IV Vitamin Therapy for Chronic Infections

Persistent or recurrent infections can have many causes and require an appropriate medical evaluation. They should not be attributed to generalized concepts such as “toxicity” or “acidity” without a specific diagnosis.

Vitamin replacement can be medically important when a deficiency is documented, but IV vitamins have not been established as a treatment that eradicates chronic viral, bacterial, or other infections. Infection-specific diagnosis and treatment remain essential.

IV fluids and nutrients may be appropriate when a patient has dehydration or a documented deficiency, but vitamin infusions are not a substitute for diagnosis or antimicrobial treatment of an infection. Treatment should be based on the cause of symptoms, laboratory findings when indicated, medications, and individual risks.

What Vitamins Help With Infections?

A balanced diet can theoretically provide your body all the micronutrients it needs to function properly. However, some medical conditions can negatively impact your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. In addition, prolonged periods of illness burn through your body’s resources at an increased rate, increasing the amount of vitamins and nutrients you need to take in.

There are multiple vitamins you need to support a healthy immune system and good overall health. If you are currently being treated for an illness, check with your healthcare provider before beginning any vitamin or dietary supplements.

Vitamin A and Infection

Studies support the connection between vitamin A and decreased infectious disease mortality. Vitamin A is an anti-inflammatory vitamin and is especially beneficial in combating upper respiratory tract infections. It also supports immune health by increasing the activation of immune-system cells.

Vitamin B

B vitamins are essential in almost every function of the body. Vitamin B6 contributes to production of T cells (which regulate immune response). Vitamins B9 (folate) and B12 are important for formation of red blood cells. Folate deficiency has also been connected to increased levels of the amino acid homocysteine – which is associated with a higher risk of heart disease.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D has many health benefits: assists absorption of calcium, improves mood, and supports the immune system and brain health. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to high blood pressure, especially in children. It also reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines (which can make symptoms worse when allowed to accumulate).

Because our bodies require sunlight to produce vitamin D, many people take vitamin D supplements in the winter months. 

Vitamin E for Infection

Another antioxidant vitamin, vitamin E is found in high concentrations in immune cells. Research has shown that vitamin E deficiency increases your risk of infection.

Zinc for Infections

Zinc lozenges are commonly used to reduce the duration of cold symptoms. Research has shown zinc plays an important role in maintaining protective tissue barriers (to keep pathogens out) and balances the function of the immune system.

Zinc is required for normal immune function. Supplementation may be appropriate when intake is inadequate or deficiency is present, but it should not be presented as a treatment that cures chronic infection.

Why use IV Vitamin Therapy?

An IV vitamin drip may seem superfluous if you’re already eating well and taking a multivitamin, but oral supplements may not be as useful as you think they are. As oral vitamins pass through the digestive tract and get broken down by stomach enzymes, they lose up to 90% of their potency. 

What about natural supplements? Extracts of elderberry and echinacea claim to have antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Unfortunately, herbal supplements are not regulated or approved by the FDA.

At IV Vitamin Therapy, our doctor and trained nurses customize your IV vitamin cocktail to your body’s exact needs. The vitamins infuse directly into your bloodstream, bypassing the digestive tract, and can be carried directly to where they’re needed most.

Can IV vitamins be used during chronic infection care?

Patients with persistent infections may also develop dehydration, poor oral intake, or nutrient deficiencies. Those problems may sometimes require supportive treatment, while the underlying infection should be managed according to its specific diagnosis.

Despite some claims (especially early in the coronavirus pandemic), vitamins cannot cure or prevent diseases. A good diet, adequate physical activity, vaccines when possible, and suitable vitamin supplementation will keep your body ready to fight off disease.

IV fluids or nutrient replacement may be used for specific supportive indications such as dehydration or a documented deficiency, but vitamin infusions should not be presented as preventing, curing, or eradicating an infection.

Vitamin C IV for Pneumonia

Pneumonia and other significant respiratory infections require medical evaluation and cause-directed treatment. IV vitamin C is not established as a treatment for pneumonia or bronchitis; IV fluids or nutrients may be used for specific supportive indications such as dehydration or documented deficiency when clinically appropriate.

Vitamin C IV Therapy for Sinus Infection

Sinus infections and persistent sinus symptoms have multiple possible causes and should be evaluated appropriately. Vitamin C has normal physiologic roles, but IV vitamin C is not established as a treatment for a bacterial or viral sinus infection.

IV Therapy for Epstein Barr Virus

Recent studies show that vitamin C IV therapy benefits patients with high levels of antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), most of whom had chronic fatigue syndrome. High-dose intravenous vitamin C therapy was shown to decrease disease duration. 

Higher levels of vitamin C and D were related to decreased EBV antigens.

IV Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia patients suffer from chronic fatigue and pain, making day-to-day life challenging. IV vitamin therapy can provide high levels of vitamins B and C plus magnesium and calcium to decrease the side effects of fibromyalgia. 

An early study into IV therapy for fibromyalgia reported that patients had a major decrease in pain and fatigue and an improved quality of life.

Vitamin C for Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a not-so-common yet severe illness spread by ticks. Many patients will suffer from ongoing symptoms, known as Chronic Lyme Disease, making life very difficult. 

Lyme disease requires evidence-based diagnosis and treatment. IV vitamin C has not been established as a treatment that eradicates Lyme disease or other microorganisms; supportive IV fluids or nutrient replacement should be considered only for a separate clinical indication.

Some medical professionals add glutathione, magnesium, and B vitamins to their IV vitamin therapy for Lyme disease. Another option is combining high dose vitamin C IV treatment for Lyme disease with NAD, also known as the energy molecule.

IV Treatment for UTI

Urinary tract infections can cause complications if they are not appropriately diagnosed and treated. IV vitamin therapy is not a treatment for a UTI; patients with urinary symptoms should receive appropriate evaluation and infection-specific treatment when indicated.

Why choose IV Vitamin Therapy?

At IV Vitamin Therapy, IV hydration or nutrient replacement may be considered for selected patients when clinically appropriate. It should not be represented as a treatment that cures or eradicates symptoms of many conditions, including chronic infections. The process introduces high doses of essential vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream. This is a preferred method because nutrients can reduce their potency and effectiveness when they pass through the stomach and liver as food or vitamin supplements in pill form.

IV Vitamin Therapy is a professional medical provider offering an upscale boutique medical experience. Our staff is friendly and very experienced, and our offices are modern and calm. After an initial consultation, you can receive IV vitamin therapy for fatigue right in our offices or, if you elect to use our concierge house call service, in the comfort of your own home or office.

IV Vitamin Therapy is conveniently located in Beverly Hills and can come to your home or office throughout the Los Angeles area. We serve patients near Beverly Hills, Bel Air, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Downtown Los Angeles, Encino, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Burbank, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Northridge, North Hollywood, Topanga, Canoga Park, Reseda, Valley Glen, Chatsworth, West Hills, Winnetka, Universal City, Silverlake, Echo Park, and many more.

Book now at 877-760-3564

Related care: Chronic infections require condition-specific diagnosis and treatment; IV vitamins are not a cure or replacement for antimicrobial care. Read about vitamin infusions and the screening process.