IV therapy in San Diego, ordered by a medical team, not picked from a menu
Most IV bars hand you a menu and a chair. We start with a conversation. Maybe you are running on empty after a hard quarter, coming back from travel or a race, getting over a rough week, or already working with one of our doctors and want your IV to fit that plan.
At Saffron & Sage, every drip is formulated by physicians, reviewed against your health history and given by registered nurses in a calm lounge, just north of Little Italy. For members, your IV fits alongside the rest of your care instead of standing alone.
Already have recent bloodwork? Upload it for a free educational overview →
- Physician-formulated drips
- Given by registered nurses
- HSA, FSA and LSA welcome
- Best of San Diego, 2020, 2021, 2022
Why people in San Diego book IV therapy
These are the reasons we hear most from people across San Diego, from Little Italy and Downtown to Mission Hills, Point Loma and North Park. Our medical team will ask what is going on and help you choose, or tell you honestly if an IV isn’t the right fit.
Long weeks, low tank
Back-to-back meetings, late nights and not enough water or real meals.
The 3 PM energy dip →
Travel and time zones
Flights, hotel air and irregular meals, before or after a big trip.
A guide for frequent travelers →
Training and race days
Hydration and nutrients around hard training blocks, races and hot days outside.
Nutrition for athletes →
Getting back on your feet
A gentle option in the days after a cold or a rough week, once you are through the worst.
IV therapy after the flu →
Feeling dried out
Heat, sweat, a big night out or simply forgetting to drink water.
IV therapy and dehydration →
Part of a longer-term plan
Members who want NAD+ or antioxidant drips as part of a longevity plan with our doctors.
What NAD+ is and why people use it →
Trouble absorbing nutrients
When a doctor suspects your gut isn’t absorbing what you take by mouth.
Why magnesium tests can miss things →
An hour to sit still
A quiet chair, a book and nowhere else to be for an hour.
What is IV therapy?
IV therapy delivers fluids, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants straight into a vein through a small, thin line, so they don’t have to pass through digestion first.
Because nothing has to be absorbed through the gut, an IV can reach blood levels of some nutrients that a pill or powder can’t. That is the main reason people choose it over supplements. Sessions run from about 60 minutes for most drips to around 3 hours for NAD+ and high dose vitamin C.
We don’t make promises about results, and an IV is not a replacement for food, water, sleep or medical care. Our medical team will be straight with you about what an IV can reasonably offer, and when something else, like bloodwork or a visit with one of our doctors, makes more sense first.
How IV therapy fits into integrative care here
At Saffron & Sage, IV therapy isn’t a walk-in menu item. Every drip is formulated by physicians, and your health history, medications and goals are reviewed before anything is started. If you are a member, your IV can be coordinated with your naturopathic doctor, your acupuncturist and any diagnostic testing you have already done.
Many members pair a drip with acupuncture, nutritional therapy or LightStim red light. Others come in for an IV on its own. Either way, you leave knowing what you received and why, not with a package you have to buy.
Use the health money you already set aside.
Our free guide to using HSA and FSA dollars for your care. The current limits, the rules that changed for 2026, and the traps that quietly cost people money. Not tax advice.
- HSA, FSA and HRA: how they differ
- The rules that changed for 2026
- Five traps that quietly cost people money
11 pages. Instant download. Just your name and email, no health questions.
What to expect, and how IV safety works
A registered nurse checks in with you, reviews your health history and takes your vitals before anything starts. They place a small, flexible line, usually in the arm or hand. You feel a quick pinch, then very little. You sit back in a reclining lounge chair with a blanket, water and a book, or you can work quietly.
Your nurse stays close by, watches how you are doing and adjusts the drip speed if you feel cold, lightheaded or just want it slower. When it is done, the line comes out, a small bandage goes on, and most people go straight back to their day.
Short on time or not a fan of needles?
Tell us on a discovery call. Depending on your goals, our team may suggest:
- A shorter, simpler drip such as the Revive IV
- A vitamin shot, which takes about 15 minutes
- Bloodwork first, so any IV is based on real numbers
- A food and supplement plan with our naturopathic doctors instead
Your first IV therapy appointment, step by step
- Before you arrive. Eat a light meal, drink water and wear a top with sleeves that roll up easily. Plan to arrive about 10 minutes early for your first visit.
- Health review. Our medical team reviews your history, medications, allergies, pregnancy status and any recent labs. Some drips need bloodwork on file before we can book them.
- Choosing your drip. Based on your goals and history, your provider recommends a drip, or suggests something other than an IV if that fits better.
- The session. A registered nurse places the line and stays nearby for the whole drip. Most drips take about an hour, while NAD+ and high dose vitamin C take up to 3 hours.
- After. Keep the bandage on for a little while, drink water and carry on with your day. We’ll talk through how often, if at all, it makes sense to come back.
Meet our San Diego IV therapy team
IV therapy at Saffron & Sage is overseen by our medical director and given by registered nurses. Because they work alongside our naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists and the rest of the care team, members’ drips can be coordinated with the rest of their plan.
Dr. John Kasawa
Oversees the medical side of the clinic, including IV protocols and safety standards.
Dr. Nazanin Ghetmiri
Naturopathic doctor with a focus on gut, endocrine and women’s health.
Dr. Alexander Aponte-Davila
Naturopathic doctor and nutritionist who works closely with labs, gut and hormone health.
Karen
Registered nurse who places your line, monitors you during the drip and answers questions as you go.
Karissa
Registered nurse who reviews your intake with you, sets up your drip and checks on you until it is done.
