{"id":37527,"date":"2026-10-22T12:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T16:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/?p=37527"},"modified":"2026-10-22T12:20:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T16:20:33","slug":"iv-hydration-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/iv-hydration-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Can IV Hydration Therapy Help You Sleep Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s safe to assume we\u2019ve all heard the old adage about drinking eight glasses of water a day. While drinking water throughout the day<\/a> is important for overall health and hydration, we\u2019re most concerned about sleeping through the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In certain cases, IV hydration therapy can help with just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink of hydration as your body\u2019s sleep thermostat,\u201d says Greg Jones<\/a>, board-certified naturopathic physician and founder and medical director of Enovative Wellness Center<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the deal: When you\u2019ve had enough hydration, your body has what it needs to regulate temperature, circulate blood, and keep things running smoothly while you sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But when you\u2019re dehydrated, that thermostat can start acting glitchy,” says Jones. “IV fluids allow hydration to go directly into the bloodstream, which can be especially useful when someone is unable to drink enough water or needs quick medical treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what’s the connection between IV hydration therapy and sleep, exactly? Ahead, we\u2019ll explore everything you need to know about IV hydration and how it can impact your Z\u2019s. Talk about H2Whoa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is IV hydration therapy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ever been in an emergency room or stayed overnight in a hospital, chances are you\u2019ve gotten an IV. IV hydration therapy is exactly what it sounds like\u2014aka hydration through an IV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, of course, it\u2019s a little more technical than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIV hydration therapy puts fluid and other nutrients directly into a vein through a small, flexible catheter, usually in the arm,\u201d explains Andrea Colon<\/a>, licensed naturopathic doctor and founder of RECLAIM Integrative Medicine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The base fluid is typically saline or lactated Ringer\u2019s with electrolytes. A hydration drip can be between 500 milliliters to 1 liter, with treatments lasting between 30 to 60 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While drinking water is obviously great for staying hydrated, IV hydration can work more quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you drink water, it has to move through your stomach and be absorbed through your intestines before it reaches your bloodstream,\u201d says Colon. \u201cAn IV skips that entirely, so the fluid is available to your body right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be especially ideal for people who are severely dehydrated after extreme sickness or other activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink of IV hydration therapy as giving your body a hydration boost without having to chug several glasses of water,\u201d explains Jones. \u201cIt can be a helpful option if someone is feeling depleted from things like illness, intense exercise, travel, heat, or just not getting enough fluids.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How dehydration disrupts your sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s pretty much nothing worse than not being able to sleep through the night, and dehydration can be a severe culprit for interrupted Z\u2019s. Not to mention, dehydration and bad sleep are a vicious cycle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDehydration can make sleep worse, and short sleep can make dehydration worse,\u201d says Colon.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, a 2019 study from Penn State<\/a> found that people who slept around six hours a night had up to 59 percent higher odds of being dehydrated over people who slept eight hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colon points to the hormone vasopressin, which \u201ctells your kidneys to hold on to water overnight,\u201d she says. \u201cMuch of it is released later in the sleep cycle, so when you cut sleep short, you miss part of that signal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, according to Jones, dehydration overnight can affect more than just your kidneys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou may feel warmer or more uncomfortable at night, wake up thirsty, or experience things like headaches<\/a>, dry mouth<\/a>, or muscle cramps<\/a>,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can IV hydration therapy improve sleep quality?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is, yes\u2014but with some caveats. While IV hydration is helpful for\u2014you guessed it\u2014hydration, it isn\u2019t a complete cure-all for a night of better sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, here are some ways it can help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast fluid replacement for severe dehydration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you find yourself feeling severely dehydrated after a stomach bug or intense workout, you may benefit from IV hydration therapy since it enters the bloodstream directly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI see it make a difference in someone who is truly depleted,\u201d says Colon. She points out the following cases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n