Understanding IV Therapy
Infusion therapy is a way of getting medication straight into your bloodstream, usually through a small IV in your arm. Doctors use it when a medicine works better that way, or when pills aren’t a good option. Most treatments take 30 minutes to a few hours, and you relax in a comfortable chair while it works.
A trained nurse places the IV, connects it to a bag of your prescribed medication, and the medicine flows in slowly and steadily. How long it takes depends on your treatment.
Because the medication goes right into your bloodstream, your body absorbs it faster and more fully than a pill. That makes infusion therapy a strong option for many ongoing and serious conditions, especially when other treatments haven’t done enough on their own.
Infusion and injection therapy can help with a wide range of conditions, including:
See the full list on our Conditions We Treat page.
If your provider has recommended infusion therapy, where you get it matters. At Vivo Infusion, you get expert, nationally accredited care in a comfortable clinic close to home, usually for a lot less than a hospital would charge. See what makes Vivo different, or take a look at exactly what your first visit looks like.
What’s the difference between an infusion and an injection?
Both put medication into your body, just in different ways. An infusion (IV) goes into a vein and flows in slowly over time. An injection goes in quickly, usually into a muscle or just under the skin. Your care team uses whichever works best for your medication.
Does getting an infusion hurt?
Most people feel just a quick pinch when the IV goes in, a lot like routine bloodwork. After that, you shouldn’t feel the medication going in. If you’d like, you can ask your nurse for a numbing spray before the IV.
What conditions does infusion therapy treat?
A wide range, including autoimmune conditions, neurological conditions, immune deficiencies, serious infections, and cancer, plus things like osteoporosis and migraine. See our Conditions We Treat page for the full list.
Is infusion therapy the same as chemotherapy?
No. Chemotherapy is one kind of infusion, but most infusions treat other conditions entirely, like autoimmune disease. Even when a medication overlaps with cancer drugs, the dose for autoimmune conditions is usually much lower.
Are there side effects?
Most people do well. Some feel mild effects like tiredness, a headache, or a little nausea. Serious reactions are rare, and your nurse watches you closely the whole time and is trained to step in right away if anything comes up.
Speak with your physician to learn more about how infusion therapy might benefit you. Whether you’re managing a chronic condition, recovering from illness, or starting a specialized therapy plan, infusion thearpy may be an excelent treatment to improve your health, comfort, and overall quality of life.
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Our mission is to provide clinically exceptional, compassionate, convenient, and cost-effective infusion care to improve the health of our patients in partnership with their physicians.
Our vision is to set the nationally recognized standard for the delivery of innovative therapeutics in a patient-friendly environment.
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