IV therapy and breathing problems: what it can and can't do

An earlier version of this article said IV therapy could help with asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis and other lung conditions. It can’t, and we’ve rewritten it to say so plainly.

What an IV is not

IV therapy is not a treatment for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, sinusitis, allergies or any other breathing condition. Those are managed by your doctor, with inhalers, prescriptions and a plan built around your lungs. A drip doesn’t replace any part of that, and it isn’t an add-on to it either.

What an IV actually is

Every Instadrip drip is a full liter of IV fluids, given by a licensed nurse, usually with vitamins mixed in. Every ingredient is listed on its page. Some people book one when they’re run down and finding it hard to keep up with fluids. That’s the whole of it.

When trouble breathing needs a doctor, not a drip

Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have:

• Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly or keeps getting worse
• Chest pain or tightness
• Lips or fingertips turning blue or grey
• Wheezing that your usual inhaler isn’t helping

See your doctor for a cough that won’t go away, a fever that keeps coming back, or breathing that has been getting harder over days or weeks.

If you book with us

Before any session, a licensed provider reviews your health history, and your nurse does a short assessment before starting. If something about your breathing doesn’t look right, the nurse won’t start the drip and will tell you where to get seen instead.

Questions? Call us at (209) 600-3034.