DEFINITION
What is IV therapy?
Intravenous, or infusion, therapy is an alternative or addition to oral treatment. We use it for infections, chronic pain, immune deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, nutrient deficiencies, and the side effects of other treatments. An IV bag might carry nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, electrolytes, or medication, depending on what you need. We also offer intramuscular and subcutaneous injections for patients who don't need a full infusion. A nurse or phlebotomist administers every infusion and injection, and a physician is always in the clinic. FAQs are at the bottom of this page.
INDICATIONS
What conditions does it help with?
ADVANTAGE
Why Intravenous and Infusions Therapies at GWCIM?
At most clinics, IV therapy is a standalone wellness offering: you pick a bag off a menu, and a nurse hooks you up. That's not how we do it. At GWCIM, IV therapy is part of your integrative medicine care, and our physicians look at your full health history, your functional medicine labs, and what you actually need before recommending any infusion.
We don't have a fixed menu of "IV drips" the way a wellness spa or a standalone IV bar does. Every infusion gets evaluated against your labs, your diagnoses, your medications, and your goals. That's a big part of why IV therapy here tends to work better (and more safely) than the off-the-shelf version.
We've also used IV therapy for years alongside treatment for harder cases: mold toxicity, neurological decline, cancer support, Long COVID. It's not a wellness add-on in those situations; it's part of the treatment plan. And if you travel, we work with partner practices around the country so your infusion care doesn't stop when you leave DC.
We're also careful about where our medications come from. We source every formula from trusted, vetted suppliers, and we check ingredients in advance to catch anything a patient might be sensitive to. Sensitivity monitoring stays part of your care throughout treatment, not just at the first visit.
APPROACH
Your IV Experience at GWCIM
Step 1 — Start with a Medical Appointment
Before your first infusion, you'll meet with one of our physicians. They'll review your health history, check for contraindications, and prescribe the right formula for you. We don't do walk-in IV drips off a general menu; every infusion here is physician-prescribed and personalized to you. Already have a prescription from another doctor? We'll review it at a short initial visit.
Step 2 — Prepare for Your Visit
Eat a light meal and drink plenty of water before you arrive. Wear loose, comfortable clothing with easy access to your arms. Let your nurse know about any medications you're taking or symptoms you're having that day.
Step 3 — Come In and Relax
Depending on the treatment, sessions run anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. Bring a book, put on headphones, or just rest. Most patients find it more pleasant than they expect. You're welcome to bring a family member or caregiver along.
Step 4 — Ongoing Care
Your physician will advise on frequency and follow-up based on your response to treatment. IV therapy at GWCIM is always part of a broader care plan.
Myers' Cocktail: The Gold Standard of Nutritional IV Therapy
The Myers' Cocktail is one of the best-known and most widely used IV formulas in integrative medicine. Dr. John Myers, a Baltimore physician, developed it decades ago, and it's still where a lot of patients start. It combines magnesium, calcium, B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12), and Vitamin C to support energy production, immune function, nerve health, and cellular repair. Side effects are rare, and most people tolerate it well.
High-Dose Vitamin C: Your Immune System's Most Powerful Ally
Given intravenously, Vitamin C reaches blood concentrations you can't get from oral supplements. At those doses it acts as a powerful antioxidant and immune-modulating agent. The National Cancer Institute notes a growing body of preclinical research on high-dose IV Vitamin C for cancer patients, and we use it as a supportive therapy alongside conventional cancer treatment. We also use it for serious or persistent infections. Contact us if you want to talk through whether it fits your situation.
Glutathione: Restore. Detoxify. Protect at the Cellular Level
Glutathione is often called the body's "master antioxidant." It's present in every cell and plays a central role in tissue repair, detoxification, protein synthesis, and immune function. Levels decline with age and drop further in chronic disease, including Parkinson's disease, liver disease, heart disease, and alcohol use disorder. Replenishing it through IV therapy is generally safe and well tolerated. We do take extra care with patients who have sulfite sensitivities or who are in chemotherapy.
Phosphatidylcholine (PC): Nourish Your Brain, Protect Your Cells
Phosphatidylcholine is a natural component of every cell membrane and a primary source of choline, which the brain and nervous system need to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential to memory, muscle function, and nerve signaling. The body makes its own choline, but levels can drop with age, toxic exposures, or chronic illness. IV phosphatidylcholine may help patients dealing with liver damage, high cholesterol, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, memory problems, autoimmune conditions, mold or environmental toxicity, anxiety, and brain injury from stroke or trauma.
