What is IV vitamin C? It's vitamin C that goes into a vein instead of down your throat. The National Cancer Institute says that when given by IV infusion, vitamin C can reach much higher levels in the blood than when it is taken by mouth. A higher blood level isn't proof it does more for you. Six of our ten bags carry it, and Lisa brings them anywhere in Flagler County.
What is IV vitamin C made of, and what does vitamin C do?
It's the same vitamin you get from an orange. MedlinePlus calls it a water-soluble vitamin. Your body can't make it and doesn't store it. Leftover amounts leave the body through the urine, which is why you need it regularly.
MedlinePlus says your body uses it to grow and repair tissue everywhere. Making collagen is one of those jobs. It's the protein in your skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. It's also one of many antioxidants. Our menu pages say it in fewer words: an antioxidant, and a vitamin your body needs to make collagen.
The IV part is only the route. Swallowed vitamin C goes through your gut first. In the bag, it's mixed into normal saline. That's sterile salt water matched to your blood, and everything else in the bag goes in it too. The cancer institute says those higher levels last for more than 4 hours.
A blood level is a number. How you feel is something else, and nobody has settled that part. Cleveland Clinic's page on IV vitamins says the science behind a direct wellness benefit is still limited. We sell these bags. Keep that in mind when you read our menu, and when you read this.
Which of our bags have it
Vitamin C is in six bags. The price on each includes Lisa at your door and physician oversight.
- Ignite Energy Boost, $189. Vitamin C with B-Complex, taurine and B12. No caffeine in the bag.
- Fortify Immunity Boost, $199. Vitamin C with zinc, B-Complex and glutathione.
- Metabolic Boost, $199. Vitamin C with the B vitamins, amino acids and a Lipo+ injection in the same visit.
- Cellular Defense, $209. It leans on the antioxidants, vitamin C and glutathione, with B-Complex and magnesium.
- Luminous Beauty Glow, $209. Vitamin C with biotin, glutathione and B-Complex.
- The Coastal Reset, $229. Lisa's take on the Myers' Cocktail, a broad vitamin and mineral blend with taurine and magnesium in it too. More on that in our Myers post.
Simply Hydrate, The After Party Reset, Recharge and the NAD+ bags don't have it. The side by side chart is on the IV menu.
Our menu doesn't print a milligram amount for the vitamin C. If the dose matters to you, text Lisa at 386-387-9229 before you book and ask about the bag you want. You'll be texting the nurse who would be hanging it.
If you searched because of cancer
Search IV vitamin C and a lot of what comes up is about cancer. The National Cancer Institute page we read is written about people with cancer. It says IV vitamin C is not approved as a cancer treatment in the United States. It also says that when IV vitamin C is combined with certain anticancer drugs, the anticancer drugs may not work as well.
That's for your oncologist. Not us. Our bags are wellness drips, not cancer care, and they don't replace your doctor. If you're in cancer care, please don't book one of ours without your care team's okay.
Who should ask a provider first
The cancer institute says IV vitamin C may cause serious side effects in people with kidney disease, G6PD deficiency or hemochromatosis. In people with a history of kidney disease, kidney failure has been reported. And it says people who are likely to develop kidney stones should not be treated with IV vitamin C.
That's why nothing runs until you're cleared. Before your first IV, a licensed provider goes over your health history on a short video call. That's the Good Faith Exam. It runs about 5 to 10 minutes on your phone, and new clients don't pay extra for it. Have your medications, allergies and health history ready. Tell the provider about kidney trouble, kidney stones or a blood condition, even if it was years ago. Not sure about one of them? Say that too.
A provider who says no means no bag, and no charge for one. Then on the day Lisa takes your vitals first. If a reading is off, the visit waits.
Stomach upset comes up too. MedlinePlus says amounts greater than 2,000 mg/day are not recommended, and that doses this high can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea. It's talking about vitamin C in general, not the drip. If you already take a big vitamin C pill every day, tell the provider.
What the visit looks like
We come to you. Your house in Flagler Beach, your office in Palm Coast, the rental you are staying in this week. Plan on about an hour for most bags. A quick pinch, then nothing. Lisa owns the practice, so she's the one at your door every time. Inside Flagler County you pay no travel fee.
Quick answers
Does IV vitamin C have side effects?
Is IV vitamin C better than a pill?
Is IV vitamin C used for cancer?
Sources
- Intravenous Vitamin C (PDQ), Patient Version (National Cancer Institute), from a federal government health agency, part of the National Institutes of Health.
- Vitamin C (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia), from the National Library of Medicine, a government health agency.
- IV Vitamin Therapy (Cleveland Clinic), the health news site of Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center.
General reading about one vitamin. It can't see your chart, and it is not a substitute for medical care. If you have kidney trouble, a blood disorder, cancer care underway or a pregnancy, start with your own provider. For an emergency, dial 911.