Hydrate Your Hangover Away

Is IV Hydration Therapy the perfect hangover cure?

by SAMMY ODELL ★ FEBRUARY 24, 2023

IV Hydration therapy has gained popularity in the era of Tiktok “get ready with me”s, as influencers have begun to share their IV treatments on social media along with the rejuvenating aftereffects. Alix Earle, social media’s new it girl, posted a video of her and her friends receiving IV Hydration therapy in Wyoming on a brand trip—and it blew up.

In the video, Alix mentioned that she really doesn’t know much about the treatment, only that it made her feel amazing afterward. Alix is a big party girl, and we all know how much she loves to drink. She always talks about how hungover she is, but after the therapy, she feels like she never went out at all. Could this be the perfect cure for a bad hangover? 

There are many different IVs used in hospitals, but they are generally given to patients for medical reasons like dehydration or fainting. So it’s never been a thing to just ask for one. Wouldn’t it be great to just walk into a hospital and say, “Can I please have an IV?” Obviously, that’s not how it works. Instead, IV bars, lounges, and spas have opened up in places like New York and Vegas for people who want a detox. 

In addition to curing hangovers, IV Therapy is stated to clear your complexion, promote weight loss, alleviate pain, detox your body, increase your fitness performance and recovery, enhance your focus, and improve your immunity. You can also customize the IV to not only provide hydration but include vitamins you may be lacking. Seems too good to be true? Well, let’s take a look at its price tag. On average, therapies can range anywhere from $100-$1,000, making them more popular among celebrities and the financial elite. 

However, there are some downsides and unknowns when receiving this treatment. For instance, IV hydration therapy is not actually FDA-approved, is generally unmonitored, and lacks significant scientific research backing its claimed benefits. And along with these benefits come some negative side effects, including pain, swelling, scarring, or even infection. While these are mostly minor effects, IV therapy does pose larger risks for people with heart disease and kidney problems. So as tempting as it may seem to follow in Alix Earle’s footsteps, it’s recommended that you consult with your medical provider before taking the needle. 

While it may seem that celebrities are the ones who always have to be camera-ready, and college students have time to lay in bed all day and let the hangover pass, college kids who party often might just benefit from an IV bar on Marshall Street.