Myers' Cocktail: Intravenous Nutrients

Patient receiving Myers' Cocktail IV therapy

What Is A Myers’ Cocktail?

The Myers’ Cocktail is a combination of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, Vitamin C, magnesium and calcium administered intravenously. The Myers’ Cocktail was first performed by Dr. John Myers MD and later championed by Dr. Alan Gaby MD after Myers’ death in 1984¹.

Key Benefits at a Glance

Benefit	What It Means For You
50x Higher Absorption	IV vitamins bypass digestion for direct cellular delivery²
15,000+ Treatments	Dr. Gaby’s published experience treating 800-1,000 patients¹
Immediate Effect	Most patients feel increased energy within hours
Well-Tolerated	Excellent safety profile with minimal side effects¹³

The Nutrients In Your Myers’ Cocktail

Each nutrient in the Myers’ Cocktail serves a specific purpose. Here’s what you’re receiving and why it matters:

Magnesium

The Relaxation Mineral: Essential for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. Supports muscle relaxation, blood vessel dilation and nerve function. Many Nova Scotians are deficient in magnesium³, contributing to muscle tension, migraines and cardiovascular issues^4,7.

B Vitamins

The Energy Complex: Six essential B vitamins work together to convert food into cellular energy, support nervous system function and maintain mental clarity. Critical for anyone experiencing fatigue or brain fog.

B Vitamin	Primary Function
B1 (Thiamine)	Nerve signaling and energy production
B2 (Riboflavin)	Migraine prevention and energy maintenance⁵
B3 (Niacin)	Hormone balance (testosterone, estrogen)
B5 (Pantothenic Acid)	Adrenal support and tissue repair
B6 (Pyridoxine)	Mental clarity and neurotransmitter synthesis
B12 (Cobalamin)	Energy, mood and nervous system health

Vitamin C

The Immune Powerhouse: When given intravenously, vitamin C reaches blood concentrations 50 times higher than oral supplementation². At these levels, it demonstrates significant fatigue-reducing¹⁰ and antiviral¹¹ properties.

Calcium

The Structural Support: Beyond bone health, calcium is essential for muscle contraction, nerve transmission and heart rhythm. Works synergistically with magnesium for optimal effect.

Why IV Instead of Oral Supplements?

The Myers’ Cocktail works by increasing blood concentration of essential vitamins and minerals beyond what can be achieved through oral supplementation.

When you take vitamins orally, they must pass through your digestive system where absorption is limited by gut health, enzyme availability and competition between nutrients. IV administration bypasses these barriers entirely, delivering nutrients directly to your cells.

Example: Oral vitamin C absorption plateaus at about 200mg; no matter how much more you take, your body can’t absorb it. IV vitamin C reaches blood concentrations 50 times higher², enabling therapeutic effects impossible with oral supplementation.

Conditions Treated by the Myers’ Cocktail

Dr. Alan Gaby MD has published a comprehensive review¹ of his experience treating 800-1,000 patients with the Myers’ Cocktail over 11 years, giving approximately 15,000 infusions. Conditions that responded well include:

Energy & Fatigue Conditions

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Often dramatic improvement in energy levels
Fibromyalgia: Reduction in pain and fatigue¹³
General fatigue: Quick energy restoration
Post-viral fatigue: Accelerated recovery

Pain & Neurological Conditions

Migraines: Both acute treatment and prevention⁸
Acute muscle spasms: Rapid relief through magnesium
Tension headaches: Related to magnesium deficiency

Immune & Respiratory Conditions

Upper respiratory infections: Faster recovery
Chronic sinusitis: Reduced inflammation
Seasonal allergies: Symptom relief
Acute asthma attacks: Bronchodilation support

Performance & Wellness

Athletic performance: Enhanced recovery and endurance
Cardiovascular support: Through magnesium’s heart benefits^4,9
Pre-event optimization: Popular before races and competitions

The Science Behind the Nutrients

Magnesium Deficiency: A Hidden Epidemic

Magnesium deficiency is remarkably common³ and has been linked to:

Ischemic heart disease⁴
Migraines⁵
Type 2 diabetes⁶
Hypertension⁷

Research shows IV magnesium is effective for treating acute migraines⁸ and supporting heart health during acute myocardial events⁹.

Vitamin C: Beyond Immune Support

When given intravenously, vitamin C demonstrates:

Fatigue-reducing effects in controlled trials¹⁰
Antiviral activity against respiratory infections¹¹
Quality of life improvements in cancer patients¹²

Synergistic Effects

While each nutrient has unique actions, their combination creates synergistic benefits that typically:

Correct underlying nutrient deficiencies
Boost cellular energy production
Enhance immune function
Support nervous system health

Clinical Experience With the Myers’ Cocktail

I have found that the Myers’ Cocktail has been a very helpful treatment for several health conditions including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, upper respiratory infections and post-viral fatigue. When treating other conditions, including heart disease, peripheral artery disease, cancer and post-concussion symptoms I will use a different combination of nutrients but still retain many of the core ingredients of the Myers’ Cocktail. The Myers’ Cocktail is also quite beneficial for athletic performance but an individualized intravenous nutrient treatment is the most reliable way to increase athletic performance.

