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How Long Does IV Vitamin C Stay in Your System?

By Brandon Lang
Updated November 10, 2024

Different minerals and vitamins have unique properties which determine how the body metabolizes them and the absorption rate. While some are fat-soluble, others, such as Vitamin C, are water-soluble, meaning they are dissolved in water and don’t stay in the system long. But what about when the vitamin gets administered through IV therapy? Does the same thing apply? Have you asked yourself how long does IV Vitamin C stay in your system?

Continue reading to learn all about the lifespan of the vitamin in your body and whether IV Vitamin C therapy is the ideal solution for you.

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Adisak Riwkratok

How Long Does IV Vitamin C Stay in Your System

So, how long does IV Vitamin C stay in your system? Generally, Vitamin C may remain in your system for up to three weeks after getting an IV therapy. 

Oxidative stress may play a big role in how quickly Vitamin C will be used or the lifespan of the vitamin in the body. Oxidative stress is a free radical imbalance of antioxidants in the body and dictates how much of the vitamin is used. When you are sick, the level of oxidative stress is higher, and thus, the utilization of Vitamin C may be higher.

With the advancement in technology, you could get a mobile vitamin IV drip AZ every month or after Vitamin C’s levels significantly drop in your system.

Metabolism and Excretion of IV Vitamin C

When IV Vitamin C is administered, it bypasses the digestive system and goes directly into the bloodstream. The vitamin is transported to various tissues, participating in numerous biochemical reactions. Vitamin C is a cofactor for enzymatic reactions, especially those related to neurotransmitter production, collagen synthesis, and antioxidant defense.

After completing its metabolic role, Vitamin C is excreted from the body, first through the kidneys and then through the urine. The kidneys filter the Vitamin from the blood and then excrete it in the urine. However, the excretion rate may depend on several factors, such as the dose, health status, and kidney functions.

Half-life of IV Vitamin C

In order to know the half-life of Vitamin C, you need to familiarize yourself with the term half-life. So, what does the half-life of vitamins mean? Generally speaking, the half-life of a vitamin or drug is a parameter defined as the time required for the drug’s plasma concentration or total body amount to decrease by 50%. After one half-life, the concentration of the vitamin in the body will be half of the initial dose.

Thus, the half-life of Vitamin C in the bloodstream is approximately 30 minutes, meaning that the concentration levels of the vitamin decrease by about half every half hour. The amount of time it takes to process and excrete depends on the factors we indicated above in the text, but it is usually between 12 and 24 hours.

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Numstocker

Duration of Effects

Although the procedure of administering IV therapy takes 30 to 60 minutes, patients may continue to feel the benefits of IV therapy about three to four days after treatment. However, diet, metabolism, age, lifestyle, and the overall health of a person all influence the duration of the effects of Vitamin C.

For some, the effects may be felt immediately after the procedure, such as increased energy level, relief of symptoms, or improved mood, while others may need to wait a bit for the effects to kick in. Such effects may last from several hours to several days.

Conclusion

So, how long does IV Vitamin C stay in your system? Is the length the same for everyone or varies based on the individual’s body needs? From what you can see, IV Vitamin C therapy stays elevated for three weeks in your system. However, factors such as health status, age, metabolic processes, diet, etc., all determine the effectiveness and lifespan of Vitamin C. If you decide on such a treatment, it is best to consult with an infusion specialist about the course of the procedure, benefits, and potential side effects.

Brandon Lang, MSN, RN

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer

Brandon Lang started his healthcare career working on an ambulance as an EMT at just 19 years old in Los Angeles, CA. He transitioned into a new-grad program in the ICU and then into the ER, ultimately working over 14 years in the ER. Toward the end of his ER tenure, Brandon also worked as a critical care transport (CCT) RN in Southern CA for approximately 2 years while pursuing his dream of becoming a flight nurse and working on a helicopter. He became a flight nurse in 2001 and served communities in AZ and CA in the air medical industry for over 17 years.

Brandon’s “why” in all of this is his relationship with Christ as the foundation in all he does, his amazing wife of over 23 years and their six children. Brandon knows that helping build both Haggai Healthcare and The Drip IV Infusion would not be possible without an amazing group of professionals around him. He is incredibly grateful for a team whose values align believing that if they take great care of their team, the team in turn will take amazing care of the patients and clients to which they have the honor of providing health services.

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