Reviewed byRinat Zhumabekov, MDAddiction psychiatrist, experience 21 years · updated 8 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F10.3
- Who provides care
- A psychiatrist-addiction specialist (narcologist) from the mobile team
- Where
- At home in any district of Almaty, in the suburbs, or in the clinic’s inpatient unit
- Duration
- The IV drip itself takes 1.5–3 hours, plus the examination and observation
- Anonymity
- Medical confidentiality, no state dispensary registry
- When it is urgent
- Confusion, seizures, chest pain, vomiting blood — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- Less intoxication, nausea and tremor; sleep returns to normal
What you should know
When relatives call and ask for “just an IV drip,” the dispatcher will still ask a few questions: how many days the person has been drinking, when the last drink was, whether they have high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease, and whether they have had seizures. This is not bureaucracy or a formality. The answers determine which solutions and what volume I bring, and whether an inpatient unit with round-the-clock monitoring is needed instead of a home IV drip.
Say I arrive at a high-rise in the Alatau district at two in the morning. The man is sitting in the kitchen, shaking, his blood pressure is up, and he has barely eaten for three days. I explain what is going to happen, get his consent, insert a catheter, and we begin. After half an hour the nausea goes away, after an hour or an hour and a half the tremor subsides, and by the end of the procedure he falls asleep. And I sit next to him for a while longer, watching his pulse and breathing.
When an IV Drip Is Really Needed
- the binge has lasted more than two or three days and the person has decided to stop
- severe nausea or vomiting makes it impossible to drink water or eat
- marked hand tremor, heavy sweating, a rapid heartbeat
- blood pressure jumps, the head aches, and weakness grows by the hour
- the person does not sleep at all or sleeps in snatches of an hour or two a night
- anxiety, irritability and unexplained fear have appeared
- dry mouth and dark urine — signs of dehydration
If heavy drinking has lasted more than two or three days, or there is shaking, vomiting, blood-pressure spikes or insomnia, you need a doctor rather than stopping alone. Phone advice is free. For seizures, confusion or hallucinations call 103 or 112.
What Happens to the Body After a Drinking Binge
Over several days of continuous drinking, the body loses fluids and electrolytes, accumulates alcohol breakdown products and uses up its stores of B vitamins. The liver is overloaded, sleep is disrupted and the nervous system is in a constant state of overexcitement. When the person stops drinking, this overexcitement shows up as withdrawal syndrome: tremor, sweating, anxiety, insomnia, and sometimes a rise in blood pressure.
Drinking water and “sleeping it off” does not always help: with vomiting, fluids are simply not absorbed, and thiamine deficiency is dangerous for the brain. An IV drip delivers fluids and vitamins directly into the bloodstream, quickly replacing what has been lost. But it is support, not “blood cleansing”: the body clears alcohol on its own, and the drip simply creates the conditions for this and eases the symptoms.
How a Home IV Drip Works, Step by Step
Before arrival, the dispatcher clarifies the medical history, and if necessary the doctor has a video call with the relatives. On site: an examination, measuring blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation, and an assessment of the person’s condition. Then the consent form is signed, a peripheral catheter is inserted and the infusion itself begins: first fluids to restore hydration, then B vitamins and, when indicated, medications for the liver, for nausea and for sleep. I stay by the patient throughout the procedure and observe for another 20–30 minutes afterward.
A home IV drip is not given if there are signs of delirium, seizures, a suspected heart attack or stroke, severe heart or kidney failure, a serious injury, vomiting blood or severe abdominal pain. Caution is needed with diabetes and in older people. In these situations, I recommend inpatient care, and if there is a threat to life, I call 103 immediately.
How we help
Rehydration
The basis of any IV drip after a binge is replacing fluids and electrolytes. Saline solutions help restore normal blood volume, reduce headache and weakness, and get the kidneys working properly. The infusion rate is chosen according to blood pressure and the state of the heart: in older people and those with heart disease, the rate is slower and the volume smaller.
Vitamins and metabolic support
With prolonged alcohol use, there is almost always a deficiency of B vitamins, especially thiamine. Replacing it is an important way to prevent neurological complications, as international guidelines, including NICE, point out. Glucose-containing solutions are given with this in mind, and liver support medications are added when indicated.
Symptomatic treatment
Depending on the symptoms, anti-nausea drugs, blood pressure medications and mild sedatives are added. Benzodiazepines are used only as prescribed by a doctor and with the degree of intoxication taken into account, because together with alcohol they suppress breathing. The goal is not to “knock the person out” but to let them fall asleep calmly and safely.
