Are 'IV Drips For Hangovers' The New Trend Or A Risky Shortcut That Might Backfire?

You

might have come across numerous videos of the latest trend of offering IV drips as hangover remedies at weddings and other exclusive functions. These may seem like a quick fix and maybe even a ‘cool’ one but what the social media hype doesn't tell you is that these IV drips pose significant risks to your liver and kidneys. This is because IV drips often contain saline, vitamins, fluid, electrolytes and even medications sometimes that are directly infused into the bloodstream. While they might speed up hydration in your body, they do not accelerate the alcohol metabolic rate and offer no help in the detoxification by the liver.

Above all, at weddings or other such grand events, these IV drips may not be monitored by a clinically-trained professional or any of their staff. The effect of an IV drip is strong on the body and hence should be administered properly trained professionals. It often is known to bypass the digestive system where harmful substances can enter the bloodstream directly, posing a risk of infections, vein damage, and electrolyte imbalance. An IV drip should also be reserved for genuine medical conditions and done under proper supervision to avoid any harm to the body.

How does an IV drip affect the liver and kidneys?

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The IV drip one may be taking to deal with dehydration-related symptoms, might not address all aspects of the hangover, including the inflammatory response or the toxic byproduct of alcohol breakdown (acetaldehyde) that the liver must process. The only thing that helps your body through this is to give it enough time and patiently let the body itself clear the alcohol from the system. Excessive and unregulated use of IV drips can also disrupt the body’s delicate electrolyte balance and overload the kidney function. Rapid infusion of the fluid in the body may also overwhelm the kidney’s filtration capacity and potentially cause it to swell.