IV Drug Infusion Therapy FAQs

Medical Author: Maureen Welker, MSN, NPc, CCRN
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• Introduction
• What are some of the conditions that are treated with an IV drug infusion?
• How do I prepare for the infusion?
• What are some things I can do to pass the time while receiving therapy?
• What happens during and after the infusion?

Introduction

You have been informed by your healthcare provider that you will need to receive intravenous (IV) infusions of a medication to treat your health condition.

What are some of the conditions that are treated with an IV drug infusion?

Examples of conditions treated with IV infusion include:

• Ankylosing spondylitis
  
  
• Behcet's disease
  
  
• Cancer
  
  
• Common variable immunodeficiency
  
  
• Crohn's disease
  
  
• Dermatomyositis
  
  
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
  
  
• Iritis
  
  
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
  
  
• Multiple sclerosis
  
  
• Osteoporosis
  
  
• Pemphigus
  
  
• Psoriasis
  
  
• Psoriatic arthritis
  
  
• Rheumatoid arthritis
  
  
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  
  
• Ulcerative colitis
  
  
• Wegener's granulomatosis

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes chronic joint inflammation, which has symptoms that include stiffness, fever, muscle and joint aches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis incorporates the use of first-line drugs (aspirin and corticosteroids for pain and inflammation) and second-line drugs (methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine to prevent joint destruction and promote remission). Source:MedicineNet Crohn's Disease - Learn about Crohn's Disease and the causes, symptoms (including abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, rectal bleeding, and more) and treatment of this chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. Source:MedicineNet Lupus - Get information on lupus (SLE) disease treatment, signs, diagnosis, types of symptoms (butterfly, discoid rash), causes (genetic), pregnancy flares and statistics. Source:MedicineNet Read 20 more IV Drug Infusion FAQs related articles ... Health Tip: Traveling During Pregnancy Health Tip: Keeping the Caregiver Healthy Lowering Dietary Fat May Help Prevent Prostate Cancer Acne Drug Prevents Tissue Damage From Emphysema Hot Flashes Reduced by Neck Injection Health Highlights: May 15, 2008 Embryonic Pathways Induce Stem Cell Traits New Laser Approved to Treat Psoriasis Genes Play Part in Prostate Cancer Among Races Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Dry Dog Food