Medical experts warn against unsupervised home IV therapy

Medical professionals are issuing urgent warnings regarding the rising trend of individuals ordering intravenous (IV) fluids, often referred to as ‘yellow serum’ or ‘atom,’ for use at home. As viral and bacterial infections increase during the autumn season, many people are bypassing hospitals to purchase serums from pharmacies or via home healthcare services.

Experts, including Prof. Dr. Mehmet Mahir Atasoy and Dr. Fatma Özenç Turşak, emphasize that administering IV treatments outside of a clinical setting poses severe health risks, such as sudden allergic reactions that require immediate medical intervention. Some services even allow users to add vitamins to these infusions without a prescription.

During the 7th Functional Medicine Congress, specialists recommended focusing on preventive health and functional nutrition. Nutritionist Yeşim Temel Özcan suggested that instead of risky home infusions, individuals should support their immune systems through healthy dietary choices, such as consuming bone and meat broths, alongside maintaining quality sleep and exercise habits.