What new dystopian hell is this?

[CircleofWillis]

Drip bars!

I walked past one yesterday and was shocked into stopping and staring at people lounging, chatting to friends and browsing on their phones with an IV in their arms. It was nearly full as well.

Apparently it delivers vitamins to the blood stream or muscles, bypassing the gut.

Didn't IVs use to be for serious medical intervention? How has that morphed into something cool?

I feel so old.

I've heard of them but I've never seen one. It's got disaster and infection written all over it.

It is an absolute scam. No health benefits whatsoever unless you’re deficient in whatever vitamin they’re giving you.
also not regulated, there’s no way I’d let somebody who isn’t medically qualified insert a cannula and give me intravenous anything.
hope this fad dies out as quick as fish pedicures.

They've been around for years but I thought they went out of fashion a while ago

I’ve had a drip for other reasons after a hangover and it was AMAZING. Walked in feeling like death and walked out feeling like I could run a marathon.

Wouldnt pay for it cos seems odd but I can see why people do!

Seems a bit like a shooting gallery or opium den to me but there are always people with more money than sense looking for the latest health fad.

Didn't IVs use to be for serious medical intervention? How has that morphed into something cool?

Medical devices have a long tradition of becoming "cool" or at least mainstream though. Glasses for example - people wear glasses without a prescription lens. Not sunglasses, or safety goggles, but bog standard (or designer) frames. Vibrators were invented because doctors tired of having to manually stimulate female patients to cure "hysteria" but these days they are advertised on TV. And that's before you consider drugs like "laughing gas" being used by clubbers.

I watched this on Dragons Den on YouTube a couple days ago! Possibly at least 10 years old
they were advertising drip parties
metro.co.uk/2020/03/29/dragons-dens-deborah-meaden-brands-iv-drip-vitamin-service-everything-wrong-world-12475416/amp/

As PP said it’s not regulated at all: the people who run it are not in the medical industry. They cannot advertise health benefits either

Absolute snake oil. I've seen drs on Twitter slating them. What a waste of money!

This place is called 'get a drip'. It is open plan and prominently positioned in a big shopping centre. Which suggests you are supposed to be seen getting IV'd on the trendy couches. In fact it is very instagram friendly (lots of foliage and attractive lights).
Plus the prices start at £30 which is comparable to a manicure.
All of which seem to be making it a trendy, vaguely affordable, slightly edgy, healthy sounding, social activity which minimizes the risks around an IV delivered in a non sanitary setting by non medical staff. It's madness!

No clinical benefits as all the water soluble vitamins will be excreted in excess. Health risks from infection and incompetence. I know some nurses who offer this as well as their menu of 'aesthetic' incompetence.

Had a friend who was a junior doctor decades ago at Eastbourne General he would use a saline drip in the morning after a heavy drinking session before going on shift. There was heavy drinking culture back then the biggest piss artist was an anaesthetist who was on call probably very different nowadays.

I've just had a look - the most expensive IV is £850!

And for £225 you can have an "anti-ageing" drip.

A fool and his money etc etc.

I saw these in Vegas, was quite tempted by a B12 or vitamin D one tbh. I’ve heard people on here raving about how an iron infusion helped them so figured it would be similar.

These have been around for years

YABU

In 2019 I went to stay with friends in Poland and a lady (not a registered nurse) visited the night I arrived and the family rolled their sleeves up as she inserted a cannula and bags of vitamins and something else (not sure what).

They were trying to persuade me to have a vitamin B infusion but I declined. Apparently very normal for them

Am IBU because I have only just noticed them or because I am wrong and they are safe and sensible?

I've got little scars from the canulas from giving birth and haven't got many easy veins so have already ended up with them in awkward positions. No way am I messing up my veins any more than necessary, it could have medical consequences in the future.

That's aside from the infection risk.

There is a hangover IV cure place in Bali. I haven't been myself, but I did see a friend go from half dead after an almighty bender, to completely cured and ready to start again after going to one. Looked worth every penny to me if I needed it!

@CircleofWillis

Why would they not be safe and sensible?

A quick Google would help you to see the risks.
The high street bars are completely unregulated and you don't need to be a medical professional to administer it.
Risks:
-Infection
-IVs contain a lot of salt
-increased risk of stroke
-Possibility of embolism
-Fluid leaking into neighboring cells
-Incorrect infusion rate can cause swelling of the brain, heart failure or liver damage.
-Inflamed or blocked veins

Far riskier than grabbing a drink and downing some vitamins wouldn't you agree?

I had a series of doctor prescribed vitamin C infusions back when I had a chronic rickettsial infection. Made a big difference to my recovery. Doubt they are of any worth to young 100% healthy people.

Drop bars, lol. What's next - enema bars? 😂

F

Why do they contain a lot of salt? Wouldn’t it just be the correct amount for the human body?

I've seen on reality shows that celebs get a dr to come to their house and hook them up to an IV for vitamins or whatever