Immune IV Drip: What's in the Immune Push IV and What It Can Do
An immune IV drip delivers fluids, vitamins and minerals through a small IV in a vein, so the nutrients go straight into the bloodstream. The Immune Push IV pairs a Myers’ Cocktail with B vitamins, glutathione and a mineral mix of zinc, selenium, copper, manganese and magnesium. Each of these nutrients plays a role in a healthy immune system. Research on zinc and vitamin C for colds comes mostly from oral supplements, and high-quality studies on IV drips for immune support are still lacking. An immune IV does not cure or prevent infections, and it is not the same as IVIG.
What Is an Immune IV?
An immune IV is an infusion of fluids, vitamins and minerals given through a small IV in your arm. Because it goes straight into a vein, the nutrients reach your bloodstream directly and bypass your digestive system.
Immune support is one of the most common reasons people ask us about IV vitamin therapy, along with energy and mental clarity. We want you to know up front that high-quality studies on these wellness uses are still lacking, so we treat an immune IV as one part of your care, not the whole plan. The Immune Push IV is one of several IV nutrient therapy options at Renew Integrative Health in Newark, Delaware.
How Nutrients Support Your Immune System
Your immune system depends on several vitamins and minerals to do its job. Zinc helps your immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses, and vitamin C helps it work properly to protect your body from disease. Selenium helps protect cells and resist infection, and copper helps maintain both the nervous and immune systems.
Getting enough of these nutrients matters. That does not mean extra amounts push your immune system above normal, and no research has shown that an IV drip prevents illness.
Is an Immune IV the Same as IVIG?
No. IVIG stands for immune globulin intravenous, a prescription medication that works by providing antibodies to fight infections and manage other conditions. It is used to treat conditions such as primary humoral immunodeficiency and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The Immune Push IV contains vitamins and minerals, not antibodies, and it is not a treatment for immune deficiency.
What’s in the Immune Push IV?
Our Immune Push IV contains:
- Our Myers’ Cocktail (vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, B vitamins and glutathione)
- B-complex vitamins
- Glutathione
- A mineral mix of copper, magnesium chloride, manganese, selenium and zinc
Every infusion starts with saline before the vitamins and minerals are added.
Zinc
Your body needs zinc for its defensive (immune) system to work properly. Zinc also plays a role in cell division, cell growth and wound healing, and it is needed for your senses of smell and taste.
Selenium
Selenium helps your body make DNA, protect cells and resist infection. Your thyroid gland also relies on selenium to produce hormones and function properly.
Copper
Copper helps your body make energy, connective tissue and blood vessels, and it helps maintain your nervous and immune systems. Your body also needs copper for brain development.
Manganese
Manganese helps your body make energy and protect your cells from damage. You also need it for strong bones, reproduction, blood clotting and a healthy immune system.
Magnesium
Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in your body. It helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function, supports a healthy immune system, keeps your heartbeat steady and helps your bones stay strong.
Vitamin C, B Vitamins and Glutathione
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals, and your body needs it to make collagen. B vitamins such as vitamin B6 take part in more than 100 enzyme reactions in your metabolism, and in immune function. Glutathione is an antioxidant your body makes on its own. Learn more about glutathione IV therapy, including its 2026 safety alerts.
What an Immune IV Can and Cannot Do
An immune IV delivers fluids and nutrients your immune system uses. IV hydration is also used medically to treat dehydration and replace electrolytes during illness.
It cannot cure or prevent an infection. The common cold has no cure and should improve on its own, and antibiotics do not work against viruses. IV therapy is not a miracle cure, and it cannot undo habits around nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress. Think of an immune IV as supportive care, not a replacement for medical treatment.
What the Research Says About Zinc and Vitamin C
Most research on nutrients and colds looks at supplements taken by mouth, not IV drips. An expert review found that zinc taken for at least 5 months may lower your risk of catching a cold, and starting zinc within 24 hours after cold symptoms begin may shorten how long they last.
Vitamin C is a different story. For most people, vitamin C supplements do not lower the risk of catching a cold. People who take it regularly might have slightly shorter colds or somewhat milder symptoms, but starting it after symptoms begin does not appear to help.
Cold, Flu or Something Else?
A cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that usually lasts less than a week. More than 200 respiratory viruses can cause one, and adults in the United States catch an average of two to three colds a year. Common symptoms include a runny nose, congestion, cough, sneezing, sore throat, headache, mild body aches and fever.