How much does IV therapy cost? Two ways to start
Your first visit is where the relationship starts. A first appointment runs much like any other: a short intake, your session, and a few minutes at the end to talk about what comes next. If you add a consultation, your practitioner takes a fuller history and reviews your labs, if you have them. Pick the way in that suits you.
First visit and consultation
Your first appointment and a full consultation together, for half the usual price.
Book your first visitNew patients. Through October 31, 2026.
Your first appointment
Start with a single first appointment, then decide what comes next.
Book my first appointmentNew patients. Through October 31, 2026.
Then, as a member
Monthly credits you can use for IV therapy and the rest of your plan. IV drips use 1 to 5 medical credits, depending on the drip. Ask us about membership on your discovery call.
Use pre-tax dollars
Often welcome for IV therapy when a provider recommends it. Check eligibility with your plan administrator. We're direct pay and don't bill insurance. How HSA, FSA and LSA work here
Have your most recent labs? Upload them here for a free overview.
Upload a recent lab report and get a plain-language overview of what each marker measures. It helps our medical team choose a drip that fits your numbers, and some drips need recent labs on file before we can book them.
Upload my lab reportFree. Takes about a minute. Your file is processed in real time and is not stored. Educational only, not medical advice or a diagnosis.
- UploadA recent lab report, as a PDF or a photo.
- ReadA plain-language overview of what each marker measures.
- Talk it throughWith our team on a free discovery call, if you would like.
IV therapy near Little Italy, San Diego
Saffron & Sage is on State Street, just north of Little Italy, a short drive from Downtown, Bankers Hill, Mission Hills, Point Loma and North Park. Many members come in before or after work.
Saffron & Sage
2555 State St, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 933-2340 · Get directions
Hours: Monday and Thursday 8 to 2, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8 to 8.
IV therapy FAQs
How much does IV therapy cost in San Diego at Saffron & Sage?
New patients can book a first visit and consultation together for $300, normally $600, or a first appointment for $250, normally $300. After that, members use monthly medical credits, with most drips using 1 or 2 credits and NAD+ drips using 4 or 5. HSA, FSA and LSA dollars are welcome for many services.
How is an IV different from taking supplements?
A pill has to be digested and absorbed through the gut, and a lot of it may never reach your bloodstream. An IV goes straight into a vein, so it can reach blood levels of some nutrients that oral supplements can’t. That doesn’t make it better for everyone. For many people, a good food and supplement plan is enough.
Does IV therapy hurt?
Most people feel a quick pinch when the line goes in, then very little. The fluid can feel cool as it runs. If anything feels uncomfortable, tell your nurse and they will adjust it.
How long does an IV therapy session take?
Most drips take about 60 minutes. NAD+ and high dose vitamin C drips take up to 3 hours, because they are given slowly. Plan a little extra time for your health review on your first visit.
How often should I get IV therapy?
It depends on why you are coming in. Some people come once before or after a big event or trip. Members on a longer-term plan may come weekly or monthly for a while. Our medical team will make a suggestion based on your history and labs, and you decide.
Is IV therapy safe?
When it is ordered after a health review and given by trained nurses, IV therapy is generally well tolerated. It isn’t right for everyone, including some people with heart or kidney conditions, and some drips aren’t suitable during pregnancy. That is why every drip here starts with a medical review, and why we sometimes say no.
Who gives the IV?
Registered nurses place your line and monitor you for the whole drip. Protocols are formulated by physicians and overseen by our medical director.
What should I do before my IV session?
Eat a light meal and drink water beforehand, as it makes the line easier to place and helps you feel steady. Wear a comfortable top with sleeves you can roll up. Bring a list of your medications and any recent bloodwork.
Are there side effects?
Most people feel fine. Some notice a cool feeling in the arm, a slight taste of vitamins, or mild bruising where the line was. NAD+ can cause chest pressure or nausea if it runs too fast, which is why your nurse sets the pace. Tell your nurse right away if anything feels off.
Do I need bloodwork before an IV?
Not for every drip, but it helps. Some drips, such as high dose vitamin C, need recent labs before we can book them. You can bring results from another clinic or have labs done here as part of our diagnostic testing.
What is NAD+ IV therapy?
NAD+ is a coenzyme found in every cell that helps turn food into energy, and levels drop as we age. Some people choose an NAD+ drip as part of a longevity or performance plan with their doctor. It runs slowly over about 3 hours.
Can I use HSA or FSA funds for IV therapy?
We’re a direct pay clinic and don’t bill insurance. HSA, FSA and LSA dollars are often welcome for IV therapy, especially when a provider recommends it. Check eligibility with your plan administrator.
Do I need to be a member to book IV therapy?
No. You can start with a first visit or a free discovery call, then decide whether membership makes sense for you. Custom IVs are generally for members already working with one of our practitioners.
Can I get IV therapy while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Please tell us before you book. Some drips aren’t suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and our medical team will talk it through with you and, where needed, with your OB or midwife.
Where are you located?
2555 State St, San Diego, CA 92101, just north of Little Italy.
Ready when you are
Book your first visit and consultation for $300, normally $600. Not sure yet? Request a free discovery call. Our team will listen to what's going on and help you pick the right IV therapy session and practitioner. No cost, no pressure.
Or call (619) 933-2340
All medical services are provided by Kasawa Medical APC dba Saffron & Sage MD. IV therapy is recommended only after a health review, isn’t right for everyone and doesn’t replace medical treatment. Please tell us about any heart or kidney conditions, pregnancy, allergies and all medications. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing or a severe reaction, call 911.
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