The hangover IV drip — a bag of saline, B vitamins, anti-nausea medication, and sometimes pain relief — has become one of the most popular treatments at IV therapy clinics. Vegas hotels offer it tableside. Mobile services deliver it to your door at 8am on a Sunday. But does it actually work?
What's in a Hangover IV?
Most hangover recovery IVs contain:
- Saline (1 liter) — rehydrates you far faster than drinking water
- B-complex vitamins — alcohol depletes B vitamins, contributing to fatigue
- Vitamin B12 — energy support
- Magnesium — reduces muscle aches and headaches
- Zofran (ondansetron) — anti-nausea medication (prescription, requires medical oversight)
- Toradol (ketorolac) — anti-inflammatory pain relief (prescription)
- Glutathione — antioxidant, helps process acetaldehyde (the toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism)
Does the Science Support It?
There are no large-scale clinical trials on commercial hangover IV therapy specifically. However, the underlying components are well-established:
- Rapid IV rehydration is significantly faster than oral rehydration — a 1-liter saline drip takes about 30 minutes to absorb vs. 60–90 minutes for water
- IV B vitamins restore levels depleted by alcohol metabolism
- Ondansetron and ketorolac are proven anti-nausea and pain-relief medications used in hospitals daily
Anecdotally, the vast majority of people who get a hangover IV report feeling significantly better within 30–60 minutes. The combination of rapid rehydration, symptom relief medication, and vitamin restoration addresses the main causes of hangover symptoms simultaneously.
Is It Worth the Cost?
At $100–200 per session, it's not cheap. Whether it's worth it depends on your situation — if you have an important meeting, a wedding to attend, or simply can't afford a lost day, many people find it very much worth the cost. If you're just mildly under the weather and have time to recover naturally, water and sleep may be sufficient.