You wake up with a pounding headache, nausea, and the kind of fatigue that makes even reaching for a glass of water feel like a challenge. A friend suggests a hangover IV. Within an hour, a nurse arrives, hooks you up to an IV drip, and 45 minutes later you feel dramatically better. It sounds almost too good to be true — but is it?
Hangover IV therapy is one of the fastest-growing segments of the mobile IV industry. Let us examine the science, the ingredients, the costs, and whether this treatment lives up to the hype.
Why Hangovers Feel So Terrible
To understand why IV therapy can help, it helps to understand what a hangover actually is. When you consume alcohol, several things happen in your body:
- Dehydration — Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes your body to expel more water than it takes in. This leads to headaches, dry mouth, and dizziness.
- Electrolyte imbalance — Along with water loss, you lose sodium, potassium, and magnesium — minerals essential for nerve and muscle function.
- Inflammation — Alcohol triggers an inflammatory response, contributing to body aches, headaches, and general malaise.
- Acetaldehyde buildup — Your liver breaks alcohol down into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound, before converting it to harmless acetic acid. When you drink more than your liver can process, acetaldehyde accumulates and makes you feel sick.
- Nutrient depletion — Alcohol depletes B vitamins and other nutrients your body needs for energy production and cellular repair.
What Is in a Hangover IV?
A typical hangover IV drip contains a combination of ingredients designed to address each of these mechanisms:
- Normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) — One liter of IV fluid to rapidly rehydrate the body and restore fluid balance
- B-complex vitamins — B1 (thiamine), B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12 to replenish depleted stores and support energy production
- Anti-nausea medication (ondansetron) — A prescription medication that blocks nausea and vomiting, allowing you to keep food and water down
- Anti-inflammatory medication (ketorolac) — A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to reduce headache and body aches
- Magnesium — Supports muscle relaxation and reduces cramping
- Glutathione — An antioxidant that supports liver detoxification and helps neutralize free radicals
Some providers offer add-on options like extra vitamin C, zinc, or additional anti-nausea medication depending on the severity of symptoms.
Does It Actually Work?
The short answer: most people feel significantly better after a hangover IV. The longer answer involves some nuance.
The rehydration component is the most straightforward benefit. Replacing a liter of fluid intravenously is faster and more effective than drinking water when you are nauseated and unable to keep liquids down. This alone addresses many of the worst hangover symptoms — headache, dizziness, and fatigue.
The anti-nausea and pain medications provide rapid symptom relief. Ondansetron is the same drug given to chemotherapy patients for nausea and is highly effective. Ketorolac is a powerful anti-inflammatory that works faster via IV than an oral ibuprofen tablet.
The vitamin and antioxidant components are where the evidence becomes less definitive. While B vitamin depletion from alcohol is well-documented, whether a single IV infusion produces benefits beyond what oral supplementation would achieve over a few hours is debatable. Glutathione's role in hangover recovery specifically has limited clinical trial data, though its importance in liver detoxification is well established.
The bottom line: hangover IV therapy works primarily because it rapidly rehydrates you and delivers effective anti-nausea and pain medications. The vitamin additions likely provide some benefit but are secondary to the fluid and medication components.
How Much Does Hangover IV Therapy Cost?
Hangover IV drips typically cost between $150 and $300, depending on your location and the provider. Prices tend to be higher in major metropolitan areas and during peak demand times (weekend mornings, holidays, and events like New Year's Day or Super Bowl Sunday).
Some providers charge extra for add-on medications or premium ingredients. Others offer group discounts if several people book at the same location — a popular option for bachelor and bachelorette parties, corporate events, or post-wedding recovery.
For a comprehensive look at pricing, see our IV therapy cost guide.
Is It Worth the Money?
That depends on your situation. For a mild hangover, water, electrolyte drinks, over-the-counter pain relief, and time will likely do the job. For a severe hangover — especially one where you cannot keep fluids down — the rapid rehydration and anti-nausea medication from an IV can feel like a lifesaver.
Many clients view hangover IV therapy as a time-saving investment. If losing an entire day to recovery means missing important commitments, spending $200 to feel functional within an hour may be worth it.
Alternatives to Consider
Before booking a hangover IV, consider these lower-cost alternatives:
- Oral rehydration solutions — Products like Pedialyte or Liquid IV provide electrolytes at a fraction of the cost
- B vitamins and magnesium supplements — Taking these before and after drinking may reduce hangover severity
- Over-the-counter medications — Ibuprofen for pain and bismuth subsalicylate for nausea (avoid acetaminophen, which stresses the liver)
- Prevention — Drinking water between alcoholic beverages, eating before drinking, and moderating consumption
Finding a Hangover IV Provider
If you decide a hangover IV is the right call, make sure you choose a reputable provider. Look for companies that employ licensed nurses or paramedics, operate under physician oversight, and have positive reviews. Many providers offer same-day or next-morning appointments, and some guarantee arrival within an hour.
Search for hangover IV therapy providers near you through our directory to compare options in your area.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Hangover IV therapy is a wellness service and does not treat alcohol use disorder or other medical conditions. Consult your healthcare provider if you have concerns about alcohol consumption or recurring hangover symptoms.