Myers’ Cocktail is named after Dr. John Myers, MD, a physician from Baltimore, who pioneered the use of intravenous vitamins and minerals as part of the overall treatment of various health concerns. Dr. Myers’ work has been carried forward since 1984 by Dr. Alan Gaby, MD, the past president of the American Holistic Medical Association. Today, intravenous (IV) nutrient therapy and specifically the use of the “Myers’ Cocktail” is a common approach among integrative, complementary, and alternative medicine physicians. Interest in and use of IV nutrient therapy is growing as evidenced by the number of clinics across North America offering it as a principal treatment for a variety of conditions including asthma, migraines, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, muscle spasm, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, and allergies.

 

Myers’ Cocktail is a high-dose combination of calcium, magnesium, vitamin B-complex, and vitamin C delivered using standard IV techniques, allowing patients to absorb higher concentrations of these nutrients than oral dosages. It is aimed as a way to allow the body to receive the most optimal amount of essential nutrients for optimal healing. Patients typically receive weekly treatments for 4 to 8 weeks and then are re-assessed.

 

IV nutrient therapy is a safe treatment, as it is simply the administration of vitamins and minerals using standard IV infusion techniques such as a push (syringe injection) or a drip (IV bag). The potential for adverse reactions from IV nutrient therapy lies mainly in the method of administration. Any type of IV therapy holds some risk of local (bruising, irritation, venous spasm, infection) and/or systemic complications (septicemia, blood pressure changes, pulmonary edema, air embolism). These complications are rare and are avoided when proper techniques and screenings are used when working with a naturopathic physician who has added training and experience with IV procedures.

 

There are certain medical or physiological conditions that may prevent you from receiving this therapy. A complete history intake, relevant physical exam, and certain baseline lab tests are recommended in order to determine the appropriateness of IV nutrient therapy for you.