If you've never had an IV outside of a hospital, it's reasonable to have questions. Here's exactly what to expect, no vague reassurances, just the actual sequence of a session from walking in to walking out.
Before anything happens: the screening
Every session starts with a short health screening, not a formality, but a real check. A member of our clinical team asks about your medical history, current medications, allergies, and what you're hoping to get out of the session. This is what determines which formulation is appropriate for you, and in some cases, whether IV therapy is appropriate at all. If something in your history suggests it isn't, we'll tell you directly rather than proceed anyway.
The cannula, and what it actually feels like
Once cleared, a registered nurse places a small cannula, usually in the back of your hand or the inside of your elbow. Most people describe it as a brief pinch, comparable to a standard blood draw, followed by no ongoing pain once it's placed. The cannula stays taped down for the duration of your session; you can move your arm normally, check your phone, read, or just sit back.
During the drip
Your formulation is prepared fresh for your session and administered at a controlled rate. Most standard drips take between 30 and 60 minutes depending on volume; formulations like NAD+ are infused more slowly and can take longer. You're monitored throughout, if anything feels off, the rate can be adjusted or the session paused.
It's normal to feel very little during the infusion itself for most formulations, effects, where they occur, tend to be noticed afterward rather than during. This varies by person and by formulation, and we won't promise a specific sensation, because we don't think that's honest.
After: the part people ask about most
When the infusion finishes, the cannula is removed, a small dressing is applied, and that's it. There's no recovery time built into the process itself, you're free to go straight back to work, training, or the rest of your day. Occasionally there's minor bruising at the injection site, similar to any blood draw, which resolves on its own within a few days.
That's the whole process. No mystery, no dramatic before-and-after, just a straightforward clinical procedure administered by a qualified nurse, under a protocol reviewed by our medical team.