IV Therapy
IV Therapy
Medically Supervised IV Hydration and Nutrient Infusions
Practitioner-ordered. Individually reviewed. Administered by licensed nurses.
Long travel, intense training, demanding schedules, and inconsistent hydration leave a lot of people looking for a more deliberate approach to fluids and nutrition. Some choose IV therapy as a convenient option within an existing wellness routine, particularly patients already working with a practitioner.
At Functional Healthcare of Omaha, IV therapy is a medically supervised wellness service governed by clinical standards, Nebraska regulations, and oversight from a licensed practitioner (MD, DO, PA, or APRN). Every infusion requires a completed medical intake, practitioner review, and a valid order before administration. Certain formulations require a direct evaluation first. Some patients are told no.
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What Is IV Therapy?
IV therapy — also called IV infusion therapy, IV hydration, or IV nutrient therapy — is the delivery of sterile fluids, electrolytes, vitamins, or other nutrients into a vein through a small catheter, rather than taking them by mouth.
A licensed nurse places a small catheter into a vein, usually in the arm or the back of the hand. The solution then infuses over a period of time — typically 30 to 60 minutes depending on the formulation and volume, though some sessions run longer. You remain seated and can read, work, or rest during the infusion. The catheter is removed at the end of the visit.
Because the solution enters the bloodstream directly, it does not pass through the digestive tract or first-pass liver metabolism. This means intravenous delivery can achieve higher blood concentrations of a nutrient than oral intake generally permits. Higher blood levels are not the same thing as a better outcome — for most nutrients, in people whose nutritional status is already adequate, there is no established benefit to reaching levels above what diet and oral supplementation provide.
How is this different from an injection?
An intramuscular injection delivers a small volume — usually 1 to 2 mL — into muscle tissue and takes seconds. An IV infusion delivers a substantially larger volume of fluid into a vein over a longer session, requires catheter placement, and involves different screening requirements. Both are available here, and your practitioner will discuss which route is appropriate.
Which formulation is appropriate for you, if any, is determined by:
Health history and current medications
Hydration status
Laboratory results where applicable
Lifestyle and dietary factors
Practitioner clinical judgment
What IV Therapy Is Not
IV therapy at Functional Healthcare of Omaha is hydration and nutritional supplementation. It is not a treatment for any disease, condition, or symptom. It is not a diagnostic service. It is not a substitute for medical evaluation, prescribed treatment, or a balanced diet.
We say this plainly because the wellness industry frequently does not. If you are dealing with persistent symptoms of any kind, the correct first step is an evaluation with a physician or practitioner — not an infusion. Our practitioners will tell you the same during your intake review, and will refer you when that is the appropriate response.
The goal here is not to promise you a result. It is to provide a hydration and supplementation option, under medical supervision, to patients for whom a practitioner determines it is appropriate.
Why Patients Choose a Medically Supervised Program
The difference between IV programs is rarely the ingredients. It is the process around them.
Practitioner review is required, not optional. No infusion is administered on request. A licensed practitioner reviews your intake and issues an order, or does not.
A tiered approval process. Many foundational nutrient IVs may be approved through secure intake review and authorization under standing protocols. Higher-risk and specialized formulations require a direct practitioner evaluation — in person or by telehealth — before scheduling.
Laboratory testing where clinically indicated. Certain formulations are not approved without current labs, including screening for G6PD deficiency before any high-dose vitamin C formulation.
Pharmaceutical-grade preparations. Sterile compounding conditions, single-use materials, and sourcing that complies with applicable compounding regulations.
Administration by licensed nurses under practitioner direction, in a clinical setting with staff present for the duration of your infusion.
Integration with the rest of your care. IV therapy sits inside a functional wellness practice, not beside it. Your practitioner considers what else you are taking, what your labs show, and what you are already working on.
Medical Screening and the Practitioner Order
All IV therapies require medical screening and a licensed practitioner order prior to administration.
- You complete a detailed medical intake covering health history, current medications, allergies, and supplements you are already taking.
- A licensed practitioner reviews your information and issues an order when appropriate.
- Certain formulations require laboratory testing or a direct evaluation — in person or by telehealth — before approval.
- Administration is performed by licensed nurses under practitioner direction.
- Preparation follows sterile standards and applicable compounding regulations.
Your practitioner will talk through what is appropriate for you during that review, and will tell you if IV therapy is not the right fit.
Our IV Menu
All therapies require medical intake review and a licensed practitioner order. The descriptions below identify what each formulation contains and how it is approved. They are not statements about what any formulation will do for you.
Foundational Formulations
Often eligible for approval through intake review under standing protocols.
- Foundational Formulations
Often eligible for approval through intake review under standing protocols.