Repeat procedures
After a binge lasting more than a week, one IV drip is often not enough. We call in the morning, assess how the person is feeling and come again if necessary. The repeat procedure is usually shorter and easier. At this stage, I already talk about the next steps: an appointment with an addiction doctor, psychotherapy, and alcohol “coding” (a treatment widely used in Kazakhstan and CIS countries) after the required period of sobriety.
Myths and facts
MythThe more fluids, the faster the blood is cleansed
FactToo much fluid is dangerous for the heart and lungs, especially in older people. The doctor calculates the volume individually. The rate at which alcohol is cleared depends mainly on the liver, and an IV drip does not speed it up many times over.
MythAny medic you know can put in an IV drip
FactTechnically, a nurse can insert a catheter, but deciding on the composition and safety requires a doctor’s examination. Without a risk assessment, you can miss developing delirium, pancreatitis or heart problems.
MythAfter the drip you can have a small drink right away
FactAlcohol after the procedure restarts intoxication and cancels out the benefit. In addition, the medications that were given may interact badly with it. It is better to stay completely sober for at least several days.
How a home visit works
- Call or message usThe dispatcher answers 24/7 and in 3–5 minutes checks the person's condition, age, how long the drinking or use has lasted, chronic conditions and the address. No surname needed.
- The doctor sets offAn addiction doctor or psychiatrist comes with equipment and medication. Travel time depends on the district — usually within an hour. If inpatient care or an ambulance is needed, we'll say so straight away.
- Examination and treatmentBlood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood sugar if needed and a neurological check. Then an IV drip or other treatment as indicated, 1–3 hours.
- A plan for the next daysAdvice for the family on what to do overnight and tomorrow, phone follow-up and a repeat visit if needed.
- Further treatmentCoding, psychotherapy, rehab or psychiatric follow-up — once the acute state has passed and the person is ready.
Prices in Almaty
| Home visit and examination | 15 000 ₸ |
| IV drip at home (standard) | 30 000 ₸ |
| IV drip at home (extended) | 45 000 ₸ |
| Phone advice | free |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
In almaty you can get help at home, at one of our two branches (84 Zhandosova St., Almaty, 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty) or online if you need a consultation rather than a procedure. The dispatcher answers 24/7 and will tell you straight away which option is safest.
Confidential and private
Information about your request, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We do not share it with employers, schools, the police or neighbours; the only exceptions are those expressly set by law. A first name is enough to call us, and paid confidential treatment does not mean a registry entry.
Questions and answers
How long does an IV drip for a binge take?
The procedure itself usually takes one and a half to three hours. Including the examination and observation afterward, the doctor spends about 2.5–3.5 hours with the patient. The time depends on the person’s condition and the volume of fluids, and this cannot be rushed. So set aside an evening for the visit.
Can an IV drip be given if the person is still drunk?
With heavy intoxication, some medications are contraindicated, so the doctor assesses the degree of intoxication. Sometimes only rehydration is done first, and sedatives are given later. If the person is unconscious or breathing poorly, that is a call for 103.
How many IV drips does it take to end a binge?
After a 3–5 day binge, one is often enough. For long binges, pronounced withdrawal or coexisting illnesses, 2–3 procedures may be needed. The doctor determines the number based on the person’s condition at each visit. Sometimes inpatient care is needed afterward.
What should we do after the IV drip?
Let the person sleep, offer water and light food, and do not leave them alone for the first 24 hours. Do not give alcohol or sleeping pills from the home medicine cabinet. If hallucinations, seizures or confusion appear, call 103 or 112 immediately.
Do you go to Kaskelen or Konaev?
Yes. The Narcology 24 team travels to the Almaty suburbs — Kaskelen, Talgar, Otegen Batyr, Konaev. Keep in mind that the trip takes longer, especially during rush hour on the roads out of the city. At night, on empty highways, we get there noticeably faster, and the dispatcher will tell you the estimated arrival time right away.
Is the IV drip anonymous?
Yes. We do not require documents for anonymous treatment and do not put anyone on the registry. Information about the call is protected by medical confidentiality and is not passed on to an employer or local clinic, except in cases provided for by law. You can give any name you like.
Where do doctors visit in Almaty and where are the branches?
Home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements, 24/7. Appointments at two branches: 84 Zhandosova St., Almaty and 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty. Phone in Almaty: +7 (700) 309-29-88.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Narcology 24 medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) guidelines on alcohol and drug misuse and mental health conditions
- WHO recommendations on the treatment of substance use disorders
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
