Are IV Hydration Spas Safe?

The Trend: Getting an IV drip used to mean one of three things: You were wealthy, wellness-obsessed, or actually sick in the hospital. Nowadays, IV therapy is more mainstream — and a multi-billion-dollar industry. People are hitting drip bars on Sunday mornings to ward off a hangover, popping into IV tents to rehydrate at music festivals, or hiring a mobile IV technician for their party guests. On-demand infusions are even an amenity at some luxury condo and apartment complexes.

What People Are Saying: IV therapy is marketed as being able to prevent or treat a variety of ailments, including hangovers, jet lag, migraine, and dehydration. Some claim to boost immunity or dissolve fat. The recipe of the IV cocktails varies, but the base is sterile saline water, with vitamins, minerals, and other additives. Sometimes anti-nausea medications and painkillers are included.

What to Know: IV infusions can be effective, though often pricey and usually not necessary. The problem is that most drip spas and concierge services are unregulated by any federal or state laws or internal industry oversight, according to recent research published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Proceed with caution: There’s a real risk of contamination, infection, side effects, or allergic reactions.