Danger of popular Bali hangover cure

Hordes of Aussies in Bali are doing one thing after a heavy night of drinking – but there’s a dark side to the “cure”.

Danger of popular Bali hangover cure.

Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au. This week, Dr Zac Turner

answers a question about Bali’s go-to hangover cure.

QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac, Is IV therapy a load of hogwash or does it actually work? I was recently in Bali and everyone was getting IV therapy at their villas after a night of hard partying. I was nervous to take part as I had never seen it before and I think anything that involves partying and needles should be avoided! – Saoirse, Perth

ANSWER: This is a great question! I have seen IV therapy pop up on my social feeds a fair bit recently. I would put this in the same basket as teeth whitening: it is only effective and safe when administered properly by a health professional for the right reasons.

Intravenous micronutrient therapy, or IV therapy, provides a high dose of minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes directly into your bloodstream. It is predominantly used in healthcare settings such as in a hospital. It’s an effective method in the doctor’s toolkit of treating patients. It makes sure they receive required nutrients for recovery, and most importantly it keeps them hydrated without having to drink water. This is especially useful if you have gastroenteritis or perhaps, in this instance, ‘Bali-Belly’ and can’t keep anything down, or in.

This is especially useful if you have gastroenteritis or perhaps, in this instance, ‘Bali-Belly’

It is a great treatment for people with digestive issues that otherwise prevent them from absorbing the nutrients in their food. I have a number of patients who have benefited from having vitamins given intravenously for a range of both acute and chronic conditions. As we are learning more and more about gut health and our individual gut biome we are discovering how much the bacteria in there plays a role in our overall health and mood.

It is a great treatment for people with digestive issues that otherwise prevent them from absorbing the nutrients in their food. Picture: iStock

The famous ‘Myers’ cocktail’ for post parties and perhaps too much alcohol is the most popular IV mixture of vitamins and minerals, named after the doctor who first administered the treatment in the 1970s: John Myers.

The Myers’ cocktail includes:

• 2-5ml magnesium

• 1-3ml calcium

• 1ml vitamin B6

• 1ml vitamin B12

• 1ml vitamin B5

• 1ml vitamin B complex

• 4-20ml vitamin C

The famous ‘Myers’ cocktail’ is known to be taken after parties and perhaps too much alcohol. Picture: iStock

It has slowly crept outside the acute hospital setting into more broader practice. My recommendation is that you only receive IV Therapy if it’s provided by or designed and prescribed by a real doctor. They can make sure your IV Therapy only has the nutrients you need – although this is just my opinion and the practice really isn’t an issue if it is a ‘one-off’.

Generally, in my practice I am happy for patients to have ongoing occasional IVs with lots of different vitamins (ie a personalised cocktail) if they have had their bloods taken so that I know they’re not being overloaded. I have an IV every few months generally as I travel a lot, work out, am around lots of people who could be contagious and because I want to stay perky and healthy. Some other good reasons for seeing a doctor, having your bloods taken and potentially having an IV occasionally are:

• You’ve been unwell with a virus or around people who are

• You’re feeling run down without a good reason

• You need to boost your low energy levels

• You’ve been working a lot and going on holidays and want to reduce your chances of getting sick

A heavy partying culture in Bali means the IV drip is popular among tourists. Picture: iStock

Australians in Bali love to book in the bedside IV drip after a heavy night of drinking. It is known famously as a hangover cure. The hydration effect is why people believe it fixes hangovers, however it can be quite dangerous. Vitamin toxicity may occur as a result, depending on how many vitamins and minerals are already in your bloodstream.

It would be safe to assume the health professionals in Bali aren’t running blood tests and ensuring you are safe to receive IV therapy. They may exceed the recommended daily intake of vitamins and nutrients. In this case, your kidneys will work overtime to eliminate the unnecessary vitamins and minerals in your body, but toxicity may still pose a threat if the kidneys are overwhelmed. Don’t forget the risk of infection as well.

For example, a high dose of vitamin C may increase your risk of kidney stones. Not a fabulous souvenir to take home with you!

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Dr Zac Turner has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney. He is both a medical practitioner and a co-owner of telehealth service, Concierge Doctors. He was also a registered nurse and is a qualified and experienced biomedical scientist along with being a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering.