Intravenous & Subcutaneous Saline for POTS

Living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) often means navigating complex symptoms. We're pleased to offer both IV and subcutaneous fluid therapy at Biio, providing immediate symptom relief and valuable diagnostic insights for your POTS journey.

Many POTS patients experience hypovolemia (low blood volume), which can trigger symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and increased heart rate upon standing. While oral fluid intake is crucial, some patients benefit significantly from periodic fluid therapy, especially during challenging periods or weather changes.

Benefits of Fluid Therapy

1. Symptom Relief

• Rapid improvement in orthostatic tolerance
• Enhanced energy levels
• Better cognitive function
• Particularly beneficial during warmer weather when symptoms often intensify
• Helps combat blood pooling and maintain stable blood pressure

2. Diagnostic Insights

• Your response to fluid therapy provides valuable information about your POTS subtype
• Strong improvement suggests hypovolemic POTS may be a primary factor
• Limited response might indicate other mechanisms like neuropathic or hyperadrenergic POTS
• These insights help us refine your long-term treatment strategy

3. Bridge Therapy

Research demonstrates IV saline functions as an effective "bridge therapy" for patients with high symptomatic severity. The authors of the 2017 study suggest that "the relief experienced after the IV infusions may have allowed the POTS patients to increase their activity levels, which then allowed them to improve further," supporting its role as a transitional treatment enabling patients to engage in other therapeutic approaches.

Two Fluid Therapy Options

Intravenous (IV) Fluid Therapy

Direct infusion of fluids into the bloodstream in our clinic setting, providing fast symptom relief that typically lasts a few days to a week. The procedure takes about 30 minutes in most cases.

Subcutaneous Fluid Therapy

A gentle, at-home alternative that delivers fluids gradually through a small needle placed under the skin.

Subcutaneous fluid therapy is particularly valuable for patients with chronic hypovolemia who need consistent fluid support. This approach involves:

1. Initial Setup: Our team fits you with a small subcutaneous needle/port
2. Take-Home Solution: You'll receive saline bags and supplies for home use
3. Gradual Infusion: Fluids are slowly absorbed over 3-4 days
4. Comfort & Convenience: Less invasive than IV therapy and can be managed around your schedule
5. Independence: After proper training, you can administer treatments at home

This option provides steady symptom relief with fewer clinic visits, making it ideal for patients with consistent hypovolemia who benefit from regular fluid support.

The Research

Clinical evidence supports the effectiveness of fluid therapy for POTS patients. A notable study by Ruzieh et al. (2017) demonstrated significant improvements in patient functionality with intermittent intravenous fluids. In this study of 53 POTS patients, IV fluids significantly decreased symptoms in 93% of participants, leading to meaningful improvements in quality of life. Most patients reported immediate relief that lasted several days.

The research suggests intravenous hydration may be an ideal bridge therapy to allow the implementation of longer-term interventions in highly symptomatic patients. Encouragingly, 44% of participants weaned themselves from IV fluids in three months or less, and 94% had weaned themselves within six months. While four participants experienced symptom relapse and required additional IV hydration, their average frequency of infusion was lower during treatment of the flare (Ruzieh et al. 2017).

Is Fluid Therapy Right for You?

Fluid therapy may be particularly beneficial if you:

• Experience significant symptom fluctuations with weather changes
• Have persistent symptoms despite oral fluid intake
• Show signs of hypovolemia (excessive thirst, reduced urinary output, low blood pressure)
• Need additional support during symptom flares
• Benefit from IV fluids but find frequent clinic visits challenging (subcutaneous option)

How to Get Started

Express your interest using our contact form below. A member of our friendly support team will be in touch to discuss which fluid therapy option might be most appropriate for your situation and to book your initial consultation.