What Is in an IV Drip? Ingredients Explained in Plain English

Before you let anything into your veins, it is fair to want to know exactly what it is. So, what is in an IV drip? A wellness drip is mostly fluid, with a small number of vitamins, minerals and, sometimes, medicines added. This guide explains each of the common ingredients in plain words.

We have used the ingredients from our own menu throughout, so you can see exactly what goes into each drip, and what each one is there for.

What is in an IV drip? The basic recipe

Think of a drip as two parts. The first is the fluid base, which makes up nearly all of the bag. The second is the additions: vitamins, minerals and other ingredients mixed into that fluid.

The fluid rehydrates you directly, without having to pass through your stomach. The additions are what give each drip its focus, whether that is a hangover, heat, jet lag or an active week.

Saline vs electrolyte drip: what is the difference?

Saline is sterile salt water, made to roughly the same saltiness as your blood. It is one of the most widely used fluids in medicine. Our Hangover Recovery drip uses 1 litre of saline as its base.

An electrolyte solution contains salt plus other minerals your body uses to balance fluids, such as potassium. You lose these through sweat, which is why an electrolyte base suits our Hydration Boost drip, made with 1 litre of electrolyte fluids.

Both rehydrate you. The difference is mainly in the mix of salts, and your nurse can explain which suits you during the health check. Either way, 1 litre is a sensible amount for a wellness drip, given slowly over the length of the visit while you rest.

Vitamins in an IV drip

Vitamin B complex

B complex is a group of B vitamins that your body uses to turn food into energy and to support the nervous system. It appears in five of our six drips. B vitamins are water-soluble, so your body uses what it needs and passes the rest out in your urine, which can turn it bright yellow for a while.

Vitamin B12

B12 is one of the B vitamins, involved in making red blood cells and in nerve function. It is given on its own, in addition to B complex, in our Energy & Jet Lag drip.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that the body uses for the immune system, wound healing and healthy skin. It appears in Hangover Recovery and Beauty Glow, and in a high dose in Immunity Boost. Like B vitamins, it is water-soluble.

Biotin

Biotin is another B vitamin, often linked with hair, skin and nails. It is one of the ingredients in our Beauty Glow drip.

Minerals and other ingredients

• Magnesium is a mineral involved in muscle and nerve function and energy production. It is in Hydration Boost, Energy & Jet Lag and Dive & Active Recovery.
• Zinc is a trace mineral the immune system relies on. It is part of Immunity Boost.
• Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which muscles use to repair. They are part of Dive & Active Recovery.
• Glutathione is an antioxidant the body makes naturally. It is in Beauty Glow, and our glutathione guide explains honestly what is and is not known about it.

It is worth being honest here: the evidence for giving some of these extras through a drip, rather than through food, is limited. Many guests feel better after a drip, and the fluids alone can make a real difference when you are dehydrated.

Anti-nausea medicine and pain relief

Our Hangover Recovery drip can also include anti-nausea medicine and pain relief, but only if they are suitable for you. These are medicines, not vitamins, so the nurse checks your medical history, allergies and anything you have already taken before deciding.

If you have already taken a painkiller that morning, tell your nurse. It matters for what is safe to add. The same goes for any allergies, regular prescriptions or herbal remedies, even if they seem unrelated. The health check is there to make sure everything in the bag suits you, and the nurse would much rather hear too much than too little.

What is not in our drips

Knowing what is left out is just as useful. Our Energy & Jet Lag drip contains no caffeine, and none of our drips are designed for weight loss. Each drip contains only the ingredients listed on its page, and you are welcome to ask your nurse about any of them.

Drip by drip: a quick ingredient summary

• Hangover Recovery: 1 litre of saline, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, and anti-nausea medicine and pain relief if suitable.
• Hydration Boost: 1 litre of electrolyte fluids, vitamin B complex and magnesium.
• Immunity Boost: high-dose vitamin C, zinc, vitamin B complex and fluids.
• Energy & Jet Lag: vitamin B12, vitamin B complex, magnesium and fluids, with no caffeine.
• Dive & Active Recovery: amino acids, magnesium, vitamin B complex and fluids.
• Beauty Glow: glutathione, vitamin C, biotin and fluids.

You can see every drip in more detail on our IV drips page. If you are still deciding, our guide to which IV drip to get matches each one to how you feel.

Knowing what goes into your drip before you book

A wellness drip is simpler than it looks: a fluid base, a handful of vitamins and minerals, and in one case medicines that are only added when suitable. Every visit begins with a health check by a registered nurse, which you can read about on our how it works page. If you have a question about a particular ingredient, message us on WhatsApp before you book.

Frequently asked questions