IV Hydration
Sterile isotonic fluid with electrolytes. No added vitamins.
General Wellness IV
A base fluid with a standard blend of B vitamins and vitamin C.
Myers’ Cocktail–Style IV
A formulation modeled on the classic Myers’ blend — magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, and vitamin C in an isotonic base.
Mega Myers IV
A higher-volume version of the Myers’-style formulation. Practitioner-determined.
Essentials IV
A base fluid with a core vitamin and mineral blend.
Nourish IV
A base fluid with a blend of B vitamins, vitamin C, and trace minerals.
Amino & B-Vitamin Blend IV
A base fluid with amino acids and B vitamins.
Amino & Electrolyte Blend IV
A base fluid with amino acids, electrolytes, and B vitamins.
Vitamin C & Zinc Blend IV
A base fluid with vitamin C, zinc, and B vitamins. Requires G6PD screening prior to administration.
Glutathione & Amino Blend IV
A base fluid with glutathione and a blend of amino acids.
Glutathione IV Push
A compounded preparation of glutathione, a compound produced naturally in the body, administered as a slow push rather than a bag infusion.
NAD+ IV Therapy
A compounded preparation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. NAD+ infusions run substantially longer than standard IVs and are administered at a controlled rate. Practitioner evaluation may be required.
Glutathione IV Push
Antioxidant support
- Specialized Formulations
These require a direct practitioner evaluation, in person or by telehealth, before scheduling. They are not available through intake review alone.
High-Dose Vitamin C Requires documented G6PD screening prior to administration, along with review of kidney function. Not available to patients with G6PD deficiency.
Other practitioner-designated specialized formulations Availability and eligibility are determined case by case following direct evaluation.
Regarding compounded preparations: several formulations on this menu are compounded by a licensed pharmacy and are not FDA-approved drugs. They have not been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality. Your practitioner will discuss this with you before any compounded preparation is ordered.
Formulations are selected during your consultation. Not every formulation is appropriate for every person.
Candidacy and the Evaluation Process
IV therapy may be appropriate for adults who are seeking hydration or nutritional supplementation, who prefer an alternative to oral supplements, or who have already discussed supplementation with a practitioner.
It is not appropriate for everyone. Health conditions, laboratory findings, medications, allergies, and pregnancy or breastfeeding status may all rule it out — and a practitioner may determine that IV therapy is not indicated at all.
IV therapy is not a replacement for medical evaluation. If you are experiencing persistent symptoms, please consult your primary care provider.
What Happens During Your Experience
- Medical Intake
A detailed questionnaire reviewed by a licensed practitioner.
- Assessment & Order
Clearance under standing protocol, a request for laboratory testing, or a request for a direct evaluation — whichever the practitioner determines is appropriate for the formulation.
- Preparation & Infusion
A licensed nurse places a small IV catheter, usually in the arm or the back of the hand. You will feel a brief pinch.
- Infusion
The solution infuses over roughly 30 to 60 minutes for most formulations. Some, including NAD+, run considerably longer. Clinical staff remain available throughout.
- Aftercare
The catheter is removed, the site is bandaged, and you receive written aftercare guidance including what to watch for and when to contact the clinic.
Before & After Guidance
Preparation
- Eat a normal meal beforehand — infusing on an empty stomach makes lightheadedness more likely
- Drink water before your visit; well-hydrated veins are easier to access
- Disclose all medications, supplements, and allergies
- Bring recent laboratory results if you have them
- Wear something with sleeves that move easily above the elbow
Aftercare
- Mild tenderness, bruising, or a small firm spot at the catheter site is common and typically resolves within a few days
- Keep the bandage on for a few hours and avoid heavy lifting with that arm for the rest of the day
- Continue your normal routine unless otherwise directed
- Contact the clinic promptly if you develop spreading redness, warmth, swelling, or a hard cord-like area along the vein; drainage at the site; fever; a rash or hives; chest tightness; difficulty breathing; or swelling of the face, lips, or throat. Seek emergency care immediately for difficulty breathing or throat swelling.
Frequency is determined by your practitioner based on your clinical picture, not by a standing schedule.
How Much Does IV Therapy Cost?
Pricing depends on the formulation ordered, the volume infused, and whether laboratory testing or a direct evaluation is required as part of your approval. Because formulation selection is a clinical decision, we do not publish a price list.
Costs are reviewed with you before anything is administered. You will not be asked to commit to a package before a practitioner has determined that IV therapy is appropriate for you.
