If you’re preparing for your first infusion therapy appointment, it’s natural to have questions. What should you bring? How long will treatment take? What happens during the infusion? And what should you expect afterward?
Every infusion is different, and your experience will depend on your prescribed medication, health needs, and treatment setting. But knowing the basics can help you feel more informed and prepared.
Before Your Infusion: 7 Things to Know
Your healthcare or infusion team will provide instructions specific to your treatment. Before your appointment:
- Confirm the details. Know where you’re going, when to arrive, and approximately how long you should plan to be there.
- Ask about food and fluids. Find out whether you should eat and drink normally before treatment or follow specific instructions.
- Check your medications. Ask whether you should take your regular medications as usual.
- Have your medication and allergy information available. Include any recent medication changes or previous medication reactions.
- Tell your care team if something has changed. Let them know about a recent illness, new symptoms, health changes, or other concerns before treatment.
- Bring what you need. Your infusion team may ask you to bring identification, insurance information, forms, or other information. If treatment will take some time, you may also want something to read, listen to, or work on.
- Bring your questions. If there’s anything you don’t understand about your medication, treatment, or what to expect, ask.
One important reminder: Don’t rely on general advice about eating, drinking, medications, or activity before an infusion. Preparation can vary by medication, so follow the instructions provided specifically for your treatment.
What Happens During an Infusion?
Before treatment begins, your clinical team may review your medications, allergies, recent symptoms, and other health information. Depending on your therapy, they may also check vital signs, laboratory results, or other treatment-specific information.
Your prescribed therapy will then be administered according to your treatment plan. Depending on the medication, treatment may be delivered through an intravenous (IV) line, an implanted access device such as a port, subcutaneously, or by another prescribed method.
Your clinical team will provide the monitoring appropriate for your therapy throughout treatment.
If you notice a new or unexpected symptom or simply don’t feel right during your infusion, tell your clinical team. You don’t need to decide for yourself whether a symptom is important.
How Long Does an Infusion Take?
There isn’t one standard infusion time.
Some treatments may be relatively short, while others can take several hours. The medication, dose, method of administration, treatment protocol, and your individual needs can all affect how long your appointment takes.
Ask your infusion team for an estimated treatment time before your appointment so you can plan accordingly.
What Happens After Your Infusion?
What happens after treatment also depends on your medication and individual needs. You may need to remain for monitoring before leaving, or you may be able to leave soon after treatment is complete.
Before you leave, make sure you know:
- What to expect after treatment
- Whether you have any specific post-treatment instructions
- What symptoms or changes you should report
- Who to contact with questions or concerns
- When your next treatment is scheduled, if applicable
- Whether anything is needed before your next infusion
Follow the instructions provided by your healthcare team. If you experience a medical emergency after leaving, seek emergency medical attention.
What If You Receive Infusion Therapy at Home?
For appropriate patients and therapies, infusion treatment may take place at home.
Depending on your treatment plan, a nurse may administer or assist with therapy, or you or a caregiver may be trained to perform certain aspects of treatment. If you will be involved in administering therapy, make sure you understand how to use any prescribed equipment, how medication should be handled or stored, what potential problems to watch for, and whom to contact with questions.
Want to understand more about where infusion therapy can take place? Read Where Should Infusion Therapy Take Place? Understanding Your Site-of-Care Options.
A Little Preparation Can Go a Long Way
You don’t need to know everything about infusion therapy before your first appointment. You do need to understand the instructions for your treatment, know what questions to ask, and feel comfortable speaking up along the way.
At Pyramids Infusion Services, we work with patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and health plans to help coordinate prescribed infusion therapy across home and outpatient settings.
Learn more about Home Infusion Services and Lotus Infusion Centers, or contact our team with questions about getting started.
Sources
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Infusion Pumps: Tips for Using Your Pump at Home
MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. IV Treatment at Home
Individual infusion experiences, preparation instructions, treatment duration, monitoring, and post-treatment recommendations vary based on the prescribed therapy, clinical needs, and other patient-specific considerations. Always follow the instructions provided by your healthcare team. This information is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your healthcare provider.