IV fluid is not inherently harmful. However, it contains large amounts of just a few ingredients. Many have heard the common saying that too much of anything isn't good for you. The Liquid IV FAQ page recommends one serving per day.
While there probably won't be any harm in consuming more than one serving in a short period of time, we don't recommend doing so because consuming significant amounts of added sugar can be harmful to your health. If I had to choose a commercial electrolyte drink, I would prefer the taste of Gatorade to that of Liquid IV. Liquid IV is a healthier option than Pedialyte because it contains no artificial flavors or colors. Liquid IV offers tremendous benefits to athletes who lose electrolytes through sweat and for relieving a hangover the next day, not to mention any other hydration-related issues you may have.
The only Liquid IV product that contains caffeine is Liquid IV Energy Multiplier, which contains 100 mg of caffeine per serving. Therefore, after two servings of Liquid IV in one day, you are exceeding the UL and you may experience unwanted symptoms. Either way, for the average healthy adult, the 370 mg of potassium in Liquid IV will bring nothing but benefits. Intravenous fluid is likely to improve hangover symptoms because some of the discomfort of a hangover is due to dehydration.
But what does Liquid IV actually contain? Is the formulation healthy or not? We'll discuss it in the next section. Liquid IV is based on ORS, so it has been shown to be effective in treating clinical dehydration and, although it contains added sugar, it does not contain highly questionable additives, such as artificial colors and artificial sweeteners. For example, a 6-ounce steak contains 12 mg of niacin, combined with 22.8 mg of Liquid IV to obtain 34.8 mg of the 35 mg of UL. We recommend using a powdered electrolyte without sugar or flavorings, such as LMNT, to treat hangover symptoms (or just water) instead of Liquid IV.
