Myers’ Cocktail is a formula of intravenous vitamins and minerals that was pioneered by the late Dr. John Myers, MD. Many of his patients who found relief with these infusions sought continued treatments from Alan R. Gaby, MD, a renowned nutritional medicine expert who became one of the major proponents of this treatment. Working with these patients, Dr. Gaby found that Dr. Myers had been successful in treating a surprisingly large number of clinical conditions with this nutrient infusion. The “Cocktail” includes magnesium, calcium, B-vitamins (including B-12), and Vitamin C and is given by a slow IV push or slow infusion to achieve concentrations of nutrients that are not obtainable with oral administration.
For certain patients, this treatment can be seen as a multivitamin administered directly into the bloodstream. If patients have difficulty digesting food or for another reason do not receive full benefit from taking vitamin pills, they may respond well to an IV nutritional regimen. For other patients, this therapy provides a targeted treatment for a variety of medical conditions.
Dr. Gaby’s clinical experience with over 15,000 infusions of Myers’ Cocktail has suggested that it can be clinically effective against:
- Acute Asthma Attacks
- Migraines
- Fatigue (including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
- Fibromyalgia
- Acute Muscle Spasms
- Colds
- Chronic Sinusitis
- Seasonal Allergies
- Chronic Depression
- Anxiety
A recent randomized controlled study conducted by Yale investigators evaluated the effect of the Myers’ Cocktail on patients with fibromyalgia. They found that weekly infusions led to clinically significant improvement in tender points, pain, depression, and quality of life directly following treatment, with sustained improvement even after four weeks from the last infusion, but the results did not achieve statistical significance in this study.
Safety
Myers’ Cocktail uses vitamins and minerals that have known nutritional benefits and low potential for serious side effects. Patients who receive treatments may experience a sensation of heat, which is likely due to magnesium. Magnesium may also cause lower blood pressure with lightheadedness if administered too rapidly. Some patients, such as those taking digoxin, should avoid treatment and a physician’s evaluation is needed to ensure its safety.
References:
- Gaby A (2002). “Intravenous nutrient therapy: the “Myers’ Cocktail””. Alternative Medicine Review. 7 (5): 389–403.
- Ali, A; Njike, VY, et al. (2009). “Intravenous Micronutrient Therapy (Myers’ Cocktail) for Fibromyalgia: A Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study“. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 15 (3): 247–25.