NAD+ : Fuel for Every Cell
NAD+ is a coenzyme found in every living cell, essential to energy metabolism, DNA repair, immune regulation, and healthy aging. Levels decline naturally with age, and that decline is tied to fatigue, cognitive decline, muscle loss, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disease. At GWCIM, we offer NAD+ as an intramuscular injection rather than an IV infusion; it works just as well and takes far less time. It's especially useful for patients with chronic fatigue, Long COVID, suspected poor mitochondrial function, and those recovering from substance addiction. For more on NAD+, visit our dedicated page.
Mistletoe Therapy: Botanical Support for the Cancer Journey
For patients with cancer, we offer mistletoe (Iscador) therapy as an integrative oncology support. European cancer centers have used mistletoe for decades, and it's one of the most studied complementary cancer therapies in the world. Contact us to learn more.
Custom and Traveling Patient: Your Formula, Wherever You Are
We also create individualized IV formulas for patients with specific needs. If you're traveling through Washington, D.C., and a physician at another practice has prescribed a nutritional IV formula, we may be able to administer it for you. Call us at 202-833-5055 to discuss your needs before your visit.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Reset. Rewire. Recover.
We also offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) at GWCIM. While KAP involves an IV infusion, it's a distinct therapeutic program. Visit our KAP page for more information.
Care Options
Initial Consultation
Before your first infusion, you'll meet with one of our physicians (MD, PA, or ND)for an initial consultation. This visit ensures your formula is tailored to your specific needs, screens for any contraindications, and results in a properly prescribed and documented treatment plan. This step is required for every patient—it's a core part of what sets our care apart from a walk-in IV bar.
IV Sessions
A typical IV session at the clinic involves settling into a comfortable chair while our IV nurse places the IV line. During infusion time, you're free to relax, read, work, or simply unwind, with our team monitoring your comfort and checking in throughout the visit.
KAP Sessions
Visit our website page dedicated to KAP: https://www.gwcim.com/services/kap-therapy
NAD+ instructional appointment
At your NAD+ visit, you'll receive the treatment as a quick intramuscular (IM) injection rather than an IV infusion—administered into the muscle much like a vaccine or B12 shot, rather than through a vein via a drip. During this training visit, we'll also walk you through how to self-administer the injection at home, so you can continue treatment on your own going forward.
Mistletoe Therapy
Visit our website page dedicated to Mistletoe therapy: https://www.gwcim.com/services/mistletoe
EXPERTISE
Recommended Providers
Madison Gnan, RN
Intravenous (IV) Therapy, Infusion Nursing, Concierge IV Therapy, Women's Health, Labor and Delivery
Deirdre Orceyre, ND, MSOM, L.Ac.
Naturopathic and Chinese Medicine Physician, Naturopathic Medical Director
Mikhail Kogan, MD
Integrative and Functional Medicine Physician | ReCODE Program | Chief Medical Officer
Marianna Ledenac, BS, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Ashley Drapeau, PA-C, L.Ac., MPAS, MAC
Medical Director | Functional Medicine | Long-Covid Program Director
Paymon Sadrolsadot, ND, PhD
Naturopathic Psysician, Integrative Medicine Physician
FAQ
Common Questions
Session length depends on the infusion. A Myers' Cocktail usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. High-dose Vitamin C can run 90 minutes to several hours, depending on the dose, and phosphatidylcholine tends to be among the longer sessions. Your care team will give you a specific estimate when you schedule. Bring something to read, listen to, or watch. A lot of patients end up treating it as a quiet hour to themselves.
Yes. Before your first infusion, you'll need to be seen by one of our physicians. That visit is what makes sure the formula is right for you, that there's nothing that rules it out, and that your treatment is properly prescribed and documented. We don't skip this step for anyone. It's a big part of what separates care here from a walk-in IV bar.
NAD+ at GWCIM is an intramuscular (IM) injection, not an IV infusion. It goes into the muscle instead of a vein, so it's simpler and quicker, more like a vaccine or a B12 shot than a drip. It's still highly effective, and it's a good option if you want NAD+'s benefits without sitting for a full IV session. We'll also teach you how to self-administer it at home during your training visit.
Ketamine can be given intravenously, but KAP is a distinct clinical program: a ketamine session paired with structured support from a qualified trauma-informed provider, so it's as much a mental health treatment as a medical infusion. It has its own intake process, therapist involvement, and preparation and integration sessions. At GWCIM, we give KAP by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection at the clinic. Visit our dedicated KAP page for full details.
EDUCATION