Flu, COVID-19 and RSV can look like a cold but are more likely to cause severe illness. If you suspect flu or COVID-19, get tested, especially if you are at higher risk for severe illness, because antiviral treatments work best when started very soon after symptoms begin. An immune IV is not a substitute for that care.
When to Seek Medical Care
If you have symptoms of a respiratory virus and are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or flu, contact your healthcare provider right away, even if your illness feels mild. Higher-risk groups include infants, older adults and people with underlying medical conditions or weakened immune systems.
Everyday Ways to Protect Your Immune System
The basics still do the heavy lifting against respiratory illness:
- Stay up to date with recommended immunizations, and ask your healthcare provider which ones are right for you
- Wash your hands regularly and clean commonly touched surfaces
- Take steps for cleaner air where you live and work
- Stay home and away from others when you are sick
Vaccines take time to work, so it is best to get vaccinated before viruses start spreading in your community. If you do catch a cold, get plenty of rest and fluids, and try a clean humidifier, saline nasal spray and throat lozenges. Honey can ease a cough in adults and children at least 1 year old.
Immune IV Side Effects and Safety
IV therapy is a medical procedure. Possible risks include infection, bruising, blocked veins, nausea or dizziness from too much of a vitamin, and interactions with medications. As with any needle stick, you may feel a slight pain or sting when the IV goes in.
Too Much of a Good Thing
More is not always better. Too much zinc over a long time can lower immunity and cause low copper levels, and too much selenium can cause hair loss and brittle nails. Getting too much copper on a regular basis can cause liver damage, and too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. That is why we review your health history and any supplements you take before each infusion.
Who Should Avoid IV Vitamin Therapy
IV vitamin therapy is not advised for people with heart disease, high blood pressure or kidney disease, or for people who are pregnant. If you have hemochromatosis, a condition that causes the body to store too much iron, high doses of vitamin C could worsen iron overload.
Choosing Where to Get an Immune IV
The FDA has warned about the safety of IV mixtures from hydration clinics and spas. Before you book anywhere, ask how the clinic formulates its drips and whether a licensed medical director provides oversight.
What to Expect During an Immune IV Drip
Your visit starts with a review of your medical history and vital signs. A registered nurse then places a small IV in a vein in your arm, and saline begins before the vitamins and minerals are added.
You relax in a comfortable reclining chair while the immune IV drip runs. A warm compress is available if you would like one, and some people feel sleepy and choose to nap. When it is finished, the IV comes out and you get a small bandage.
How to Prepare for Your Appointment
Before your infusion, it is best to be well hydrated, and wear a top with sleeves you can push up. Tell us about any medications, supplements, allergies or health conditions before your visit. A complete medical evaluation with baseline vitamin levels can help us customize infusions, but it is not necessary for standard infusions. A trained healthcare professional will review your health information and the risks and benefits of the infusion with you.
Immune IV FAQs
Does an Immune Boost IV Prevent Colds?
No study has shown that an IV drip prevents colds. Vitamin C supplements do not lower the risk of catching a cold for most people. Vaccines, handwashing and cleaner air remain your best prevention.
What Is in an Immune IV Drip?
Our Immune Push IV combines the Myers’ Cocktail with B vitamins, glutathione and a mineral mix of zinc, selenium, copper, manganese and magnesium chloride, given after saline.
Is an Immune IV the Same as IV Immune Globulin?
No. IV immune globulin (IVIG) is a prescription medication that provides antibodies, given by a doctor or nurse to treat conditions such as primary immunodeficiency. An immune IV contains vitamins and minerals.
Is Liquid I.V. Immune Support the Same as an IV?
No. Liquid I.V. and similar products are drink mixes you take by mouth, not an intravenous drip.
Can I Get an Immune IV When I Am Sick?
Tell us about your symptoms before booking. If you have symptoms of flu or COVID-19 and are at higher risk for severe illness, contact your healthcare provider right away, because antiviral treatment works best when started early.
Is an Immune IV Safe?
IV therapy is a medical procedure that carries risks such as infection, bruising and medication interactions, which is why a trained professional reviews your history and gives it. It is not advised for people with heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure or pregnancy.
Where Can I Get an Immune IV Near Me?
If you are searching for an immune IV near me in Delaware, Renew Integrative Health in Newark offers the Immune Push IV in our office. Our holistic medicine practitioner, Andrea Dean, CRNP, and our nursing team will review your health history before your drip.
Looking for an immune IV in Newark or elsewhere in Delaware? Our nurse practitioner can review your health history and help you decide whether the Immune Push IV is right for you. Book your consultation below.