You’ve probably heard of compounds called “free radicals,” but you might not know what they are or what they do. Simply put, free radicals are unstable molecules created as byproducts of your natural metabolism. When the free radicals in your body overwhelm your cells’ ability to remove them, they can cause oxidative stress. This harmful condition damages cells, DNA, and organs while accelerating the aging process.

Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid the creation of free radicals. However, your body uses “rival” compounds called antioxidants to combat free radicals and balance their adverse effects. 

Of all the compounds known as antioxidants, glutathione is the most powerful. Glutathione is also the most common antioxidant, being found in every one of the body’s cells. It consists of the three (3) amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the ways glutathione IV therapy can help your body.

What Benefits does Glutathione IV Therapy offer?

While oral supplements can support your body’s natural glutathione production, IV therapy offers the most efficient way to receive glutathione. Unlike the oral supplements, which must pass through the digestive tract before being absorbed by the body, IV therapy sends nutrients directly into the bloodstream, ensuring a higher concentration and faster absorption of glutathione than oral supplements.

In clinical trials, oral supplementation of glutathione has shown mixed results. While you can take glutathione in oral form for your individual health focus, its benefits may be reduced in comparison to glutathione IV therapy.  

Health Benefits of Glutathione IV Therapy

Per the National Institutes of Health, glutathione plays a crucial role in cell detoxification and antioxidation. It has a long history as a treatment for chronic liver disease. While glutathione IV therapy can aid those dealing with fatty liver disease and other hepatic disorders, many people seek IV treatment for this antioxidant’s other health benefits, which include:

• Anti-aging: The body’s natural glutathione levels fall as we age. Because glutathione fights the free radicals responsible for many aging effects, IV therapy can help preserve youth.
•  Immune system booster: Glutathione IV therapy can promote healing and aid the body in fighting illness.
•  Insulin sensitivity improvement: By stabilizing blood sugar levels, glutathione IV therapy can improve insulin sensitivity.
•  Skin, nail, and hair booster: Glutathione IV therapy is often recommended for those looking to lighten or improve their complexion. It can also stimulate nail and hair growth and health.
•  Sexual health support: Because sexual health is directly related to cell health, glutathione IV therapy can increase libido and help with erectile dysfunction and other issues.
•  Sleep improvement: Lack of sleep disturbs the body’s natural production of glutathione. Using IV therapy not only bolsters glutathione levels but also improves your ability to rest.
•  Workout support: The body requires glutathione for energy creation. Glutathione IV therapy can reduce muscle soreness and inflammation for the serious athlete or the weekend warrior while improving recovery time. 

In addition to liver ailments, glutathione IV therapy can benefit people battling serious illnesses or health conditions. These include:

• Alzheimer’s disease: Because oxidative stress plays a role in the plaque formation that contributes to this devastating neurocognitive disease, glutathione IV therapy may reduce the odds of developing Alzheimer’s or slow the pace of its progression.
•  Autism: Because children on the autism spectrum often have low glutathione levels, IV therapy may improve some aspects of their condition.
•  Cystic fibrosis: Patients with cystic fibrosis are subject to low glutathione levels. IV therapy may aid in regulating lung inflammation, mucous levels, and immune response.
•  Male infertility: Glutathione can increase sperm counts, making glutathione IV therapy a potential treatment for male infertility.
•  Parkinson’s disease: Glutathione IV therapy can help reduce tremors and other symptoms.
•  Peripheral arterial disease: Fat deposits within the arteries, typically in the legs or arms, can cause the condition that causes problems walking, leg pain, and in the worst case scenario, more serious dangers to your health. Glutathione IV therapy aids in improving the circulation of blood and consequently mobility.
•  Psoriasis: Based on the results of a small study, glutathione may offer clinical improvement for patients dealing with this autoimmune disorder.
•  Rheumatoid arthritis: Chronic inflammation contributes to this disease and other autoimmune disorders such as lupus. Glutathione IV therapy can reduce oxidative stress responsible for immunological flare-ups.

Some research indicates that glutathione IV therapy may prevent types of cancer or act as a biomarker in chemotherapy response. Glutathione deficiency increases oxidative stress, which has been linked to cancer. However, glucosamine IV therapy supplementation is not recommended for those with active cancer.

