What You Must Know About IV Myers’ Cocktail That IV Clinics Hide From You
You may have come across the “Myers’ Cocktail” at a wellness clinic, on social media, or through recommendations from friends. It is an IV infusion containing a mixture of vitamins and minerals, and it has become a popular service at IV hydration spas throughout the United States.
Despite its popularity, however, there are important concerns about this treatment. After carefully reviewing the available medical evidence, our practice has chosen not to offer Myers’ Cocktail infusions and does not recommend them to patients.
This guide explains what the Myers’ Cocktail is, what the available research actually tells us, and why this treatment may involve real risks without offering proven health benefits.
Despite its popularity, however, there are important concerns about this treatment. After carefully reviewing the available medical evidence, our practice has chosen not to offer Myers’ Cocktail infusions and does not recommend them to patients.
This guide explains what the Myers’ Cocktail is, what the available research actually tells us, and why this treatment may involve real risks without offering proven health benefits.
What Is the Myers’ Cocktail?
The Myers’ Cocktail is an intravenous, or IV, mixture of vitamins and minerals. It is named after Dr. John Myers, a physician in Baltimore who reportedly gave vitamin and mineral infusions to patients during the 1960s and 1970s.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, Dr. Myers never published research on his treatment, and there is no written record of his original formula. After his death, other healthcare providers began creating and offering their own versions of the infusion.1
Most Myers’ Cocktail infusions contain some combination of:
1. Magnesium, usually in the form of magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate
2. Calcium, often as calcium gluconate
3. B vitamins, including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12
4. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid
One important concern is that there is no single, standardized Myers’ Cocktail formula. The ingredients, doses, and concentrations can vary significantly from one clinic to another. As a result, patients may not always know exactly what they are receiving22.
1. Magnesium, usually in the form of magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate
2. Calcium, often as calcium gluconate
3. B vitamins, including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12
4. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid
One important concern is that there is no single, standardized Myers’ Cocktail formula. The ingredients, doses, and concentrations can vary significantly from one clinic to another. As a result, patients may not always know exactly what they are receiving22.
Why Is the Myers’ Cocktail Not FDA-Approved?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the Myers’ Cocktail for the treatment of any medical condition.
This means the cocktail has not gone through the rigorous testing normally required to show that a treatment is both safe and effective. There is also no FDA-approved formula, dosage, or treatment protocol for administering it.
The Myers’ Cocktail products offered at many wellness clinics are compounded, meaning they are custom-mixed rather than manufactured as approved medications. Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, certain compounded medications are exempt from the premarket approval process and some of the manufacturing requirements that apply to FDA-approved drugs33.
Some of the individual vitamins and minerals used in the cocktail are FDA-approved for specific medical purposes. For example, they may be used to treat a medically documented deficiency or as part of parenteral nutrition for patients who cannot eat normally.
However, combining these ingredients into a Myers’ Cocktail and administering them for general wellness, energy, immune support, or similar purposes has never been approved by the FDA.
This means the cocktail has not gone through the rigorous testing normally required to show that a treatment is both safe and effective. There is also no FDA-approved formula, dosage, or treatment protocol for administering it.
The Myers’ Cocktail products offered at many wellness clinics are compounded, meaning they are custom-mixed rather than manufactured as approved medications. Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, certain compounded medications are exempt from the premarket approval process and some of the manufacturing requirements that apply to FDA-approved drugs33.
Some of the individual vitamins and minerals used in the cocktail are FDA-approved for specific medical purposes. For example, they may be used to treat a medically documented deficiency or as part of parenteral nutrition for patients who cannot eat normally.
However, combining these ingredients into a Myers’ Cocktail and administering them for general wellness, energy, immune support, or similar purposes has never been approved by the FDA.
What Does the Research Actually Show?
Despite how widely the Myers’ Cocktail is advertised, there is very little high-quality evidence showing that it provides meaningful health benefits.
The only randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving the Myers’ Cocktail studied 34 people with fibromyalgia. Some participants received the Myers’ Cocktail, while others received plain lactated Ringer’s solution as a placebo.
Both groups reported improvement. However, researchers found no statistically significant difference between the two groups on any of the outcomes they measured. In other words, the Myers’ Cocktail did not perform better than the placebo infusion.
The fact that both groups improved may reflect a placebo effect. This is a well-recognized phenomenon in which people feel better because they believe they are receiving an effective treatment. The experience of receiving an IV can make a treatment feel especially powerful or medical, even when the ingredients themselves have not been shown to provide a benefit.4
There are also no reliable clinical trials showing that the Myers’ Cocktail effectively treats the other conditions for which it is commonly promoted, including:
Both groups reported improvement. However, researchers found no statistically significant difference between the two groups on any of the outcomes they measured. In other words, the Myers’ Cocktail did not perform better than the placebo infusion.
