spoon of salt

What is Sodium Chloride IV Used For?

Salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), is a common household item used for cooking and baking, but did you know it is also a key player in your body? Hydration of the human body involves a careful balance of fluids, minerals, and salts. A primary component of the body, sodium chloride is an essential salt used for fluid balance, tissue hydration, blood pressure maintenance, and muscle contraction.

What is sodium chloride IV, and when do you need one? 

A sodium chloride IV is a mixture of fluids and sodium chloride administered intravenously to restore fluid balance. This cocktail is used to treat patients with fluid loss and those unable to take fluids and nutrients by mouth. In other words, people who are suffering from dehydration.

Side effects

Some side effects associated with sodium chloride IV include:

  • Electrolyte abnormalities
  • Fluid retention
  • Heart failure
  • High blood pressure
  • Hypernatremia
  • Injection site reactions
  • Intraventricular hemorrhage in neonates

Is an IV better than drinking water to rehydrate?

Dehydration can cause a variety of symptoms including, fatigue, headache, nausea, and lightheadedness. While our initial reaction may be to grab a water bottle, this may not immediately satisfy our symptoms. Drinking water can take hours before the body is rehydrated.

Sodium chloride IVs are a quick solution to getting you back on your feet. Whereas consuming fluids by mouth can result in fluid absorption by other tissues and organs and may not be possible in all patients due to complications, intravenous administration delivers fluids directly to the bloodstream with minimal disruption.

How else can you rehydrate quickly? 

Although sodium chloride IVs offer the quickest and most efficient results, other rehydration techniques include:

Eat hydrating foods

Some foods, such as watermelon, berries, lettuce, carrots, oranges, grapes, and spinach, are composed of up to 80-99% water. Eating the correct serving sizes of these foods can help rehydrate your body (ex. 1.25 cups = 8 oz glass of water).

Drink milk

Milk contains high concentrations of electrolytes and proteins, which are essential for fluid balance and rehydration.

Eat soup

Broth-based soups are also a source of hydration, which contain a mixture of fluids and salts. However, some canned soups may have an excess of salts that can have harmful effects and dehydrate you further.

Sodium chloride IVs have a variety of names. At Drip Hydration, our Dehydration IV is a blend of IV fluids, electrolytes, and sodium chloride used to help relieve the symptoms of dehydration. With treatment as quick as 30-60 minutes and administered by certified healthcare professionals at home, at work, or in a hotel, we aim to restore your health and maximize your convenience.

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!