Short list, and every item on it exists because leaving it out causes a specific problem. Eating matters most, the medication list matters second, and the rest is comfort. Ten minutes of preparation makes the difference between an easy hour and a slightly awkward one.
Eat a proper meal. Not a snack, not nothing, and definitely do not fast for it. An empty stomach is the single most common reason people feel light-headed during an infusion and it is entirely avoidable. Drink normally through the day as well.
Write down every medication and supplement you take, including things you consider too minor to mention. Over-the-counter reflux medication, a multivitamin, a herbal supplement: all of those have changed what went into someone's line at some point.
Wear something with a sleeve that rolls up easily or comes off. Pick where you will sit and make sure it is comfortable for an hour. See what to expect and at-home visits. The rest sits in iv therapy guides.
The checklist
At intake
What to tell your nurse, without being asked
Everything you take
Prescriptions, over-the-counter medication and supplements. Diuretics, blood pressure medication, blood thinners and lithium all matter, and so do things you would not think of as medication.
Conditions, even managed ones
Kidney or heart conditions, blood pressure, diabetes, anything affecting how your body handles fluid. A well-managed condition is still information your nurse needs.
Allergies and past reactions
Including reactions to medications, foods and anything given by injection before. A previous reaction changes what is appropriate more than almost anything else.
How you feel today
Not just your history. Feeling unwell, having skipped meals, or having had a bad night all change the picture and may change the rate or the blend.
Practical
Small things that make the hour easier
Decide which arm you want free. If you plan to work, read or scroll, say so and your nurse will use the other one. People forget to mention this and then spend an hour unable to do the thing they planned around.
Have a blanket within reach. The cool sensation along the arm is common and a blanket handles it better than turning the heating up. Have water nearby too, because you can drink normally throughout.
What to eat, what to wear, what to say and what to have ready.
Yes, a proper meal rather than a snack, and do not fast for it. An empty stomach is the single most common reason people feel light-headed during an infusion, and it is completely avoidable.
Something with a sleeve that rolls up easily or comes off. That is the only requirement. Comfortable clothing for sitting an hour helps but is not essential.
Every medication and supplement you take including minor ones, any conditions even well-managed ones, all allergies and past reactions, and how you feel today rather than only your history.
Take them as normal unless a clinician has told you otherwise. Have the list ready rather than trying to recall it at the door, because that is where things get missed.
Whichever suits, and you get a say. If you plan to work or read, say which arm you want free before the line goes in rather than after.
About ninety minutes for a standard drip: the infusion is 45 to 60 minutes and the rest is intake, setup and packing out. A vitamin shot is much shorter.
