Intravenous Infusion (IV) Therapy
Infusion refers to the administration of medications directly into a vein through a needle or catheter. With intravenous (IV) administration, a thin plastic tube called an IV catheter is inserted into your vein. There are many reasons why medications are introduced into the body other than through the mouth. Some medications must be given by an IV injection or infusion and, unlike oral or topical medications, IV drips are 100% absorbed by the body. This means that IV drips are the fastest way to deliver medications and simultaneously rehydrate the body. Chronic conditions that are commonly treated with infusion drugs include cancers, congestive heart failure, Crohn’s Disease, hemophilia, immune deficiencies, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. Infusion therapy treatment method has traditionally been used only in hospitals, but now can be administered in outpatient infusion therapy centers by specially trained nurses.