The Myers' Cocktail is the best-known vitamin and mineral IV formula in integrative practice. It is named after Dr. John Myers, a Baltimore physician who used intravenous nutrients in his practice, and it was later popularized by Dr. Alan Gaby. Formulas vary from clinic to clinic, but the core is always the same.
The core ingredients
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) — a water-soluble antioxidant and the largest ingredient by weight.
- B vitamins — thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), nicotinamide (B3), pantothenate (B5), pyridoxine (B6) and B12, cofactors in energy metabolism.
- Magnesium — a cofactor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions; usually as chloride or sulfate.
- Trace minerals — zinc and selenium in most modern versions; some add chromium and copper.
Conquer Pharma's premix, by the numbers
Each 50 mL vial of Myers' Cocktail Premix contains vitamin C 7.5 g, magnesium chloride 1.6 g, calcium pantothenate 500 mg, pyridoxine 250 mg, nicotinamide 250 mg, thiamine 150 mg, riboflavin 25 mg, zinc 5 mg, magnesium sulfate 5 mg, hydroxocobalamin 200 mcg, selenium 25 mcg, chromium 4 mcg and copper 0.5 mcg.
Why clinics use a premix
Building a Myers' bag from separate vials means six to ten punctures, six to ten labels to check and as many chances for an error. A premix puts the whole formula in one vial with every concentration printed on the label. Preparation is faster, infusions are consistent and inventory is simpler. For high-volume clinics, the premix comes in 6 and 12-vial bundles.
Before the first infusion
- Patient history, medication review and vital signs.
- Kidney function, because vitamin C and magnesium are cleared by the kidneys.
- A G6PD screen before higher doses of vitamin C.
- Infusion rate adjusted to the patient: magnesium infused too fast commonly causes warmth and flushing.
Some protocols add separate vials — zinc, extra magnesium or a glutathione push afterwards. Those decisions belong to the treating professional.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Injectable products are for professional use under the direction of a licensed healthcare provider.