Can an IV vitamin drip cure a hangover? This festive time of year always feels like an endurance test; an assault course of illness, exhaustion, anxiety and alcohol. Lots of alcohol. No matter how prepared I am, I always feel that in December, life comes at you with every kind of pressure imaginable to be prepared for The Big Day, oh so sociable and finish all your commitments for the year - and I’m not even a parent!
And the two biggest obstacles? Actual seasonal illness and – for those of us who tend to over-indulge at this time of year – booze-related illness. The festive hangover is a particular kind of cruel hangover that feels almost unavoidable and also comes for you when you really need all your energy reserves to get through to January 1st.
However, I think I might have found a secret weapon to surviving the onslaught of Christmas – the intravenous (IV) vitamin drip, also known as an IV fusion.
In recent years, IV drip therapy has gained popularity, particularly among celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Rita Ora and Rihanna as an instant boost to one’s overall health – both mental and physical – and to address specific wellness and needs associated with a busy lifestyle, as well as boosting energy levels. There are also IV drips for sports recovery, antioxidant and immunity support – most popular during the winter months.
An easy way to reduce alcohol consumption.
IV drip therapy involves the administration of fluids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients directly into the bloodstream through a vein – administered by a medical practitioner.
One supposed primary benefit of IV drip therapy, according to its fans, is its rapid absorption and effectiveness – meaning that the patient can almost immediately feel the effects of a major boost of hydration, plus a hit of vitamins and minerals. (Hence their popularity with time-poor, overly fatigued celebrities!)
As the wellness industry has exploded over the past decade, so have IV infusions. Used for recreational purposes as opposed to medical, drips have become more and more popular – in particular with companies such as NAD+ Clinic. And they’re not just the preserve of the rich and famous anymore – they can now be found at festivals, in shopping centres, hotels… some people even have drip parties ahead of a big event such as a wedding.
It is rare for the drips to cause serious side effects, but some people may experience mild stomach discomfort or nausea, tightness of the chest or feeling lightheaded during the treatment. It's worth noting that they’re also not cheap – prices start from £180.
In recent years however, there has been debate about whether their increased popularity as a post-party boost is founded in science. Three years ago, England’s top doctor declared that the rise of the so-called ‘party drip’ is both ineffective and even potentially harmful. The NHS’ medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, criticised companies for pushing these ‘health remedies’.
“People who are healthy do not need IV drips,” he said at the time. “At best they are an expensive way to fill your bladder – and then flush hundreds of pounds down the toilet – but at worst they can cause significant damage to your health. Miracle hangover cures and quick fixes simply don’t exist, and anyone online who says they do is probably out to make a quick buck at your expense.”
There have also been reports of bad reactions to drips in the past, famously including Kendall Jenner, who was hospitalised in 2018 after having a bad reaction to one. In fact, it is possible to overdose on vitamins, and some doctors have warned that these drips can trigger serious side effects in large doses.
Of course, it's always advised to go to a reputable medical practitioner who will talk through any potential risks with you – as well as assess you to make sure you don't have any pre-existing medical conditions that could be affected. Always heed the advice of your doctor when it comes to trialling treatments like this, and seek medical advice if you feel unwell after treatment.
As for me – I’ve had a few IV drips before, and I have personally found them both safe and beneficial, especially when travelling long-haul to combat the effects of jet-lag on the body and mind. Yet I’ve never specifically used IV drip therapy for booze-related dehydration.
So, with a big night out planned, I visit Dr Divya Veluvolu, an aesthetic practitioner whose Knightsbridge and Birmingham clinics offer a selection of IV drip therapies. While I am mindful of Professor Powis' warnings and I'm armed with questions before going ahead – my plan is to sample an IV drip both ahead of a big night out and another one the morning after.
I arrive at Dr Divya’s practice mildly hungover, thanks to a few glasses of champagne at a festive work party the night before – and just two hours before I am due to meet my friends for cocktails and dinner. I will be having the Wellness Myers Cocktail IV (Brad Pitt’s reported drip of choice), which costs £325.
It's the flip side of a fun night out.
“This is an all-inclusive," Dr Divya tells me. "A dose of vitamin C, all the vitamin B complex for energy, the vitamin C is an antioxidant, you’ve got a little bit of selenium which is for your rest and recovery as well as magnesium and zinc and some trace minerals.”
After finding a prominent vein, the drip is inserted into my left arm and apart from a sharp scratch when the needle goes in, the whole process is painless.
It takes around 45 minutes to administer the drip, and the liquid feels a bit funny when it enters the system – as it's cold.
“I have some clients in the summer who ask for it specifically to be administered cold,” Divya tells me. “So it’s like an internal air conditioning system to cool down the whole body!”
Over dinner, I drink margaritas with gusto all night long, convinced I am not going to get a hangover. I probably have about six in total over a period of around six hours. I also might have had a glass of red wine (I did.) I drink very little water, as I am supremely confident in the powers of my drip (read: I don't advise this!).
The next day, I have to rise early and attend the GLAMOUR Empowerment Summit – and while I definitely don’t feel as hungover as I should, I am not entirely without a hangover. I don’t have any hangxiety (major bonus) and I definitely have more energy than I would normally. But I do have the lingering effects of a headache, and my bones ache.
I turn up to Dr Divya’s the following week, four days after my previous drip and nursing a sore head after yet another Christmas get-together. I am not crazy hungover, but I have a headache and I am tired.
This time I have the Hangover IV (£295), and I am impressed with the immediate results. After 40 minutes not only do I feel a lot better, but I noticeably have more energy. What’s more, my complexion changes – and upon leaving Dr Divya’s practice, my skin looks noticeably more bright and glowy. The hydration is instant, as are the effects of the vitamin and mineral boost – I can definitely feel it in my energy levels.
“Typically, you can notice immediate effect if you are hungover,” Divya tells me. “If you're quite healthy and you're getting an IV, you probably won't notice it until the next day. So a lot of my patients will say that when they woke up the next day, they felt better energy.”
I would definitely say that having an IV drip before a night out did slightly reduce the effects of a hangover, but perhaps not as much as I would have liked. For me, having an IV drip the morning after seemed to help more. But unfortunately, as energised as I felt for a couple of days, it didn’t entirely combat the effects of a hangover and really, only responsible drinking or complete abstinence can do that for us foolish boozers. Roll on dry January I say.
Always heed medical advice and a thorough consultation before opting for an IV drip.
Dr Divya Veluvolu IV infusions, Elévé Medspa, Knightsbridge, London +44 7737 987629
NAD+ Clinic IV Infusions, +44 7935 1155
“I realised the strength I needed to socialise sober was a muscle that required training.”