Why Functional Healthcare of Omaha
- Licensed practitioner oversight with a required order for every infusion
- A tiered approval process that routes higher-risk formulations to direct evaluation
- Laboratory testing where clinically indicated, including G6PD screening
- Administration by licensed nurses with staff present throughout your infusion
- Pharmaceutical-grade, sterile preparation compliant with applicable regulations
- IV therapy integrated with the rest of your functional wellness care
We are not a drip bar. We are a medical practice that offers infusion as one supervised service among many — and that will tell you when it is not the right answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IV therapy?
IV therapy is the delivery of sterile fluids, electrolytes, vitamins, or other nutrients into a vein through a small catheter, under the order and supervision of a licensed practitioner. It is a hydration and supplementation service, not a treatment for any disease or condition.
How does medical clearance work?
You complete a detailed medical intake. A licensed practitioner reviews it and either issues an order under standing protocol, requests laboratory testing, requests a direct evaluation in person or by telehealth, or determines that IV therapy is not appropriate for you. Foundational formulations are more often approved through intake review; specialized formulations always require direct evaluation.
Is IV therapy safe?
No infusion is without risk. Reported risks include pain, bruising, or bleeding at the catheter site; infiltration, where fluid enters surrounding tissue rather than the vein; phlebitis, or vein irritation and inflammation; infection at the site or, rarely, systemic infection; allergic or hypersensitivity reaction, which can rarely be severe; fluid overload; electrolyte disturbance; lightheadedness or fainting; and, rarely, air embolism or blood clot formation. Certain nutrients carry additional risks at high doses. Your practitioner and nurse will review the risks relevant to your specific formulation before you receive it.
Who is not a candidate?
IV therapy may not be appropriate for people with kidney disease or impaired renal function, heart failure or other conditions involving fluid retention, certain electrolyte abnormalities, known allergy to any component, difficult venous access, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Patients with G6PD deficiency cannot receive high-dose vitamin C formulations, which can cause destruction of red blood cells in that population — this is why screening is required. Certain medications interact with specific nutrients. Candidacy is determined individually by practitioner review.
Does it hurt?
Most patients describe a brief pinch when the catheter is placed and little sensation during the infusion itself. Some notice a cool feeling as the fluid runs, or a mild taste with certain vitamins.
How long does a visit take?
Most infusions run about 30 to 60 minutes, plus intake and catheter placement. NAD+ infusions run considerably longer and are administered at a controlled rate. Your initial intake and review take additional time.
How often should I receive IV therapy?
Frequency is a clinical decision made by your practitioner based on your history, labs where applicable, and what you are already taking. We do not set a standard schedule and do not sell open-ended packages ahead of evaluation.
Do I need lab work?
Some formulations require it. G6PD screening is required before any high-dose vitamin C formulation, and your practitioner may request kidney function or other labs depending on the formulation and your history.
Can IV therapy replace diet or medical care?
No. A balanced diet and adequate oral hydration remain the foundation, and IV therapy is not a substitute for medical evaluation or prescribed treatment. If you have persistent symptoms, see your primary care provider.
What results can I expect?
We do not promise a result, and we will not tell you what you should feel. Individual responses vary considerably, and some people notice no change at all. Hydration status, baseline nutritional status, sleep, and what else is going on in your life all affect how a given session feels.
Do you accept insurance?
IV therapy is a self-pay wellness service. Costs are reviewed with you before administration.
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Medical Disclaimer
The content on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
IV therapy at Functional Healthcare of Omaha is a supportive hydration and nutritional supplementation service. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate any disease, condition, or symptom. These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Intravenous infusion is a medical procedure and carries risk, including pain, bruising, and bleeding at the catheter site; infiltration; vein irritation and inflammation; local or systemic infection; allergic or hypersensitivity reaction, which can rarely be severe; fluid overload; electrolyte disturbance; and, rarely, air embolism or blood clot formation. Specific risks vary by formulation and are reviewed in the FAQ above and with your practitioner and nurse before administration.
Several formulations offered are compounded by a licensed pharmacy and are not FDA-approved drugs. They have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality.
Intravenous administration can achieve higher blood concentrations of a nutrient than oral intake generally permits. Higher blood concentrations do not necessarily produce improved outcomes.
No specific outcome is promised or guaranteed, and individual responses vary. All infusions require completed medical intake, review by a licensed practitioner, and a valid practitioner order prior to administration; some require laboratory testing or direct evaluation.
IV therapy is not right for everyone. Certain health conditions, laboratory findings, medications, allergies, and pregnancy or breastfeeding status may make a patient ineligible for some or all formulations. Candidacy is determined by individual practitioner evaluation, and not every patient qualifies. Specific factors that may prevent participation are outlined in the FAQ above under “Who is not a candidate?”
IV therapy is a self-pay wellness service and is not a substitute for medical evaluation, diagnosis, or prescribed treatment. Always consult your physician regarding any health concern or before beginning any new supplementation.