A Boost in a Bag
New Hampshire sees an infusion of IV vitamin therapy clinics
Post-holiday sniffles, darker days and frosty temperatures can leave you feeling more fatigued than usual. Now, there’s a drip for that.
Once known as a hangover cure or a recovery solution for depleted athletes, wellness clinics offering intravenous vitamin infusion therapy are popping up throughout the Granite State.
IV vitamin infusion therapy, also known as IV hydration therapy, delivers vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to your bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) drip.
“The best form of absorption, of whether it be fluid or vitamins, is going to be through IV therapy, says Mariah Frisella, owner of Origin Wellness in Manchester. “It’s bypassing your gut completely. It’s 100% bioavailable to you.”
Vitamin-packed infusions can help boost your immune system, relax your muscles and help you feel better, says Candace Byrnes, owner of The DRIPBaR franchise in Portsmouth, now beginning its third year of operation.
“We’re not trying to replace doctors,” she says. “We’re helping people stay well before they get sick.”
Byrnes has a 20-year background in wellness and franchising. During the pandemic, she left a franchise development role at Planet Fitness and was recruited by The DRIPBaR corporate office to help grow the brand — which has grown to 100 locations. After experiencing a drip, she was hooked on the benefits of IV vitamin therapy.
“I believed in the business, but I hadn’t tried it myself. I’m needle-nervous, but I finally went to our Newport, Rhode Island, location for my first infusion — and it was the most wonderful experience ever,” she says.
Frisella, a former registered nurse with experience in critical care, family practice, and orthopedic surgery, opened her first Origin Wellness location about four years ago. That location, in Hooksett, closed earlier this year. She currently operates in space inside the Executive Health and Sports Center in Manchester, where she offers IV drips and other wellness services.
“I’ve personally been a big, big fan of IV therapy for a number of years, but I was struggling to find anywhere (I could go) in New Hampshire,” she says.
Are Drips Safe? How it Works
In New Hampshire, clinics that offer IV vitamin therapy are not required to be owned or operated by a physician, and any licensed medical professional, including a medical assistant with doctor supervision, can administer IV vitamin therapy.
A typical drip session involves inserting a small catheter into a vein (usually in the arm) and infusing a sterile saline solution mixed with nutrients such as vitamin C, B-complex or B12 vitamins, magnesium or zinc. Generally, registered nurses or medical providers administer treatments. Infusions take 30 to 45 minutes to complete — quick enough to fit into a customer’s lunch hour.
The DRIPBaR’s proprietary vitamin formulas have been created and approved by the company’s medical professionals, Byrnes says, adding that each franchise has access to the corporate office’s medical team. At the Portsmouth location, each drip is carefully mixed in a sterile hood.
“We’re dealing with needles, so there’s no room for error,” Byrnes says. “Our nurses and paramedics are incredibly skilled — they make sure every client has the best experience possible.”
Origin Wellness also works closely with clients and employs a nurse practitioner who serves as its medical director. She reviews patient questionnaires and medical records and can prescribe medications to be added to vitamin formulations, if needed, Frisella says.
Owners of businesses that administer IV infusion therapy must follow strict guidelines to ensure their clients remain safe.
“You need to be following regulations on when vials were opened, and how many additives can be mixed into one bag at one time,” she says. “Are there any cross interactions with allergies or medications?”
What’s on the Menu
Customers can choose from a variety of combinations, depending upon what ails them. The DRIPBaR advertises several “lifestyle drips,” most of which cost $199 each.
The “Shield” is an immune booster that includes vitamin C, zinc and B vitamins. The “Flu Fighter” is a high-dose vitamin C and zinc drip for people with an active illness.
Once you’ve recovered from your cold, the “Post-Viral” drip can help you get back to snuff. Other products include the “Powerpack,” with B vitamins for energy, and the “Soother,” which includes magnesium for relaxation and muscle recovery.
Individuals preparing for or recovering from surgery can opt for special drips. These “Health Support Drips” vary in pricing, according to the franchise’s brochure.
Origin Wellness’s IV infusion prices are about the same as The DRIP BaR’s. Frisella says her clientele represents a mix of people, including high school and college athletes, and people who need hydration or migraine support.
“If you come to us for a migraine treatment, it’s going to be $200, versus going to your ER and running that through insurance.”
Can IV vitamin drips actually prevent you from getting the common cold? The results are inconclusive, according to a recent article written by Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, senior faculty editor at Harvard Health Publishing, who concluded, “Studies looking at various supplements for colds and other similar infections have been mixed at best.”
Still, a recent study published in 2025, titled, “To IV or Not to IV: The Science Behind Intravenous Vitamin Therapy,” suggests that the delivery mechanism provided by IV vitamin therapy is particularly beneficial for patients with impaired nutrient absorption, including those with gastrointestinal issues or patients who’ve undergone bariatric weight loss surgery.
Although there are skeptics, Frisella says many people can benefit from IV vitamin infusions.
“A lot of what we see in mainstream medicine today is maybe just pill pushing or prescriptions being given when, if we really look deeper, maybe all they need is some vitamins,” she says. “Maybe they need more hydration, magnesium, or B12. B12 is actually a better antidepressant than Prozac, and there’s tons of studies out there showing that.”
Byrnes says she’s seen firsthand the impact of IV vitamin therapy has had on people struggling to recover from serious illnesses.
“We had a woman who came in after brain surgery. She couldn’t sit up in a chair,” Byrnes says. Over a few months, working with our doctors, she was back to traveling again. That’s what keeps me going.”
From boutique wellness studios to full-service clinics, IV vitamin continues to grow in popularity across New Hampshire.
Origin Wellness – Manchester
Confident Med Spa – Seabrook, Epping, Rochester, Amherst • confidentmedspa.com
Hydropeutics – Manchester (also offers mobile IV across NH) • hydropeutics.com
Prime IV Hydration & Wellness – Salem primeivhydration.com
Remedy Med Spa – Nashua • remedy-nh.com