What Patients Typically Experience

After receiving a Myers’ Cocktail, patients often report:

Immediate energy boost: Often noticeable within hours
Improved ability to fight infections: Especially lingering colds or flu
Fibromyalgia relief: Decreased fatigue and pain lasting 1-3 weeks
Mental clarity: Reduced brain fog and improved focus
Better sleep quality: Particularly if magnesium-deficient

Safety of the Myers’ Cocktail

There are no documented major adverse effects of Myers’ Cocktail infusions. Available safety data has reported mild adverse effects and overall excellent tolerability¹³.

Possible Temporary Effects

In practice, the most common effects I have observed include:

Lightheadedness: Brief and transient, usually from low blood pressure
Warmth or flushing: Normal response to magnesium
Discomfort at IV site: Easily prevented by adjusting infusion rate

These effects are generally self-limiting and resolve within minutes. Proper hydration before treatment minimizes most side effects.

Who Should Avoid Myers’ Cocktail

The Myers’ Cocktail is very safe for most people. However, it may not be appropriate for those with:

Severe kidney disease
Certain heart conditions (discuss during consultation)
Allergy to any component

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Myers’ Cocktail take?

A typical infusion takes 30-45 minutes. Plan for about an hour for your appointment to allow time for setup and monitoring.

How often should I get a Myers’ Cocktail?

This depends on your health goals:

Acute illness: 1-2 treatments close together
Chronic conditions (fibromyalgia, CFS): Weekly for 4-6 weeks, then as needed
Wellness maintenance: Monthly or as desired
Athletic performance: Before events or during heavy training

Will I feel different immediately?

Most patients notice increased energy within hours of treatment. Some feel the effects during the infusion itself, particularly the relaxing warmth from magnesium.

Can I drive after treatment?

Yes, most patients can drive immediately after. If you experience lightheadedness, we’ll have you rest until it passes (usually just a few minutes).

Is fasting required?

No fasting is required. In fact, eating a light meal before your appointment helps prevent lightheadedness.

Getting Started With Myers’ Cocktail in Halifax

To ensure that IV nutrient therapy will be safe and effective for you, an initial naturopathic consultation is required prior to starting treatment. This allows us to:

Review your health history
Discuss your goals and expectations
Determine if Myers’ Cocktail or a customized formula is best for you
Answer any questions you have

If you would like the option to receive IV therapy on the same day as your initial consultation, please book an “Initial consultation with IV treatment”. IV therapy will only be administered if Dr. MacLeod determines it is appropriate for your individual health needs.

Explore all IV therapy options: The Myers’ Cocktail is one of several IV nutrient formulas available. Visit the IV Nutrient Therapy hub to learn about Glutathione, high-dose Vitamin C, NAD+ and customized IV treatments.

References

Gaby AR. Intravenous nutrient therapy: the “Myers’ cocktail”. Altern Med Rev. 2002 Oct;7(5):389-403.
Padayatty SJ, Sun H, Wang Y, Riordan HD, Hewitt SM, Katz A, Wesley RA, Levine M. Vitamin C pharmacokinetics: implications for oral and intravenous use. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Apr 6;140(7):533-7.
“Nutrient Intakes Percent of population 2 years old and over with adequate intakes based on average requirement”. Community Nutrition Mapping Project. 2009-07-29.
Joosten MM, Gansevoort RT, Mukamal KJ, van der Harst P, Geleijnse JM, Feskens EJ, Navis G, Bakker SJ; for The PREVEND Study Group. Urinary and plasma magnesium and risk of ischemic heart disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Mar 13.
Samaie A, Asghari N, Ghorbani R, Arda J. Blood Magnesium levels in migraineurs within and between the headache attacks: a case control study. Pan Afr Med J. 2012;11:46.
Kao WH, Folsom AR, Nieto FJ, Mo JP, Watson RL, Brancati FL. Serum and dietary magnesium and the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Arch Intern Med. 1999 Oct 11;159(18):2151-9.
Kawano Y, Matsuoka H, Takishita S, Omae T. Effects of magnesium supplementation in hypertensive patients: assessment by office, home and ambulatory blood pressures. Hypertension. 1998 Aug;32(2):260-5.
Bigal ME, Bordini CA, Tepper SJ, Speciali JG. Intravenous magnesium sulphate in the acute treatment of migraine without aura and migraine with aura. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Cephalalgia. 2002 Jun;22(5):345-53.
Gyamlani G, Parikh C, Kulkarni AG. Benefits of magnesium in acute myocardial infarction: timing is crucial. Am Heart J. 2000 Apr;139(4):703.
Suh SY, Bae WK, Ahn HY, Choi SE, Jung GC, Yeom CH. Intravenous vitamin C administration reduces fatigue in office workers: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Nutr J. 2012 Jan 20;11:7.
Schencking M, Vollbracht C, Weiss G, Lebert J, Biller A, Goyvaerts B, Kraft K. Intravenous vitamin C in the treatment of shingles: results of a multicenter prospective cohort study. Med Sci Monit. 2012 Apr;18(4):CR215-24.
Vollbracht C, Schneider B, Leendert V, Weiss G, Auerbach L, Beuth J. Intravenous vitamin C administration improves quality of life in breast cancer patients during chemo-/radiotherapy and aftercare: results of a retrospective, multicentre, epidemiological cohort study in Germany. In Vivo. 2011 Nov-Dec;25(6):983-90.
Ali A, Njike VY, Northrup V, Sabina AB, Williams AL, Liberti LS, Perlman AI, Adelson H, Katz DL. Intravenous micronutrient therapy (Myers’ Cocktail) for fibromyalgia: a placebo-controlled pilot study. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Mar;15(3):247-57.