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Sitting on a small, red couch in the middle of the Time Out New York office, I found myself preparing for an IV Drip that would supposedly cure my throbbing hangover. “Hook me up,” I said, leaning back and hoping to be transported to a world where last night’s rounds of gin martinis were but a beautiful dream.
Over the past year, IV Drips have become an increasingly popular hangover remedy for hard-partying New Yorkers with day jobs (or at the very least, weekend brunch plans). Customers pay up to $300 for a nurse to swing by their apartment or office with a bag full of vitamin-infused saline, a small needle, some numbing spray and, possibly, salvation from the foggy throes of a morning after. The entire process takes about 30-45 minutes.
So in the name of research, I went out last night and had enough cocktails to knock out a small elephant (Thanks, Night of Joy! Sorry, everyone whose drink I spilled while dancing to "Uptown Funk"). This morning at work, I was greeted by Donald and Claudia, two friendly nurses from REVIV, the newest addition to NYC's IV drip scene. REVIV launched “IV Hydration” and “Booster Shots” services in December, and will start offering in-spa services at Fluid Water Therapy on March 1.
As he unpacked his kit, Donald ran through a list of questions to make sure that I was medically sound enough for him to work his hangover magic. Did I have any medical allergies? No. Was I on any medication? No. What did I have to drink last night? Half a bottle of prosecco, three gin martinis and some whiskey. Was that a normal amount of alcohol for me? Depends on who's buying. Just kidding, Donald. No. No, it's not.
Then Claudia ran down my IV infusion options like they were seasonal specials at an organic, farm-to-table restaurant. Because I was suffering from fatigue and a headache, she recommended the Megaboost Vitamin Infusion treatment ($129 +150 travel fee). If I was also dealing with extreme nausea (if only!) she said the Royal Flush ($219 +150 travel fee) would have been my best bet.
A minute later, my sleeve was rolled up, my arm had been sprayed with cool numbing spray and a catheter had been inserted with some slight pressure but barely any pain. As I got used to my hot new accessory, Donald explained how my liver had been so busy dealing with the alcohol I'd bathed myself in last night, it hadn't dealt with the other the toxins in my body (livers can't multitask for shit). That little yellow bag of fluid was going to be the superfund to my arteries' Gowanus Canal.
And turns out, it worked. The fog in my head started to lift after a couple minutes, and I almost immediately found it easier to concentrate. Claudia told me it's fine to move around (they just unhook you if you need to go to the bathroom), so I wheeled myself to my desk like someone who had really, really run out of sick days. Then, Donald and I walked over to the break room. It was take your hangover nurse to work day.
Twenty minutes in, I felt more energetic and my headache had greatly improved. By the time Donald was ready to take the IV out, I felt like I could function again. If I'd started out at a 4, by the end of the IV drip I was probably a 7. You'll have to decide if that's worth the cost for you. In any case, it definitely beat a bacon, egg and cheese.
