IV drip
IV infusion · intravenous drip · IV therapy
Medicine or fluid flows slowly into a vein through a thin tube. A nurse or a pump controls the speed.
When a medicine needs to go into a vein slowly: for dehydration, antibiotics, iron, or other treatments your doctor prescribes.
⏱ Duration: from 20 minutes to several hours, depending on the medicine
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Food. Do not come hungry, unless your doctor says otherwise.
- Toilet. Use the toilet before you start. Getting up during a drip is awkward.
What to bring
- Your doctor's prescription
- Your phone, headphones, or a book, if the drip is long
How it goes
- You lie down or sit in a chair
- The nurse puts a thin cannula into a vein and tapes it in place
- The drip with the medicine is connected and the speed is set
- The nurse checks on you from time to time
- When the medicine is finished, the drip is disconnected and the cannula is removed
What you'll feel
- A prick when the cannula goes in
- Sometimes a cool feeling in your arm from the fluid
Afterwards
- Press on the spot for a few minutes
- You can usually go home right away
Contact a doctor straight away if
- During the drip: itching, rash, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or swelling or pain where the cannula is. Call the nurse right away
Common questions
Can I speed up the drip myself?
No. The nurse sets the speed. Going too fast can be dangerous.