Medically reviewed by Dr. Kiyan Rad, DO, board-certified internal medicine physician and Medical Director, Sanova Urgent Care
The Myers’ cocktail is the most requested IV vitamin blend in the country, and people around Oro Valley and Sun City Oro Valley ask us about it every week. It is a mix of B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and other nutrients given through a vein. However, drip lounges and mobile IV companies often describe it in ways the science does not support.
This guide explains what a Myers’ cocktail actually contains, where it came from, and what the research really shows. It also covers what it costs at Sanova Urgent Care in Catalina, and why getting a drip inside a licensed urgent care is different from getting one in a lounge or a living room.
Key takeaways
- A Myers’ cocktail is an IV blend of fluids, B complex, B-12, vitamin C, magnesium and related nutrients.
- The fluid portion treats dehydration well. The vitamin portion has limited evidence in people who are not deficient, and we tell you that plainly.
- Sanova’s Myers’-style blend is the Catalina Quench, $175, on a posted menu that runs from $90 to $275.
- Every drip here is reviewed by a clinician first, with on-site labs and X-ray if your symptoms turn out to be more than dehydration.
- Walk in Monday through Saturday, 7am to 7pm, on Oracle Road — minutes from Oro Valley, Sun City Oro Valley, Catalina and SaddleBrooke.
What is a Myers’ cocktail?
A Myers’ cocktail is a vitamin and mineral infusion named after John Myers, MD, a Baltimore physician who gave nutrient injections to his patients for decades. After his death in 1984, Alan Gaby, MD took over many of those patients and published the modern recipe. His 2002 review describes the blend most clinics use today.
The classic version combines magnesium, calcium, B vitamins and vitamin C in a base of IV fluid. Because it goes straight into the bloodstream, absorption does not depend on your stomach. That is the honest advantage of any IV: it works even when you are nauseated, vomiting or too worn out to drink.
What’s in the bag: ingredient by ingredient
Here is what each component of a Myers’-style drip is, in plain language.
| Ingredient | What it is | Why it’s included |
|---|---|---|
| 1L IV fluids | Sterile saline or a balanced electrolyte solution | Restores fluid volume — the part with the clearest benefit |
| B complex | A group of B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6) | Supports normal energy metabolism in cells |
| Vitamin B-12 | A vitamin many older adults absorb poorly from food | Supports nerve and blood cell function |
| Vitamin C | An antioxidant vitamin | Popular for immune support |
| Magnesium | A mineral involved in muscle and nerve function | May ease muscle cramping and tension |
| Glutathione | An antioxidant your body makes naturally | A common add-on in modern blends |
| Zinc | A trace mineral | Included in immune-focused blends |
At Sanova, our Myers’-style blend is the Catalina Quench ($175): one liter of IV fluids with B complex, B-12, magnesium, vitamin C, glutathione and zinc. You can see every drip and every price on our IV hydration menu, from the $90 Cactus Spring rehydration bag to targeted blends for migraine, recovery and immune support.
What the evidence actually says
We would rather tell you this plainly than oversell it.
The best study of the Myers’ cocktail is a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial from Yale researchers, published in 2009. Adults with fibromyalgia received weekly Myers’ infusions or a plain fluid placebo for eight weeks. Both groups felt better. However, the differences between the vitamin drip and the placebo drip were not statistically significant.
That pattern matches the broader research. IV fluid reliably helps when you are behind on fluids. The added vitamins are absorbed completely, which pills cannot match. Beyond that, the evidence that vitamin infusions treat or prevent illness in people who are not deficient is limited, and major academic centers have said so publicly.
So why do we offer it? Many patients want it, they feel better after it, and it is administered safely here under physician oversight. We simply will not tell you it cures anything. If a clinic promises that a drip “detoxes” you, “cures” a cold, or replaces medical treatment, be skeptical.
When a Myers’-style drip makes sense — and when it doesn’t
Reasonable uses, based on what the fluid and nutrients genuinely do:
- Dehydration you can feel. Headache, fatigue, dark urine and lightheadedness after desert heat, a long hike or yard work.
- Recovery after illness. A few days of fever, flu or a stomach bug leaves most people behind on fluids even after the infection passes.
- When you can’t keep liquids down. IV fluids bypass the stomach entirely. Our nausea, vomiting and dehydration page covers that path.
- Older adults who run dry without noticing. Thirst becomes a less reliable signal with age, and common medications such as diuretics make it worse. Many of our Sun City Oro Valley and SaddleBrooke patients fall into this group.
- A rough night. Alcohol is a diuretic, and the morning-after misery is largely a fluid and electrolyte problem.
A drip is not the answer when something needs diagnosis or treatment. It does not treat infection, replace antibiotics, or substitute for emergency care. New fever, chest symptoms, abdominal pain, confusion or fainting deserve an exam first — and at Sanova, the exam is available in the same building, the same visit.
Is a Myers’ cocktail safe?
For most healthy adults, yes, when it is screened and supervised properly. Like any IV, there is a small risk of bruising, vein irritation or an infusion reaction. A few situations need real caution:
- Kidney disease or heart failure. The volume and rate of IV fluid matter, and a drip may not be appropriate at all.
- Pregnancy. Tell us if you are pregnant or might be, because it changes what we will infuse.
