Table of Contents
Yes: intravenous therapy is safe when prescribed by a doctor, administered by healthcare staff and performed after a prior clinical assessment. Risks arise when it is applied without a medical history, without checking contraindications or outside a medical setting. In Spain, the intravenous administration of medicines is a regulated healthcare procedure under Law 44/2003 on the Regulation of Healthcare Professions.
Key points
- IV therapy is safe under medical prescription and supervision; without them, the risk increases unnecessarily.
- The most common side effects are mild and temporary: bruising at the puncture site or a feeling of cold during the infusion.
- Vitamin sessions last 30 to 60 minutes; NAD+ infusions, 60 to 120 minutes.
- The prior medical assessment detects contraindications such as kidney failure, allergies or interactions with your medication.
- Results vary from person to person; no serious protocol promises a specific effect.
What is IV therapy and how does it work?
Intravenous therapy delivers serums containing vitamins, minerals or other compounds directly into the bloodstream through a peripheral line, usually in the forearm. By bypassing the digestive tract, bioavailability approaches 100%, compared with the variable percentage of the oral route, which is affected by intestinal absorption and first-pass liver metabolism. In aesthetic and wellness medicine it is used to support hydration, energy and recovery, never as a substitute for medical treatment.
The intravenous route achieves bioavailability close to 100% because it bypasses intestinal absorption and first-pass metabolism. It is the same pharmacological principle that hospital medicine has used for decades.
Is intravenous therapy safe?
Yes, with one condition: the entire process must take place within a medical circuit. That means prescription by a registered doctor, administration by healthcare staff, single-use sterile materials and the ability to respond to a reaction. In Spain, Law 44/2003 reserves these procedures for qualified professionals, and the components used are subject to the medicines regulations of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS).
The prior medical assessment: the step that adds the most safety
Before the first session, the doctor reviews your medical history, current medication, allergies and background. This assessment identifies the situations that make the infusion inadvisable or require the protocol to be adjusted. Without it, even a vitamin drip can be inappropriate.
Side effects: frequency and management
Most are mild and resolve without treatment. The table summarises what may occur and how it is managed in a medical setting.
| Effect | Frequency | Usual duration | In-clinic management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruising or discomfort at the puncture site | Common | 2-5 days | Local cold; resolves on its own |
| Feeling of cold during the infusion | Occasional | Minutes | Infusion rate is adjusted |
| Metallic taste (B-group vitamins) | Occasional | During the session | Temporary; no action needed |
| Mild dizziness or drop in blood pressure | Uncommon | Minutes | Infusion is slowed or stopped |
| Phlebitis (vein irritation) | Rare | Several days | Medical assessment and treatment |
| Allergic reaction | Very rare | Immediate | Emergency protocol in the clinic |
Who needs a stricter assessment?
Some situations do not contraindicate the therapy in themselves, but require an individual medical review before it is authorised:
- Kidney or heart failure: the fluid volume and infusion rate must be adjusted.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: assessed case by case.
- Known allergy to any component of the serum.
- Medication with possible interactions, such as anticoagulants.
If the doctor detects a contraindication, the correct response is to say no and propose an alternative. That refusal is also a medical act.
Why it must always be administered by a medical team
Three specific reasons. First, technique: incorrect cannulation can cause extravasation or phlebitis. Second, monitoring: an allergic reaction, although very rare, requires an immediate response with an emergency protocol. Third, indication: only a doctor decides what goes into the serum, at what dose and at what infusion rate.
- Medical assessment
- Medical history
- Suitable?
- Personalised protocol
- Alternative or referral
- Supervised administration
- Monitoring
- Follow-up
What to expect from a session: timing and results
Vitamin sessions last 30 to 60 minutes; NAD+ infusions, 60 to 120 minutes due to their slower administration rate. Hydration is felt the same day; support for energy and recovery varies between people and is assessed in the following days. For sustained results with NAD+, courses of 4 to 6 sessions are recommended.
30-60 minutes for a vitamin drip; 60-120 minutes for NAD+. The timing is not a commercial detail: infusion rate is a medical variable that the team adjusts for each patient.
What cannot be promised is a specific result. Results vary according to baseline condition, prior hydration and each person's individual response. Be wary of any centre that guarantees an effect.
How Santé Clinics approaches it
At Santé, every IV therapy begins with a medical assessment: without it, there is no protocol. The IV therapy programme is led by Dr. Alejandro Infante and carried out by a team of registered doctors, with a medical history, informed consent and monitoring throughout the session.
The protocol is personalised: the Custom Drip is formulated after the medical evaluation, and glutathione is administered within the Premium Drip or personalised formulas, never as a standalone single dose. The medical consultation costs €50; the aesthetic and hair consultations are free, and the two-week follow-up is included at no extra cost.
| Treatment | Session duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| SANTÉ Premium Drip | 30-60 minutes | €250 |
| Fitness Drip | 30-60 minutes | €250 |
| Personalised Custom Drip | 30-60 minutes | Depends on formulation |
| NAD+ IV 250 mg | 60-120 minutes | €500 |
| NAD+ IV 500 mg | 60-120 minutes | €750 |
| NAD+ IV 1000 mg | 60-120 minutes | €1,000 |
Care is provided in Spanish, English, Portuguese and Russian, at Avenida Diagonal 384, Barcelona.
Frequently asked questions
Does IV therapy hurt?
The initial needle prick is comparable to a blood test. During the infusion you may feel cold in the arm or a temporary metallic taste with some vitamins; both sensations disappear when the session ends.
How long do the effects last?
Hydration is felt the same day. The other effects vary from person to person; for NAD+, courses of 4 to 6 sessions are recommended for a sustained result, always with variable results.
Can I receive IV therapy if I take medication?
It depends on the medication. Declare everything you take at the assessment: the doctor reviews possible interactions before authorising the protocol.
Is it the same as a hospital drip?
The administration technique is the same; the goal is different. In hospital it treats an illness; in aesthetic and wellness medicine it acts as support. Both contexts require medical supervision.
Who administers the therapy at Santé?
A team of registered doctors, under the direction of Dr. Alejandro Infante. No infusion is performed without a prior medical assessment.