Benefits of IV glutathione with vitamin C

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is another powerhouse antioxidant—so much so that vitamin C is often added to glutathione IV packages to increase the strength of both antioxidants. Together, they fight an even stronger battle against the oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

 The advantages of glutathione as well as Vitamin C IV therapy are:

• More potent anti-aging treatment
•  Brighter complexion
•  Energy enhancement
•  More even skin tone
•  Faster wound healing
•  Hyperpigmentation fading

Mix glutathione IV therapy together with vitamin C if skin lightening is the goal you are trying to attain. Apart from the physical benefits, a combination of IV glutathione with vitamin C could boost mood and boost cognitive performance.

Types of Glutathione Therapy

There are two types of glutathione IV therapy: the drip and the push methods. Both use a standard IV catheter, and most glutathione IV therapy providers offer both types. 

Benefits of IV drip therapy

When you think of IV treatment, the IV drip is most likely the method that comes to mind. Using gravity, the IV fluid drips from a bag into a tube attached to the patient’s catheter. One of the advantages of a glutathione IV drip is that the dosage rate is easier to monitor.

While you are in treatment, you are able to take a break, read, listen to music while watching TV or relax with your time to rest. You can expect a glutathione IV drip treatment to last about 45 minutes.

Benefits of push therapy

A push injection administers a single dose of the treatment (also known as a bolus) via a syringe inserted into the patient’s catheter. Unlike IV drip therapy, a push glutathione IV injection delivers the nutrients in mere seconds. 

Glutathione IV push therapy allows the body to receive nutrients faster than any other method, reducing the time needed for each IV therapy treatment (a push session takes about half the time of the IV drip). The already minor risk of infection at the injection site is further reduced.

Effects of IV therapy

Unlike some forms of IV therapy, the effects of glutathione IV therapy on certain conditions are not always immediately apparent. For instance, if you opt for glutathione IV therapy for skin rejuvenation purposes, do not expect to leave your initial session looking years younger. However, after approximately three weeks of regular treatment, you should notice a visibly more youthful appearance.

Glutathione IV therapy is usually well-tolerated. The FDA has given it Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. Some adverse reactions have been reported, including:

• Bloating
•  Loose stools
•  Flatulence
•  Flushing
•  Weight gain

Like any other IV treatment, There is an opportunity for infection around the injection site. The possibility of itching and redness is an additional concern. Since IV therapy professionals are extremely careful in taking sanitation precautions, this is not an issue, but there is always a chance.

Bad side effects of glutathione IV therapy

The only serious (but rare) side effect reportedly associated with glutathione IV therapy is the possibility of severe hepatic injury or liver disease.

Contraindications for glutathione IV therapy

There are currently no known contraindications for glutathione IV therapy. However, data is lacking for safety and efficacy in pregnant and lactating women, so women in these conditions are cautioned to wait before starting glutathione IV therapy.

Drug Interactions

People receiving glutathione IV therapy must avoid taking high doses of acetaminophen, a common pain reliever sold over-the-counter under the brand names Tylenol, Excedrin, Mucinex, NyQuil, and Dayquil. This medication depletes the liver’s store of glutathione.

While glutathione IV therapy may aid in cancer prevention, it may also interact with the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients undergoing treatment. Always check with your oncologist before using any drugs or supplements during chemo.

Cost of IV Therapy

While the cost of glutathione IV therapy varies by provider, expect to pay between $270 and $375 for a glutathione IV session. Keep in mind that most of these packages also include other beneficial ingredients beyond just glutathione. These additional nutrients may include:

• Vitamin C
•  Vitamin B12
•  Biotin
•  L-arginine, another amino acid
•  Lysine

While oral supplementation is less expensive than glutathione IV therapy, the difference in efficacy makes IV therapy the winner in a cost-benefit analysis.

How Often Should You Have Glutathione?

The ideal frequency of glutathione IV therapy depends on your reasons for seeking treatment. For anti-aging and skin rejuvenation purposes, patients might receive glutathione IV therapy once or twice weekly for a few weeks, then switch to monthly maintenance treatments.

However, over the long term, undergoing glutathione IV therapy more than once a week may interfere with the body’s natural production of this critical amino acid. In general, patients seeking glutathione IV therapy for specific health reasons receive treatment every one to three weeks. In some situations, such as treatment for peripheral artery disease, patients may require glutathione IV therapy once or twice daily for several days. Frequency depends on the individual and their needs.