Glutathione is a small molecule the body makes from three amino acids and uses as an antioxidant. At Skin Art MD in Burnaby, it is offered as a Glutathione Push (a slow injection into a vein over a 30-minute appointment, $130) or added to a Myers cocktail IV ($250 to $295). The evidence for skin tone in particular is limited, and screening comes first.
Searches for "glutathione IV Burnaby" or "glutathione injection Vancouver" turn up many promises, often about skin colour. This article does not make them. It explains what glutathione is, how the two ways of having it on our menu differ, what the research does and does not show, what is known about safety and side effects, who should avoid it, and how cost and receipts work.
What is glutathione?
Glutathione is a molecule made inside your cells from three amino acids: glutamate, cysteine and glycine. It is one of the body's main internal antioxidants, and it is involved in processing some drugs and toxins in the liver.
Because the body makes its own glutathione, it is not a vitamin and there is no recommended daily intake. Levels can be lower in some illnesses, and laboratory research on glutathione is extensive. Whether giving glutathione from outside the body changes levels inside cells in a meaningful way, and what effect that has, is much less clear.
Glutathione can be taken by mouth, applied to the skin, inhaled, or given by injection into a vein. This article is about the injected forms.
What is the difference between a glutathione push and adding glutathione to a Myers cocktail?
A glutathione push is glutathione on its own, injected slowly into a vein through a small needle or cannula. Adding it to a Myers cocktail means it is included in a larger IV drip that also contains magnesium, calcium, B vitamins and vitamin C.
| Menu item | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Glutathione Push | 30 min | $130 |
| IV Myers Cocktail 100 mL + Glutathione | 30 min | $250 |
| IV Myers Cocktail 250 mL + Glutathione | 60 min | $295 |
Additional charges may apply for customized IV nutrients.
Things to know about each:
- The push is shorter in volume. "Push" refers to the method: the syringe is pressed in slowly by hand over several minutes rather than dripped from a bag. The 30-minute appointment includes check-in, placing the needle, the slow injection and a short observation period.
- The Myers cocktail with glutathione involves more fluid and more ingredients, so the screening covers everything in the bag, not just glutathione. The Myers cocktail itself is described in our article on Myers cocktail IV options, length and cost.
Which, if either, fits depends on your health history and what you are hoping for. The ND explains the exact amount of glutathione in each option before you agree.
What does the research show about glutathione and skin?
The evidence is limited and of low quality. Small trials of oral or topical glutathione have reported modest changes in skin measurements in some participants, but studies of injected glutathione for skin tone are few, small and inconsistent, and they leave major questions about dose, duration and long-term safety unanswered.
A 2016 review in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology (Sonthalia and colleagues) looked at glutathione used for skin lightening. The authors concluded that the evidence for injected glutathione was insufficient, that any effect seen tended not to persist after it was stopped, and that safety concerns had been reported with intravenous use. The Philippine Food and Drug Administration has also issued public advisories warning against the use of injectable glutathione for skin lightening.
On that basis, we do not say glutathione changes skin colour or tone, and the IV Drip Skin Brightening item on our menu is a name, not a promise. If you are interested in pigmentation or uneven skin tone, it is worth seeing a medical aesthetics or skin professional about options that have been studied for those concerns. Individual experiences vary.
What are the safety concerns and side effects?
Every injection carries some risk, and glutathione given into a vein has a limited safety record compared with long-established treatments. Most reported effects are mild, but serious reactions have been described, which is why screening and a slow injection rate matter.
Effects reported with injected glutathione include:
- Pain, bruising or irritation at the injection site, and the usual IV-line effects such as a cool feeling along the vein.
- Nausea, flushing or a headache during or after the injection.
- Skin rashes, including rare reports of severe skin reactions.
- Allergic reactions, which can be serious.
- Abdominal cramping or a change in bowel habits.
Tell the practitioner immediately about difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, swelling of the face or throat, or a spreading rash. After you leave, contact the clinic about anything that does not settle, and call 9-1-1 for emergencies.
Who should not have glutathione injections?
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people with asthma, people having cancer treatment and people with kidney or liver disease should not have elective glutathione injections without a careful discussion, and often should not have them at all. This list is general.
The ND will ask about:
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding. There is not enough safety information to support elective use.
- Asthma. Inhaled glutathione has been linked to bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways) in people with asthma, so a history of asthma is treated with caution.
- Cancer and cancer treatment. Antioxidants may interact with some chemotherapy and radiation treatments; anyone in active treatment should talk to their oncology team first.
- Kidney or liver disease, which affect how the body handles what is injected.
- Previous reactions to glutathione or to any IV ingredient.
- Medications and supplements, including other antioxidant products you take.
For the full screening process, read why screening and lab work come before any infusion.
How does a glutathione appointment work?
You can book the push or the IV directly. Each treatment starts with a review of your health history and medications, and Dr. Krantsevich Riehl confirms it is suitable for you before it is given. If you would like a full assessment of your history, medications and goals first, start with an Initial Naturopathic Visit (60 minutes, $250).
On the day, you check in, the practitioner confirms nothing has changed, a small needle or cannula is placed in a vein in your arm or hand, and the glutathione is given slowly. You then wait a few minutes so the practitioner can check how you feel before you leave. Eat beforehand if you tend to feel light-headed with needles. Our guide to what to expect at an IV appointment covers preparation and aftercare in more detail.
What does it cost, and can I claim it?
The Glutathione Push is $130 for a 30-minute appointment; the Myers cocktail options with glutathione are $250 (100 mL, 30 minutes) and $295 (250 mL, 60 minutes). Additional charges may apply for customized IV nutrients.
MSP does not cover glutathione injections at a private clinic. Some extended health plans reimburse part of the cost of services provided by a registered naturopathic doctor; others exclude injections or IV treatments, or cap the amount per visit. Skin Art MD does not bill insurers directly; you receive an official receipt after each visit and submit it yourself. Check with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked questions
Is a glutathione push the same as a glutathione drip?
No. A push is glutathione injected slowly by hand from a syringe; a drip delivers it diluted in a bag of fluid, here as part of a Myers cocktail. The appointment length and the other ingredients differ.
Will glutathione lighten my skin?
The evidence does not support saying that it will, and we do not make that claim. Studies are small and inconsistent, and safety concerns have been raised about injected glutathione used for that purpose.
Can I take glutathione by mouth instead?
Oral glutathione and precursors such as N-acetylcysteine are sold in Canada as natural health products. Whether they are appropriate for you, and how they interact with your medications, is worth discussing with the ND or your pharmacist.
How often do people have glutathione injections?
There is no evidence-based schedule. Any repeat treatment is discussed individually, not sold as a package.
Do I need bloodwork first?
Not always, but the ND may ask for it depending on your history, particularly for kidney or liver function.
Booking
Skin Art MD is in Burnaby near Metrotown and serves Greater Vancouver. Glutathione injections are given by our naturopathic physician, Dr. Ekaterina Krantsevich Riehl, BSc, ND, who is registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. The booking page lists every menu item; you can book online or read about naturopathic medicine at Skin Art MD. If you have a family physician, let them know what you are considering.
