Woke up after a big night feeling wrecked? You're not alone. Hangover IV therapy has exploded in popularity over the past decade — and for good reason. When you're severely dehydrated with a pounding headache, getting fluids and vitamins directly into your bloodstream is significantly faster than trying to keep water and Tylenol down.
Why hangovers happen
Alcohol is a diuretic — it makes you lose more fluid than you take in. It also depletes key B vitamins, disrupts your electrolyte balance, triggers an inflammatory response, and irritates the stomach lining. The result: headache, nausea, fatigue, and brain fog. A hangover IV is designed to address all of these at once.
What's in a hangover IV drip?
Most hangover drips contain: 1 liter of saline (aggressive rehydration), B-complex vitamins (replaces what alcohol depletes), vitamin C (antioxidant, reduces inflammation), magnesium (relieves headaches), anti-nausea medication (Zofran or Reglan, often available as an add-on), and sometimes a painkiller like ketorolac (Toradol).
Does it actually work?
Most people who try hangover IV therapy report feeling dramatically better within 30–60 minutes of their infusion. The hydration alone makes a significant difference. Add the B vitamins and anti-nausea meds and most patients feel back to normal — or close to it — by the time the drip is done. While there aren't large clinical trials on hangover IVs specifically, the components are well-studied and the anecdotal evidence is overwhelming.
How much does it cost?
Hangover drips typically cost $99–$200 at a clinic. Mobile IV services that come to your home or hotel cost more — usually $150–$350 — but you don't have to go anywhere. Given the lost productivity of a bad hangover, many people consider it well worth it.