‘Real treatment’ IV drip clinics boom in Russia as ordinary people seek quick fixes for fatigue, stress, and more
IV infusions have emerged as a health fad in recent years, promising quick fixes for common yet nebulous ailments like stress and fatigue. Touted by celebrities and influencers, what once seemed like a niche trend for wealthy, wellness-obsessed Westerners has taken off in Russia in a big way. IV clinics are now among the country’s most profitable franchise businesses, despite the fact that there’s little medical evidence to back up the treatments on offer. Meduza explains what’s behind Russia’s drip clinic boom and why IV infusions are more marketing than medicine.
In 2025, Forbes Russia added a new entry to its list of the country’s most profitable franchise businesses: IV drip clinics. These centers offer a single core service — intravenous infusions marketed as quick fixes for everything from weight loss and glowing skin to improved immunity, better cognitive function, relief from stress and fatigue, and even erectile dysfunction.
The idea isn’t new. IV therapy has long been popular abroad among celebrities and wellness influencers. Now, the trend is booming among ordinary Russians.
The standard IV drip formula on offer includes a cocktail of vitamins and minerals. But some clinics go further, offering infusions that contain additional compounds such as hepatoprotectors (substances marketed as a way to protect and restore liver function), nootropics (said to enhance brain performance), metabolism boosters (often described as “heart health” supplements), and immunostimulants.
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Popularity notwithstanding, there’s no evidence that these IV drips actually work. Vitamin and mineral supplements are only effective when there’s a specific deficiency that’s been properly diagnosed. Fatigue or mental fog alone aren’t indicators of a particular vitamin shortage.
Even when a deficiency is present, simply infusing someone with vitamins isn’t a sound approach. The problem might stem from an underlying illness that requires diagnosis and treatment. And if the cause is an unbalanced diet, an infusion won’t address the broader nutritional gaps.
As for the other substances commonly found in these commercial drips, the vast majority lack proven effectiveness and aren’t used in countries with advanced healthcare systems.
Some of the IV cocktails on offer even have contradictory ingredients. For example, some formulas include both meldonium — which, according to manufacturers, reduces carnitine levels — and carnitine itself. This pairing may simply reflect the popularity of both substances, with no thought given to how they actually interact.
That said, the popularity of IV drips in Russia likely has little to do with how well they work. At the heart of their appeal is the promise of a magic fix — a silver bullet that could relieve stress or restore energy with minimal effort.
Some of the allure may also stem from the aura of effectiveness that surrounds the delivery method itself. “I often get requests about IV drips,” oncologist Alexey Ilyukhov told Pro Palliativ, an educational initiative run by the hospice charity Vera Foundation. “There are a lot of myths around IVs,” he continued.
One of them is the idea that the more complex the treatment, the more effective it must be. After all, it’s easier to take a pill than to get an intravenous drug. There’s also this perception that if a doctor prescribes IV drips, it means they care more — because that’s a “real treatment.”
But just because IV drips are likely ineffective doesn’t mean they’re harmless. In medicine, doctors generally prefer other ways of delivering drugs whenever possible. Swallowing a pill, for example, is painless and avoids the risks associated with intravenous treatment — like bruising, inflammation, or infection.
Doctors need a clear medical reason for using an IV. It might be an emergency where fast action is essential, or a case where the patient is vomiting and can’t keep anything down. But in many other situations, there’s no real need to pierce a vein.