- G6PD deficiency. High-dose vitamin C is not safe with this condition.
- Medication interactions. Bring your medication list, especially blood pressure medicines and diuretics.
This screening is exactly why a Sanova provider reviews your health history, medications and allergies before any drip is started. Children are not candidates for elective wellness drips; a dehydrated child needs to be examined through pediatric urgent care.
Urgent care vs. drip lounge vs. mobile IV: what’s different
The ingredients in a Myers’ cocktail are similar almost everywhere. The building is not.
- A clinician decides, not a menu. A provider confirms a drip is right for what you are describing before the IV starts.
- On-site lab testing. If your fatigue is anemia, your “stomach bug” is an infection, or your electrolytes are off, we can find out while you are still in the chair. Urinalysis and rapid flu, strep and COVID tests run in the building; blood work is drawn here with results usually back in about one business day.
- On-site digital X-ray. If chest symptoms come up during your visit, imaging happens here, not at a separate appointment. See X-ray and fracture care.
- Physician-led. The same board-certified team that handles every urgent care visit supervises every drip.
- Posted prices. $90 to $275, published before you sit down. A standard self-pay urgent care visit is $140 if your drip turns into a medical evaluation — see costs and insurance.
IV therapy near Oro Valley and Sun City Oro Valley
Sanova Urgent Care sits on North Oracle Road in Catalina, a short drive from Oro Valley, Sun City Oro Valley, Rancho Vistoso and SaddleBrooke. There is no appointment and no membership. Walk in, and most sessions run 30 to 45 minutes door to door.
Winter visitors are welcome too. If you are in Arizona for the season, our snowbird health care guide covers refills, Medicare and where to go when you get sick.
Common questions about the Myers’ cocktail
What is in a Myers’ cocktail?
The classic blend is IV fluid with B-complex vitamins, vitamin B-12, vitamin C and magnesium. Modern versions, including Sanova’s Catalina Quench, often add glutathione and zinc.
How much does a Myers’ cocktail cost in Tucson?
At Sanova Urgent Care, the Catalina Quench — our Myers’-style blend — is $175, on a posted menu that runs from $90 to $275. Prices are published before you sit down, with no membership required.
Does a Myers’ cocktail actually work?
The fluid works well for dehydration. For the vitamins, the only placebo-controlled trial found that people improved, but not significantly more than with a plain fluid placebo. We offer it with that honest framing, not with cure claims.
How long does the infusion take?
The bag itself usually runs 20 to 30 minutes. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes total with check-in, vitals and the clinician review.
How often can you get a Myers’ cocktail?
There is no one-size schedule, and more is not automatically better. A clinician will talk through timing based on why you want it, your kidneys and your medications.
Is IV vitamin therapy covered by insurance?
Elective vitamin drips are generally self-pay. If your visit becomes a medical evaluation for an illness, that part is billed like any urgent care visit, and we accept Medicare, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Arizona Complete Health and more. See costs and insurance.
Do I need an appointment for IV therapy near Oro Valley?
No. Sanova is a walk-in clinic open Monday through Saturday, 7am to 7pm, on Oracle Road in Catalina — minutes from Oro Valley, Sun City Oro Valley and SaddleBrooke. You can pre-register online to shorten check-in.
Can I get IV fluids for a stomach bug instead of a vitamin drip?
Yes, and that is often the smarter visit. If you cannot keep liquids down, we evaluate the cause and give fluids and anti-nausea treatment as a medical visit. Start with nausea, vomiting and dehydration care.
Thinking about a drip? Walk in and ask
You deserve a straight answer about what an IV can and cannot do — and a clinician who checks whether it is right for you before the needle goes in. At Sanova, you get both, plus posted prices and a licensed urgent care around you if it turns out you need more than fluids.
Sanova Urgent Care
15883 N Oracle Rd, Suite 101, Tucson, AZ 85739 (Catalina)
On the west side of Oracle Road, next to McDonald’s.
Monday–Saturday, 7am–7pm. Closed Sunday.
Walk in, no appointment. Call (520) 232-2525 or pre-register online.
We serve Oro Valley, Sun City Oro Valley, Catalina, SaddleBrooke and north Tucson. See the full IV hydration menu and pricing.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kiyan Rad, DO — Medical Director, Sanova Urgent Care, Tucson, AZ. Published October 22, 2026.
Sources
- Gaby AR. Intravenous nutrient therapy: the “Myers’ cocktail.” Alternative Medicine Review, 2002 (PubMed)
- Ali A, et al. Intravenous Micronutrient Therapy (Myers’ Cocktail) for Fibromyalgia: A Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. J Altern Complement Med, 2009
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin C Fact Sheet
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin B12 Fact Sheet
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Magnesium Fact Sheet
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical care. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
Dr. Kiyan Rad, DO, is a board-certified internal medicine and obesity medicine physician and Medical Director of Sanova Urgent Care in Catalina, AZ, serving Oro Valley, SaddleBrooke and north Tucson. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, President of the Medical Executive Committee at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Northwest Tucson, and former Chief of Medicine at Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital. He earned his DO from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. On this blog, he shares practical guidance on urgent care, chronic disease, metabolic health and recovery after a hospital stay.