Can IV Therapy Help Treat COVID Side Effects?
IV therapy has emerged in recent years as a treatment to address various health issues and for general wellness benefits. But can IV therapy help treat COVID side effects? Keep reading to learn if IV therapy is the right treatment for you.
What is vitamin IV therapy?
Intravenous therapy involves the delivery of fluids directly into the bloodstream. These fluids can be infused with medicines, vitamins, and/or nutrients to help treat and supplement the body.
F<sa
When taken orally, vitamins, nutrients, and medicines get broken down in the digestive process, meaning that only around 50% of them get absorbed by the body. Vitamins delivered directly into the bloodstream via IV therapy have an absorption rate of 90% or higher, allowing for greater benefits.
Can vitamin IV therapy help treat Covid-19?
Vitamin IV therapy is not a cure for Covid-19. It can, however, help fuel your body to recover from Covid-19. This, in turn, may help decrease the severity or shorten the duration of side effects.
There are many different types of IV formulas designed to address specific health concerns. Below, we review the most common ingredients found in vitamin IV therapy formulas that could help in Covid-19 recovery.
IV fluids
IV fluids are the base ingredient in any intravenous therapy. IV fluids are designed to help keep the body hydrated.
Staying properly hydrated is extremely important to body functions such as:
- Aiding the digestive process
- Regulating body temperature
- Promoting healthy cognitive function
- Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than it takes on and is also affected by electrolyte imbalances.
Electrolytes are minerals located in the body that have an electric charge. There are multiple body functions that rely on the presence of electrolytes. They help balance pH levels, move nutrients into cells, move waste out of cells, and ensure proper function of the heart, brain, nerves, and muscles. Making sure your body is fully hydrated to operate at its best can help aid recovery from an illness such as Covid-19.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is vital to proper immune system function because it stimulates the production of white blood cells. It also is necessary for tissue growth and repair, as it helps form a protein used by the body to build ligaments, blood vessels, bone, and cartilage. Additionally, Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects cells from damage resulting from free radicals, neutralizing them and preventing oxidative stress.
Given the importance of Vitamin C to immune function and healing, researchers have explored the benefits of high-dose Vitamin C for those with Covid-19. It must be understood that Vitamin C is not a prevention, cure, nor monotherapy treatment for Covid-19. It can, however, help support a healthy immune system, which can lessen the severity of symptoms and help you recover faster.
People with Vitamin C deficiencies are more likely to get infected by Covid-19 and are more likely to experience severe symptoms. It is worth noting that many of the conditions that put people at high risk of hospitalization from Covid-19 are also linked to Vitamin C deficiency, including cancer, diabetes, being immunocompromised, smoking, and inflammatory conditions.
Studies are still ongoing to determine the benefits of Vitamin C treatments for those with Covid-19. However, studies reflect promising results, including:
- Treating elderly people with severe respiratory infections
- Elderly people with pneumonia experienced reduced length of hospitalization and improvement in severe symptoms
- ICU patients relied on mechanical ventilation for a shorter duration
- Those with acute respiratory distress syndrome had reduced symptoms.
Glutathione
Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant which, like Vitamin C, is essential to several body functions, including metabolic function, the creation and repair of DNA, protein productions, and enzyme activation. Glutathione also assists with the breakdown of nutrients and helps regulate immune response.
Glutathione is the most abundant antioxidant in the body. A study has linked Covid-19 with glutathione deficits and elevated oxidative stress and oxidant damage. While glutathione levels naturally lower with age, having Covid-19 appears to have a significant negative impact, causing people in younger age groups to have oxidant damage normally seen in older patients.
IV formulas may include other vitamins that can help reduce the effects of Covid-19.
- B-Vitamins are believed to help prevent or reverse a cytokine storm, a hyperactive immune response resulting in acute inflammation.
- Vitamin B12 may help regulate communication between immune cells, helping to protect against Covid-19.
- Zinc may help suppress the replication of Covid-19 cells, helping to reduce the severity of symptoms and shorten duration of illness.
These vitamin blends help fuel your body to function at its best during recovery from Covid-19. Regular treatments can help address short- and long-term symptoms associated with Covid-19. When choosing an IV therapy provider, you should make sure they are a licensed and trained healthcare professional. A health screening should be conducted before any treatments are administered to ensure vitamin IV therapy is the right treatment for you and avoid any possible contraindications with prescription medication.
Covid-19 specialty IV treatments
As you research IV treatments for Covid-19, you may encounter treatments specifically designed for Covid-19. These treatments are different from vitamin IV therapy, which can be used to support a wide variety of treatment plans.
Monoclonal antibody IV therapy involves using antibodies produced in a laboratory, created using harvested cells from people who have recovered from Covid-19. This treatment is designed for people who have tested positive for Covid-19. They can help lessen the severity of symptoms and shorten recovery time. This treatment is a powerful aid to those with health conditions that put them at high risk of hospitalization.
Pre-exposure monoclonal antibody therapy also involves the use of lab-processed monoclonal antibodies. This therapy is typically an injection which is designed to prevent Covid-19 infection. This treatment is for a person not currently infected with Covid-19 who is trying to boost their overall immunity, such as:
- People unable to get vaccinated due to allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine components
- Those taking immunosuppressive medications for a medical condition, such as organ transplant, who do not receive the full benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine
- Those receiving treatment for cancer
In-Home IV Treatments With Drip Hydration
Drip Hydration offers mobile IV treatments in the comfort of your home. Once you book your appointment, a certified nurse will come to your desired location and administer the treatment, which usually takes less than an hour. During this time, you can do anything you’d like, such as relax under a warm blanket or watch TV. Drip Hydration will also go to hotels, worksites, or other locations upon request.
You can either browse our treatment options and decide which is best for you or speak to a representative who can help you choose what you need based on your health goals. To schedule your appointment or learn more, contact us today!
