# Can just anyone buy an IV apparatus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-just-anyone-buy-an-iv-apparatus/364660 "2006-07-15T21:33:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kebert\_Xela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a87d85/32.png) [@Kebert\_Xela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kebert_Xela)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-just-anyone-buy-an-iv-apparatus/364660/1 "2006-07-15T21:33:56Z")
Is it possible for anyone who wants one to buy an IV apparatus, or do you need to provide proof that you have a medical requirement for one? I’ve heard that if you give yourself an IV drip overnight after a night of drinking it will rehydrate you so you won’t have a hangover the next day, and I want to give this a try. ---
**Author:** ![gabriela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@gabriela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gabriela)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-just-anyone-buy-an-iv-apparatus/364660/2 "2006-07-15T21:41:44Z")
I don’t know if anyone can buy an IV apparatus who wants one, but I am here to say that a half liter of Ringer’s lactate (or half normal sodium chloride) is an absolute and immediate hangover cure. You’re still sleepy for hours, and you have to pee every twenty minutes for two hours. You can’t put even a butterfly into yourself with a hangover. Trust me on this. After a really bad (=good) party during the surgical part of my residency, all the PAs came in with big hematomas on the backs of their hands. From managing to insert the butterflies in _eachother_ when they were drunk/hungover. There should be a designated butterflier when medical personnel get drunk. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-just-anyone-buy-an-iv-apparatus/364660/3 "2006-07-16T01:08:05Z")
Nope, you need to have a doctor’s prescription. For example (all from Emergency Medical Products, Inc) > [@](#): > > Per Federal Law, all of the items listed on this webpage are prescription drugs and/or devices. Before your account can receive these items, we must have a completed Prescription Drug Authorization Form on file signed by your Medical Director. Orders from individuals will not be accepted. [IV Tubing](http://www.buyemp.com/product/1120305.html) [IV Catheters](http://www.buyemp.com/product/1120109.html) [IV Fluids](http://www.buyemp.com/product/1121303.html) They are a good hangover, cure, though. St. Urho Paramedic ---
**Author:** ![Kebert\_Xela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a87d85/32.png) [@Kebert\_Xela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kebert_Xela)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-just-anyone-buy-an-iv-apparatus/364660/4 "2006-07-16T01:46:35Z")
What’s the easiest way to obtain one through non-legitimate means? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-just-anyone-buy-an-iv-apparatus/364660/5 "2006-07-16T01:53:44Z")
So as a drunk person you want to give yourself an IV. I guess your lucky that you have to have the perscription. We made IV connections and stuff for a company that added the finishing touchs and sterilized them. We threw out lots of the molded parts, so I guess though you can’t purchase them, you can dig hundreds out of the dumpster that don’t meet all the size requirements by a .0002 inches or such. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-just-anyone-buy-an-iv-apparatus/364660/6 "2006-07-16T01:55:22Z")
[QUOTE=Kebert Xela] What’s the easiest way to obtain one through non-legitimate means? [/QUOTE] An IV apparatus is something you could probably make yourself. Frankly, your plan is pretty nuts, though. You can get the same benefit from drinking a large glass of water. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-just-anyone-buy-an-iv-apparatus/364660/7 "2006-07-16T02:01:11Z")
I hope this thread was answered good enough, because your last post garanteed it will be shut down. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-just-anyone-buy-an-iv-apparatus/364660/8 "2006-07-16T03:02:26Z")
[QUOTE=Kebert Xela] What’s the easiest way to obtain one through non-legitimate means? [/QUOTE] You’re on thin ice already. Next false step and you’re gone. **samclem** Moderator. Addenda: I closed the thread because the OP asked how to do something that is illegal. I thought this would be apparent, perhaps I was wrong.