The fact that both groups improved may reflect a placebo effect. This is a well-recognized phenomenon in which people feel better because they believe they are receiving an effective treatment. The experience of receiving an IV can make a treatment feel especially powerful or medical, even when the ingredients themselves have not been shown to provide a benefit.4
There are also no reliable clinical trials showing that the Myers’ Cocktail effectively treats the other conditions for which it is commonly promoted, including:
- Fatigue
- Migraines
- Asthma
- Upper respiratory infections
- Weakened immunity
- General low energy
A systematic review examining vitamin and mineral levels in people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia found little evidence that vitamin or mineral deficiencies were responsible for these conditions. The review also found that supplements generally did not lead to meaningful clinical improvement.5
Large reviews of vitamin supplementation in healthy adults have reached similar conclusions. In people who are not deficient, taking additional vitamins and minerals usually provides little or no measurable health benefit.
A 2025 review published in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics does not recommend the routine, indiscriminate use of micronutrient supplements to prevent chronic disease because there is not enough scientific evidence to support that practice. 6
A review in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology also found that, although vitamin and mineral supplement use is extremely common, there is no general agreement that supplements prevent cardiovascular disease or other chronic health conditions. 7
Large reviews of vitamin supplementation in healthy adults have reached similar conclusions. In people who are not deficient, taking additional vitamins and minerals usually provides little or no measurable health benefit.
A 2025 review published in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics does not recommend the routine, indiscriminate use of micronutrient supplements to prevent chronic disease because there is not enough scientific evidence to support that practice. 6
A review in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology also found that, although vitamin and mineral supplement use is extremely common, there is no general agreement that supplements prevent cardiovascular disease or other chronic health conditions. 7
Does IV Delivery Make Vitamins Work Better?
Wellness clinics say that giving vitamins through a vein is better than taking them by mouth. They claim it is better because it goes around the stomach and gets vitamins into the blood. It is true that IV delivery can make the level of vitamins in the blood go up for a while.. This does not mean it is actually good for you.
If you take much of water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and the B vitamins your body gets rid of what it does not need. Your kidneys will make you urinate more. You will lose the extra vitamins. So taking high doses of vitamins through a vein is just a waste of money because you will end up with expensive urine.
Your body controls how much of minerals like magnesium and calcium it needs. If you have enough of these minerals your kidneys will get rid of any extra.8
The FDA says that IV multivitamin products can only be used for people who are getting nutrition through a vein because they cannot eat. These products are not, for healthy people.
If you take much of water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and the B vitamins your body gets rid of what it does not need. Your kidneys will make you urinate more. You will lose the extra vitamins. So taking high doses of vitamins through a vein is just a waste of money because you will end up with expensive urine.
Your body controls how much of minerals like magnesium and calcium it needs. If you have enough of these minerals your kidneys will get rid of any extra.8
The FDA says that IV multivitamin products can only be used for people who are getting nutrition through a vein because they cannot eat. These products are not, for healthy people.
What Are the Possible Side Effects and Risks?
Magnesium: When you get magnesium through an IV it can make you feel flushed, sweaty and warm. It can also lower your blood pressure. Slow down your reflexes. If the levels get too high it can cause heart problems slow down your breathing and even lead to cardiac arrest. People with kidney disease are especially at risk because their kidneys have to work to remove the magnesium.
Vitamin C: Taking doses of vitamin C through an IV can lead to kidney stones and damage to your kidneys. There have been cases where people got kidney injuries from IV vitamin C. During the COVID-19 pandemic there was an increase in cases of kidney damage from taking supplements.
Vitamin C: Taking doses of vitamin C through an IV can lead to kidney stones and damage to your kidneys. There have been cases where people got kidney injuries from IV vitamin C. During the COVID-19 pandemic there was an increase in cases of kidney damage from taking supplements.
Calcium: If you get calcium through an IV quickly it can cause serious heart rhythm problems especially if you’re taking certain medications like digoxin.
B vitamins: Most people can tolerate IV B vitamins but in rare cases they can cause allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
Risks from the IV procedure itself:
Infection risk: Getting an IV can cause infections, including life-threatening bloodstream infections. In 2021 the FDA looked into a case of shock after IV infusion therapy at a wellness clinic.
Contamination risk: IV products made by compounding pharmacies aren’t held to the standards as FDA-approved drugs. Between 2000 and 2012 there were at 11 outbreaks of infections linked to these pharmacies, which affected over 200 people and caused 17 deaths.
Inconsistent products: There’s no formula for the Myers Cocktail so the ingredients and concentrations can vary from place to place. A study found that contamination rates in -pharmacy environments were much higher than in pharmacy environments.9
Lack of oversight: A national study found that most IV hydration spas don’t require you to talk to a licensed medical professional, before treatment. They also don’t always tell people about the risks.
