What is the Myers’ Cocktail?
It is a classic intravenous vitamin-mineral mixture — magnesium, B vitamins and vitamin C — in use for decades. It is not a treatment; it is administered for general support. At IV Point the classic formula is not applied verbatim — contents and doses are planned individually. Sessions take 45–60 minutes and follow a physician assessment.
Where Does the Myers’ Cocktail Come From?
There is a real story behind this formula, and it is worth telling honestly.
John Myers was a physician in Baltimore who, from the 1970s, gave his patients intravenous vitamin-mineral mixtures. When he died in 1984 he left behind hundreds of patients — but he never published his recipe.
Some of Myers’ patients then turned to a physician named Alan Gaby. Drawing on his experience treating them, Gaby reconstructed the formula and published it in 2002. What is called the “Myers’ cocktail” today is actually Gaby’s modified version: magnesium, calcium, B vitamins and vitamin C.1
Why do we tell you this? Because it is worth knowing that what gets sold as “the original Myers formula” is, in fact, unknown. That does not make the formula worthless — but it does mean the “unchanged-for-decades gold standard” narrative is not quite true.
Why Don’t We Apply the Classic Formula Verbatim?
The short answer: there is no reason to administer a recipe published in 2002 unchanged in 2026.
We do not use calcium. Gaby’s published formula includes calcium gluconate. But calcium’s rationale in this mixture is not strong, and in practice it carries two problems: a serious interaction risk in patients on digitalis (digoxin-type) heart medication, and unsuitability for people with high blood calcium. Since we can deliver the intended benefit without it, we removed it from the protocol.
We add glutathione and fluid support. Antioxidant support and hydration serve the everyday-support purpose directly.
Doses are not fixed. The classic recipe gives everyone the same amounts. We set contents and doses individually after the assessment.
So what we administer is a protocol that starts from the classic formula — updated.
The Evidence: A Balanced Assessment
We write this section because we want you to make an informed choice. Sharing the evidence openly is the responsibility of a physician-led clinic.
What do we have?
The formula’s components — magnesium, B vitamins and vitamin C — are essential nutrients whose physiological roles have been well defined for decades: their part in energy metabolism, muscle and nerve function and antioxidant defence is well established. The formula itself has been used in clinical practice for over forty years and is well tolerated when administered under physician supervision.
Gaby’s 2002 publication is a valuable source that defines the formula and conveys extensive clinical experience.1 Randomized controlled trial data, on the other hand, are still limited — and research is ongoing.
What did the randomized trial show?
The Myers’ cocktail was compared with placebo in a small pilot study in fibromyalgia patients (34 people, 8 weeks). Both groups showed meaningful improvement from baseline; the difference between the groups did not reach statistical significance.2 As a single small pilot study, it is not a basis for firm conclusions on its own. A 2023 independent review likewise emphasized the need for more and larger studies in this field.3
Our approach
Two sentences sum it up. First: we do not present this treatment as a cure for any disease — the data to support that do not yet exist. Second: the physiological contribution of fluids, magnesium, B vitamins and antioxidant support is real, and we regularly see our clients feeling better after a session. That is exactly the frame in which we offer it — honestly, with a physician’s assessment, planned for the individual.
About the Formula
Contents and doses are set individually after the pre-treatment assessment. The protocol usually includes:
- Magnesium: for its role in muscle function and nerve conduction
- B-vitamin complex: a cofactor in energy metabolism
- Vitamin C: for antioxidant support
- Glutathione: for its role in antioxidant defence and the liver’s phase II detoxification processes
- Fluid and electrolyte support: sterile isotonic sodium chloride solution
Calcium is not used (rationale above).
Why aren’t doses listed here?
Doses are set individually; we do not publish a standard dosing chart. The contents and doses to be used are explained to you in detail before the session.
Potential Benefits
- Fluid and mineral support — during intense periods, after travel, or when eating falters
- A contribution to energy metabolism — through the B vitamins’ cofactor role
- Antioxidant support — through vitamin C and glutathione
- Support for easing muscle tension — through magnesium
- An hour of rest — time spent away from stimulation during the session
Effects vary from person to person. This treatment does not treat disease, has not been shown to “strengthen” immunity, and does not replace medical treatment.
Who Might Consider This Supportive Treatment?
- Adults trying IV therapy for the first time and looking for a comprehensive starting point
- People wanting general support during intense work periods
- Travelers looking for recovery support after a long flight or a demanding trip
- People whose eating pattern has been temporarily disrupted
Note: if you have ongoing fatigue, recurrent infections or unexplained weakness, the first step is not this treatment but investigating the cause. B12 deficiency, iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction and sleep disorders are identified with blood tests and an examination.
Who Is It Not Suitable For?
- Kidney failure — magnesium excretion is impaired
- Cardiac conduction disorders, marked bradycardia, AV block
- Myasthenia gravis
- A tendency to low blood pressure (hypotension) — magnesium can lower blood pressure
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Heart failure and serious heart disease — because of the risk of fluid overload
- Anyone receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy — contains antioxidants; not administered without oncologist approval
- Known allergy to any component
Tell us about every medication you use. Magnesium can potentiate muscle relaxants and neuromuscular blocking agents, and can interact with calcium channel blockers and blood-pressure medication.
Possible Side Effects
- Temporary redness, tenderness or bruising at the IV site
- From magnesium: facial flushing/warmth, skin redness, temporary weakness, a drop in blood pressure
- A temporary sulfur-like taste or smell (from glutathione — harmless)
- Nausea or dizziness with a fast infusion
- Allergic reaction to a component (rare)
The magnesium infusion is given slowly, with vital-sign monitoring (blood pressure, pulse) throughout. The treatment is carried out under the supervision of an anesthesiology specialist.
Before, During and After
Before: no need to fast. Tell us about your medications and chronic conditions; bring any recent blood tests.
During: 45–60 minutes. You can rest seated, work or read.
After: temporary weakness from magnesium can occur. If you feel tired, rest a while before driving.
When Should You See a Doctor Instead?
Some of the complaints that bring people to this treatment can be signs of conditions that need investigating:
- Ongoing fatigue — B12, iron or vitamin D deficiency and thyroid dysfunction should be investigated
- Frequently recurring infections — can signal an immune problem or uncontrolled diabetes
- Unexplained weight loss, night sweats, fever
- Shortness of breath, palpitations, swelling in the legs
- Low mood, loss of interest, sleep and appetite changes lasting more than two weeks
None of these situations is addressed with an infusion. We make that referral during the assessment too.
References
- Gaby AR. Intravenous nutrient therapy: the “Myers’ cocktail”. Alternative Medicine Review. 2002;7(5):389-403. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12410623
- Ali A, Njike VY, Northrup V, et al. Intravenous micronutrient therapy (Myers’ Cocktail) for fibromyalgia: a placebo-controlled pilot study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2009;15(3):247-257. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19250003
- Intravenous vitamin injections: where is the evidence? Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin. 2023;61(10):151-155. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37640530
Written and medically reviewed by: Ömer Fatih Şahin, MD Specialist in Anesthesiology & Reanimation — Last updated: 27.08.2026
The content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical treatment. The treatment is administered to individuals found suitable at a pre-treatment assessment. If you have an existing condition or take medication, consult your physician.
