IV Infusion Therapy

What is IV Infusion Therapy?

IV infusion therapy delivers a mixture of vitamins, minerals, and medication through a small tube inserted into a vein. When you take oral medication, it breaks down in your stomach and digestive tract. This limits the amount of medicine you receive.

IV infusion therapy bypasses your digestive tract altogether, allowing for higher levels of medication in your bloodstream. The more medicine in your body, the greater the uptake into your cells. Greater cell uptake means less pain, increased mobility, and a better overall quality of life.

What Diseases Can Benefit from IV Infusion Therapy?

At Advanced Arthritis and Rheumatology Center, the team uses IV infusion therapy to treat a variety of rheumatic diseases, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Systemic lupus
• Systemic sclerosis
• Vasculitis

Rheumatic diseases affect your connective tissues and organs. Without proper treatment, these conditions cause pain, mobility issues, and general discomfort. IV infusion therapy provides access to vitamins, nutrients, and medications that help ease these symptoms. The process is safe and presents few side effects.

What Happens During an IV Infusion Therapy Appointment?

An IV infusion therapy appointment begins with a physical exam and a review of your medical history. Your Advanced Arthritis and Rheumatology Center team also asks you questions about your symptoms and lifestyle, including your sleep habits, exercise routine, and diet.

After gathering this information, our team develops a custom IV infusion therapy treatment plan. The type of IV infusion that most benefits you depends on the rheumatic disease you're living with and the severity of your symptoms.

Next, you sit down in a comfortable chair and our staff cleans your arm with an antiseptic solution. Afterward, our team carefully inserts a needle into a vein in your arm. The needle connects to a bag of medication that slowly drips into your bloodstream.

During IV infusion therapy, you can relax. Feel free to take a nap, read a book, or surf the web on your smartphone. Usually, treatment takes 60–90 minutes. Following your appointment, you can return to normal activity right away.

Am I a Good Candidate for IV Infusion Therapy?

Anyone living with a rheumatic disease can benefit from IV infusion therapy. If you've tried various prescription medications without a significant improvement in your symptoms, don't wait to take action.