Intravenous (IV) therapy is a type of infusion therapy.
Infusion therapy means delivering medication directly into the body, usually when swallowing a pill won’t cut it. IV therapy uses a vein to get that job done fast. That’s why it’s the most widely used method, and the one most people think of first when they hear “infusion.”
All IV therapy is infusion therapy. But not all infusion therapies use an IV.
The terms get used interchangeably because IVs show up everywhere: hospital admissions, urgent care, vitamin clinics. But under the hood, infusion includes a lot more — subcutaneous, intramuscular, even epidural routes — each chosen based on how the drug needs to move through your system.
And those choices matter. An IV delivers speed and efficiency. A subcutaneous infusion gives you slow, sustained release. An epidural hits pain pathways that no other method can reach. None of these are redundant. Each one solves a different problem that the others can’t.
This guide explains what those differences mean in practice. You’ll see where IV fits into the bigger infusion landscape, and why the delivery method is part of the treatment strategy.

What is Infusion Therapy?
Infusion therapy is any treatment that delivers medication into the body over a set period of time, bypassing the digestive tract. It’s used when the body needs direct access, so the drug can act quickly, steadily, or precisely where it’s needed.
What matters most is how the treatment is absorbed and what the body needs to respond.
Types of Infusion Therapy

Each method is selected for a reason: IV for speed, subcutaneous for control, epidural for localization, and intramuscular for duration. The route is part of how the therapy actually works.
When is It Used?
Infusion therapy is used when a medication:
- Can’t be taken by mouth due to poor absorption or stomach sensitivity
- Needs to be delivered slowly over time to reduce side effects
- Has to reach a specific tissue or bypass the liver’s first-pass metabolism
- Is part of an ongoing treatment plan, such as for autoimmune or inflammatory conditions
What is IV Infusion?
IV infusion is the most direct type of infusion therapy. It delivers fluids, nutrients, or medications directly into the bloodstream through a vein. It’s fast-acting and often used when the body needs immediate support, whether for hydration, infection, metabolic correction, or acute care.
Types of IV Infusion

What Are the Common Uses?
IV therapy is used across many clinical settings when fast, systemic delivery is necessary. It’s frequently chosen for:
- Rehydration, whether due to illness, heatstroke, or physical exertion
- Acute infections, including bacterial, viral, or fungal cases requiring IV antibiotics or antivirals
- Chemotherapy, for both direct cancer treatment and supportive medications
- Pain management, often in surgical or end-of-life care
- Nutrient therapy, such as iron, vitamin C, or magnesium when oral absorption isn’t sufficient
- Emergency response, including seizure medication, allergic reaction treatment, or cardiac support
IV Therapy is One Form of Infusion, but Not the Only One
The main thing to remember is this: IV therapy is a type of infusion therapy, but infusion therapy includes much more than just IVs. Not every medication works best through a vein. Some treatments need to move slowly through soft tissue. Others need to bypass the bloodstream entirely.
The right method depends on how your body absorbs the drug, how quickly it needs to act, and where it’s supposed to go. Choosing the correct route isn’t just procedural—it shapes how well the therapy works.
FAQ: IV vs Infusion Therapy
1. Is IV therapy the same as infusion therapy?
No. IV therapy is a type of infusion therapy, but it’s not the only one. Infusion can also mean delivering medication into muscle, under the skin, or around the spine. People often use the terms the same way, but they’re not interchangeable.
2. What are the types of infusions?
Infusions can be delivered into a vein (IV), under the skin (subcutaneous), into muscle (intramuscular), around the spine (epidural), into bone marrow (intraosseous), or even into the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneal). Each method is chosen based on timing, absorption, and target area.
3. Are infusions always IV?
No. IV is just one option. It’s the most common, but it’s not always the best fit. Depending on the drug and what it needs to do, other types of infusions may work better.
4. What is infusion therapy for?
Infusion therapy is used when a drug can’t be taken orally, needs steady absorption, or must act quickly. It’s common in autoimmune care, cancer treatment, infections, pain management, and nutrient therapy.

Strategic Care Starts with the Right Questions
At Yunique Medical, we don’t start with a product or protocol. We start with your biology—what your labs show, how your symptoms behave, and where your body needs to stabilize before it can improve.
That means asking better questions from the outset: What’s disrupting your baseline? What systems are compensating? What interventions will still make sense six months from now?
We don’t chase quick fixes. We build care plans that hold up over time.
Our Services
We offer a wide range of services to support your wellness journey, including:
- Hormone Optimization
- Infusion Therapy
- Weight Loss Programs
- Cellular & Functional Medicine
- Precision Longevity
- HeartFit Program
- Sexual Enhancement
- Peptide Therapy
- HOCATT Biohacking
Our Locations
You can find us here:
- Port Orange, FL
- Lady Lake, FL (formerly Fruitland Park Office)
- Ocala, FL
Schedule your consultation today. Let’s design a treatment strategy that actually fits your body.