Why IV drips are surging in popularity in Australia's wellness space
Bek Walter has been getting vitamin IV drips for about 10 years. (ABC News: Glenn Mullane)
Bek Walter sits in a softly lit clinic in the Gold Coast's north while a bag of fluid slowly drips into her vein through a tube.
The young mum is here for intravenous (IV) drip therapy — an increasingly popular treatment in Australia's wellness space.
She has been getting the infusions for about a decade after struggling for years with malabsorption issues.
"After speaking to my GP, I felt like that was a good option for me,"she said.
More people are suiting convenient, fast-acting interventions. (ABC Gold Coast: Glenn Mullane)
Ms Walter books in for an infusion whenever she is recovering from an illness, needs extra hydration or is feeling a bit flat.
Sometimes she drops into the clinic. Other times, a mobile service comes to her door.
"Instead of getting a facial or something, I feel like looking after my health from the inside out," she said.
"I definitely feel the differences."
Bek Walter says IV drips have helped with her malabsorption issues. (ABC Gold Coast: Charmayne Allison)
IV drips increasingly popular
IV drips have been used for decades in mainstream medicine to treat dehydration, malabsorption or clinically diagnosed nutrient deficiencies.
But in recent years, they have surged in popularity in the wellness space, with celebrity endorsements from the likes of Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber fuelling demand.
More clinics are advertising mobile services, bringing the drips to people's homes and events — from corporate wellness retreats to hen's parties.
More IV drip clinics are opening across Australia. (ABC Gold Coast: Charmayne Allison)
IV infusions commonly contain a cocktail of vitamins and minerals, often tailored for each client's needs and injected straight into the bloodstream.
It makes them a popular "quick fix" for hangovers or jet lag, with advocates also claiming they can promote clearer thinking, immunity, beauty and even anti-aging.
But Luigi Fontana, a professor of medicine at the University of Sydney, said there were no robust studies to back the claims.
"This does not mean benefits are impossible, but rather that they have not been demonstrated to date,"he said.
Clients are given a mixture of vitamins and minerals in the IV drips. (ABC Gold Coast: Charmayne Allison)
'It's more a wellness service'
Prices for the treatments typically range from $100 to $600 – although anti-aging "coenzyme" treatments can exceed $1,000.
Clients often opt for monthly or even weekly sessions.
Kate Winch is a registered nurse with Inigo Cosmetic. (ABC News: Dean Caton)
Kate Winch, a registered nurse at Brisbane clinic Inigo Cosmetic, said IV drip bookings had increased up to 20 per cent in the past year alone.
"I think it reflects a broader shift towards more preventative health or regenerative medicines," she said.
Ms Winch said her clinic assessed clients beforehand to ensure IV drips were safe and suitable.
But she said the infusions did not replace a healthy diet, regular exercise or traditional medical treatments.
"It's more a wellness service," she said.
Vitamin IV drips have boomed in popularity in recent years. (ABC Gold Coast: Charmayne Allison)
AMA says IV drips 'rarely useful'
Australian Medical Association president Danielle McMullen said IV drip therapy was "rarely useful".
"You'd be just as well off drinking a glass of water,"Dr McMullen said.
Danielle McMullen says infusions can carry risks. (ABC News)
She said the infusions could also carry risks, including infection, allergic reactions and potentially toxic high doses.
She said people should just see their GP instead.
"I'd rather people were spending their time, energy and money on something that was genuinely going to help their health," she said.
Vitamin IV drips are increasing in popularity. (ABC News: Charmayne Allison)
Tight advertising regulations
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) enforces tight regulations on IV drip advertising in Australia.
In 2023, the TGA handed Drip IV Australia a $160,000 fine for describing the infusions as "miraculous" and making claims about cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has also spoken out in recent years, warning the wellness industry to stop "inappropriately" marketing IV drips.
"The medical justification and scientific evidence for them has not kept pace with their marketing," an agency spokesperson said.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) also raised the alarm in late 2024, saying doctors were competing with wellness clinics for access to IV fluids during a global shortfall.
While the shortage has since resolved, the RACGP said IV drips remained a form of "low-value care".
Clients are medically assessed before receiving an IV drip. (ABC Gold Coast: Glenn Mullane)
'You should be asking questions'
Sitting in the Gold Coast clinic, Ms Walter said she was already feeling better after her IV drip.
"I'm not the greatest at drinking enough water, so the hydration is great, and the added vitamins," she said.
However, she understood some would be sceptical.
"I think you should be asking questions, especially around healthcare or anything to do with wellness," she said.
"Make sure where you're going is reputable … and they are actually doing what they're saying they're going to do."