Myers' cocktail
Encyclopedia
The "Myers' cocktail" is the colloquial name for a nutrient cocktail invented by John Myers, a physician from Baltimore, Maryland, and developed by Alan R. Gaby, administered intravenously
and promoted as an alternative treatment
for a broad range of conditions including asthma
, fibromyalgia
and chronic fatigue syndrome
. As of 2002, between 800 and 1,000 different patients had received this cocktail from Dr. Gaby. and the cocktail was reportedly administered to Michael Jackson
to boost his energy. However, evidence for its effectiveness is largely anecdotal; there are few clinical studies of the cocktail and a placebo-controlled double-blind
study of the effectiveness of Myers' cocktail at treating fibromylagia found the cocktail did not perform significantly
better than a placebo
.
, upper respiratory tract infections
, chronic sinusitis
, and seasonal allergic rhinitis
, pain associated with migraine
s, muscle spasms
and fibromyalgia
, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome
and cardiovascular disease
.
clinical trial showed improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms, however, a placebo-controlled pilot study showed no significant benefit
over placebo
.
Intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
and promoted as an alternative treatment
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
for a broad range of conditions including asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure. It is an example of a diagnosis of exclusion...
and chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
. As of 2002, between 800 and 1,000 different patients had received this cocktail from Dr. Gaby. and the cocktail was reportedly administered to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
to boost his energy. However, evidence for its effectiveness is largely anecdotal; there are few clinical studies of the cocktail and a placebo-controlled double-blind
Double-blind
A blind or blinded experiment is a scientific experiment where some of the people involved are prevented from knowing certain information that might lead to conscious or subconscious bias on their part, invalidating the results....
study of the effectiveness of Myers' cocktail at treating fibromylagia found the cocktail did not perform significantly
Statistical significance
In statistics, a result is called statistically significant if it is unlikely to have occurred by chance. The phrase test of significance was coined by Ronald Fisher....
better than a placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
.
Description
The Myers' cocktail is composed of nutrients that are recognized to be deficient or involved in a variety of pathologies.| Ingredient | Dose | Nutrient |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium chloride Magnesium chloride Magnesium chloride is the name for the chemical compounds with the formulas MgCl2 and its various hydrates MgCl2x. These salts are typical ionic halides, being highly soluble in water. The hydrated magnesium chloride can be extracted from brine or sea water... hexahydrate 20% |
2-5 mL | Magnesium Magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole... |
| Calcium gluconate Calcium gluconate Calcium gluconate is a mineral supplement.-Hypocalcemia:10% calcium gluconate solution is the form of calcium most widely used in the treatment of hypocalcemia. This form of calcium is superior to calcium lactate, but it only contains 0.93% calcium ion. Calcium gluconate is a salt of calcium and... 10% |
1-3 mL | Calcium Calcium Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust... |
| Hydroxocobalamin Hydroxocobalamin Hydroxocobalamin is a natural form, or vitamer, of vitamin B12, a basic member of the cobalamin family of compounds. Hydroxocobalamin is the form of vitamin B12 produced by many bacteria which are used to produce the vitamin commercially. Like other forms of vitamin B12, hydroxocobalamin has an... 1,000 mcg/mL |
1 mL | Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12, vitamin B12 or vitamin B-12, also called cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin with a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and for the formation of blood. It is one of the eight B vitamins... |
| Pyridoxine Pyridoxine Pyridoxine is one of the compounds that can be called vitamin B6, along with pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. It differs from pyridoxamine by the substituent at the '4' position. It is often used as 'pyridoxine hydrochloride'.-Chemistry:... hydrochloride Hydrochloride In chemistry, hydrochlorides are salts resulting, or regarded as resulting, from the reaction of hydrochloric acid with an organic base . This is also known as muriate, derived from hydrochloric acid's other name: muriatic acid.... 100 mg/mL |
1 mL | Vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin and is part of the vitamin B complex group. Several forms of the vitamin are known, but pyridoxal phosphate is the active form and is a cofactor in many reactions of amino acid metabolism, including transamination, deamination, and decarboxylation... |
| Dexpanthenol 250 mg/mL | 1 mL | Vitamin B5 |
| B complex 100 | 1 mL | Vitamin B complex |
| Vitamin C Vitamin C Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress... 222 mg/mL |
4-20 mL | Vitamin C |
Therapeutic uses
Myers' cocktail has been used to relieve respiratory symptoms of acute asthma attacksAsthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, upper respiratory tract infections
Common cold
The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever...
, chronic sinusitis
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may be due to infection, allergy, or autoimmune issues. Most cases are due to a viral infection and resolve over the course of 10 days...
, and seasonal allergic rhinitis
Rhinitis
Rhinitis , commonly known as a stuffy nose, is the medical term describing irritation and inflammation of some internal areas of the nose. The primary symptom of rhinitis is nasal dripping. It is caused by chronic or acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose due to viruses, bacteria or...
, pain associated with migraine
Migraine
Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by moderate to severe headaches, and nausea...
s, muscle spasms
Spasm
In medicine a spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden contraction of an orifice. It is sometimes accompanied by a sudden burst of pain, but is usually harmless and ceases after a few minutes...
and fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure. It is an example of a diagnosis of exclusion...
, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
and cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
.
Clinical trials
An open-labelOpen-label trial
An open-label trial or open trial is a type of clinical trial in which both the researchers and participants know which treatment is being administered....
clinical trial showed improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms, however, a placebo-controlled pilot study showed no significant benefit
Statistical significance
In statistics, a result is called statistically significant if it is unlikely to have occurred by chance. The phrase test of significance was coined by Ronald Fisher....
over placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
.
External links
- Alternative Medicine Review "Intravenous Nutrient Therapy: the Myers' Cocktail" by Alan R. Gaby, MD