Pediatric infusion therapy

What is pediatric infusion therapy?

Infusion therapy uses medicines, vitamins or minerals and other nutrients to relieve pain and promote health without the need for opioid pain medicines. During infusion therapy, you or your child may receive nutraceuticals (including fluids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients) or medicines through an IV, placed in the arm. The medicines or nutrients are infused straight into the bloodstream so they can reach cells throughout the body quickly.

• The medicines can help reduce pain from causes like chronic migraines or cancer treatment. 

• Nutraceuticals can also help with common causes of pain, including sports injuries.

• They can also help improve energy, promote a healthy immune system, and boost rapid recovery from dehydration. 

We customize you or your child’s infusion based on needs.

What are the benefits of pediatric infusion therapy?

After infusion therapy, you or your child should experience less pain. For instance, medicines can help stop migraines during the infusion appointment and keep pain away after the appointment. Because chronic pain is associated with depression, anxiety and fatigue in children, you might find that your child feels happier after their infusion.

Nutraceuticals can also help boost you or your child’s energy level. Athletes, including student athletes, might find that nutraceuticals help them perform at a higher level or heal after a sports injury.

What are the side effects of pediatric infusion therapy?

Nutraceutical infusion therapy has rare and minor side effects. You or your child might experience side effects like leg cramps or nausea after infusions, but these should go away within a day or two and shouldn’t impact activities. If nausea becomes severe, nausea medicine can be added to you or your child’s next infusion to prevent this side effect. 

In general, the side effects of medication infusion therapy will vary based on the medication given. Clinic staff can provide more details during your visit.

What are the risks of pediatric infusion therapy?

Some infused medicines can react with other medicines you or your child takes. Our clinic nurse will talk to you about any medicines being taken to make sure it is safe to get an infusion.

Nutraceutical infusions are very safe but have a rare risk of an allergic reaction. Our clinic nurse will talk to you about any allergies before giving the infusion treatment. If you or your child feels any discomfort or itching during the infusion, tell your nurse right away.

With any infusion, there is a small risk of infection where the needle is placed in the arm. We follow the highest standards of safety to prevent infections.

What can I expect with pediatric infusion therapy?

We offer infusion therapy in a relaxing and comfortable environment so you or your child feels welcome and at ease. We also want you or your child to know what to expect, to reduce any nervousness about the treatment.

What can I expect before pediatric infusion therapy?

You don’t need to take any extra steps to prepare for infusion therapy. You or your child will be offered medicine to numb the skin. If the needle is uncomfortable at all, please let your nurse know so they can move it into a more comfortable position. If your child is coming in for an infusion but is not agreeable to receiving an IV, the infusion will not be given. 

What can I expect during pediatric infusion therapy?

Here’s what you can expect at the Infusion Therapy Clinic:

• When you arrive at the Infusion Therapy Clinic, you will check in at the front desk and select which infusion you or your child should receive (if an infusion has not been prescribed already). If the person receiving an infusion is a minor, a guardian must accompany them to the appointment but is not required to stay in the room.

• Once you have paid, the person receiving the infusion will be taken to the infusion room where a medical assistant will take the patient’s vital signs. We provide a comfortable environment, including pillows and a blanket.

• Next, our nurse will come in to talk about you or your child’s allergies and what medicines are taken. Then they will clean the skin on you or your child’s arm and use a topical medicine to numb the skin where they will put in the IV. 

• Next, the nurse will insert a needle attached to a tube into the arm. They will tape the needle into place and attach the tube to an IV bag that contains the medicines or nutraceuticals you or your child needs. The bag will slowly empty through the tube and into the bloodstream. 

• Most infusions run for about an hour to an hour and a half. If you or your child feels any discomfort during their infusion, please tell the nurse. 

• After the infusion is over, our nurse will take out the IV and place a bandage on the site. 

What can I expect after pediatric infusion therapy?

You or your child should be able to resume normal activities right away.

What questions should I ask my provider about pediatric infusion therapy?

• Are there other treatment options to help with pain?

• What medications should be stopped before infusion therapy?

• Is infusion therapy the best option for me or my child?