book a visit or ask a question
If you want to talk through your energy and what might help, we can start with a consult. 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.