No required adverse event reporting: Most IV wellness clinics don’t have to report complications to the FDA, which means problems might go unnoticed and unreported.
B vitamins: Most people can tolerate IV B vitamins but in rare cases they can cause allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
Risks from the IV procedure itself:
Infection risk: Getting an IV can cause infections, including life-threatening bloodstream infections. In 2021 the FDA looked into a case of shock after IV infusion therapy at a wellness clinic.
Contamination risk: IV products made by compounding pharmacies aren’t held to the standards as FDA-approved drugs. Between 2000 and 2012 there were at 11 outbreaks of infections linked to these pharmacies, which affected over 200 people and caused 17 deaths.
Inconsistent products: There’s no formula for the Myers Cocktail so the ingredients and concentrations can vary from place to place. A study found that contamination rates in -pharmacy environments were much higher than in pharmacy environments.9
Lack of oversight: A national study found that most IV hydration spas don’t require you to talk to a licensed medical professional, before treatment. They also don’t always tell people about the risks.
No required adverse event reporting: Most IV wellness clinics don’t have to report complications to the FDA, which means problems might go unnoticed and unreported.
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Online Myer’s Cocktail Claims
IV clinics typically claim that a Myer’s Cocktail can help with fatigue, headaches, immunity, asthma, allergies, alcohol hangovers and even reverse aging. But these crazy claims have not been supported any clinical evidence.
In a study, people looked at over 250 websites for spas that give you fluids through a vein. They found out that almost all of these websites do not give any proof for what they say about your health. A lot of these websites say that their treatment can help your body fight off sickness. They do not show much evidence for this. The Federal Trade Commission says that when people advertise things that are supposed to be good, for your health they have to be honest and not try to trick you. They also have to have evidence to back up what they are saying. Most of the time the people who sell IV vitamin therapy do not do this. 10
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What Can You Do Instead of Getting a Myer’s Cocktail?
Best thing you can do is stay hydrated, eat a balance diet, get enough sleep, and get enough exercise. Beyond that, if you think you need more help with medicines, talk to your doctor first.
- Gallagher C, Emmanuel OO. NAD⁺ supplementation for anti-aging and wellness: A PRISMA-guided systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence. Ageing Res Rev. 2026;116:103057. doi:10.1016/j.arr.2026.103057 ↩︎
- Sivakumar A, Forman HP, Wang I, Lurie P, Ross JS. State Policies and Facility Practices of IV Hydration Spas in the US. JAMA Intern Med. 2025;185(12):1455-1461. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.5028 ↩︎
- Schweitzer K. IV Hydration Spas Are Gaining Popularity, but Are They Safe?. JAMA. 2025;334(18):1609-1610. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.18832 ↩︎
- Ali A, Njike VY, Northrup V, et al. Intravenous micronutrient therapy (Myers’ Cocktail) for fibromyalgia: a placebo-controlled pilot study. J Altern Complement Med. 2009;15(3):247-257. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0410 ↩︎
- Joustra ML, Minovic I, Janssens KAM, Bakker SJL, Rosmalen JGM. Vitamin and mineral status in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0176631. Published 2017 Apr 28. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0176631 ↩︎
- Allen LH. Micronutrients – Assessment, Requirements, Deficiencies, and Interventions. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(10):1006-1016. doi:10.1056/NEJMra2314150 ↩︎
- Jenkins DJA, Spence JD, Giovannucci EL, et al. Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals for CVD Prevention and Treatment. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(22):2570-2584. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.04.020 ↩︎
- Peña de la Vega L, Lieske JC, Milliner D, Gonyea J, Kelly DG. Urinary oxalate excretion increases in home parenteral nutrition patients on a higher intravenous ascorbic acid dose. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2004;28(6):435-438. doi:10.1177/0148607104028006435 ↩︎
- Larmené-Beld KHM, Frijlink HW, Taxis K. A systematic review and meta-analysis of microbial contamination of parenteral medication prepared in a clinical versus pharmacy environment. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2019;75(5):609-617. doi:10.1007/s00228-019-02631-2 ↩︎
- Sivakumar A, Forman HP, Wang I, Lurie P, Ross JS. State Policies and Facility Practices of IV Hydration Spas in the US. JAMA Intern Med. 2025;185(12):1455-1461. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.5028 ↩︎
Aleksey Aronov, NP
Founder & Lead Nurse Practitioner
Hunter College Alum • Dual Board Certified (Adult & Gerontology)NPI: 1548616451 • NY License: #307286 • Licensed in PA & TXSpecialist in Hematology & Oncology with clinical background at Mount Sinai and Northwell Health. Founder of VIP's IV — delivering hospital-grade care to your door.
