Key takeaways

  • Accessibility: While at-home infusion pumps or single-use devices are sometimes an option, most IV treatments are given in a healthcare facility.
  • Cost coverage: IV treatments are typically covered as a medical doctor’s visit rather than falling under your standard pharmacy benefits.
  • Variable timing: Depending on the specific medication and dosage, an IV infusion can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

Some medications must be given by an intravenous (IV) injection or infusion. This means they’re sent directly into your vein using a needle or tube.

With IV therapy, a thin plastic tube called an IV catheter is inserted into your vein.

The catheter allows your healthcare professional to give you multiple safe doses of medications, such as vancomycin (an antibiotic), without needing to poke you with a needle each time.

In most cases, you won’t give yourself an IV medication.

While you can administer some infusion medications yourself at home, you’ll likely receive your therapy from a healthcare professional.

Read on to learn about the two main tools used for IV administration — standard IV lines and central venous catheters — including why they’re used and what the risks are.

IV medication is often used because it helps control the medication dosing.

For instance, in some situations, people must receive medication very quickly. This includes emergencies, like a heart attack, stroke, or poisoning.

In these instances, taking pills or liquids by mouth may not be fast enough. Administering drugs like epinephrine via IV quickly sends the medication directly into the bloodstream.

Other times, medications may need to be given slowly but constantly. IV administration can provide a highly controlled way to give drugs over time.

Certain drugs may be given by IV administration because taking them orally would be ineffective. Enzymes in your stomach or liver would break them down too quickly.

Therefore, these drugs are much more effective when sent directly into your bloodstream by IV administration.

Benefits of IV therapy

  • immediate medication delivery for emergencies
  • avoids drug breakdown by stomach enzymes
  • ideal if you are unconscious, vomiting, or unable to swallow

Cons of IV therapy

Standard IV lines are typically used for short-term needs.

They may be used during a short hospital stay for surgery, or to give targeted pain medications like morphine, or antibiotics like meropenem.

A standard IV line can typically be used for up to 4 days.

With standard IV administration, a needle is usually inserted into a vein in your wrist, elbow, or the back of your hand. The catheter is then pushed over the needle. The needle is removed, and the catheter remains in your vein.

All IV catheters are typically placed in a hospital or clinic setting. Most of the time, the IV catheter is left in place with an access cap and is only accessed when needed.

A standard IV catheter is used for two kinds of IV medication administration.

IV push

An IV “push” or “bolus” is a rapid injection of medication.

A syringe is inserted into your catheter to quickly send a one-time dose of a drug into your bloodstream.

IV infusion

An IV infusion is a controlled administration of medication into your bloodstream over time.

The two main methods of IV infusion use either gravity or a pump to send medication into your catheter:

  • Pump infusion: In the United States, a pump infusion is the most common method used. The pump is attached to your IV line and delivers medication and sterile saline into your catheter at a slow, steady rate.
  • Drip infusion: This method uses gravity to deliver a constant amount of medication over a set period of time. With a drip, the medication and solution drip from a bag through a tube and into your catheter.

Long-term medication treatments, such as total parenteral nutrition or chemotherapy drugs like doxorubicin, require a central venous catheter (CVC).

A CVC is inserted into a larger vein in your neck, chest, arm, or groin area.

CVCs can be used for much longer periods than standard IV lines. A CVC can safely stay in place for several weeks or even months.

The three main types of CVCs include:

  • Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC): A PICC has a long line that sends medication from the area of insertion all the way to a vein near your heart. It’s typically placed in a vein above your elbow in your upper arm.
  • Tunneled catheter: With a tunneled catheter, medication can be sent directly into the veins in your heart. One end of the catheter is placed into a vein in your neck or chest during a short surgical procedure. The rest of the catheter is tunneled through your body, exiting through your skin for medication access.
  • Implanted port: Like a tunneled catheter, an implanted port inserts a catheter into a vein in your neck or chest during a short surgery. However, an implanted port is located completely beneath your skin. To use this device, a healthcare professional injects medication directly through your skin and into the port.

Many different types of medications can be given by IV. Some of the drugs more commonly given by this method include:

  • Chemotherapy drugs: doxorubicin, vincristine, cisplatin, and paclitaxel
  • Antifungal drugs: micafungin and amphotericin
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) drugs: Entyvio (vedolizumab) and Stelara (ustekinumab)
  • Pain relief medications: hydromorphone and morphine
  • Drugs for low blood pressure: dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dobutamine
  • Immunoglobulin medications (IVIG): Privigen (human immunoglobulin g) and Vyvgart Hytrulo (efgartigimod alfa/hyaluronidase-qvfc)

While IV medication use is generally safe, it can cause both mild and more serious side effects.

Medications given intravenously act on your body very quickly, so allergic reactions and other effects can happen during or shortly after the infusion.

Since IV infusions are typically given by healthcare professionals, your care team will observe you throughout your infusion and sometimes for a period afterward.

Examples of infusion-related side effects include:

IV drug administration is a fast, effective way to send medication into your bloodstream.

If your doctor has prescribed it for you, they will likely explain the purpose and the process for your specific treatment.

If you have questions, be sure to ask. Your questions may include:

  • How long will I need to receive my IV treatment?
  • Do I have a higher risk of experiencing any side effects?
  • Can I receive my IV medication at home?

IV medication administration delivers fast, controlled treatments directly into your bloodstream. Standard IV lines handle short-term needs, while central venous catheters are used for long-term therapies.

Healthcare professionals carefully monitor this process, helping minimize risks like infections or blood clots. Always discuss your specific IV therapy plan and potential side effects with your doctor to stay fully informed.

Disclaimer: While Healthline strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.