Treatments
Who Is a Good Candidate for IV Infusion Therapy?
What is infusion therapy?
Infusion therapy is the delivery of medications or fluids either intravenously (into a vein) or subcutaneously (into the tissue between the skin and muscle). Infusion therapy may be used when a person cannot take oral medication, if an oral formula of a medication is not available, or when a medication needs to be delivered at a controlled pace.
Health conditions that may benefit from infusion therapy
Infusion therapy is a beneficial treatment option for various conditions. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cancer
- Dehydration
- Pain
- Autoimmune disorders
- Immune deficiencies
- Congestive heart failure
- Infections that are unresponsive to oral antibiotics
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Lupus
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Hemophilia
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Migraines
- Hypergammaglobulinemia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Blood clotting disorders
Who should avoid infusion therapy?
Although infusion therapy is often beneficial, it is not always the best option in certain situations. This includes the following:
- Individuals with a history of blood clots
- Individuals with a history of heart problems
- Individuals with high blood pressure or cholesterol
- Some older adults
- Some children under 12
To determine who is a good candidate for infusion therapy, it is important to fully discuss the medical history with a health care professional prior to beginning treatment.
Additional source: Verywell Health