I heard bout this banana bag thingy in both Grey’s Anatomy and House MD. Curiosity got the better of me. Interesting…
From Wikipedia
A banana bag (or rally pack) is a bag of IV fluids containing vitamins and minerals. The bags typically contain thiamine, folic acid, and 3 grams of magnesium sulfate, and are usually used to replenish nutritional deficiencies or correct a chemical imbalance in the human body. Most often they are used in ICUs and CCUs to correct acute magnesium deficiencies. They are extremely beneficial for the sick and dying (cancer, etc.) because magnesium mitigates nerve pain and muscle pain/cramps and helps detoxify the liver and kidneys (increasing drug benefits and reducing drug adverse effects). They are commonly used for alcoholics who need thiamine to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and magnesium to reverse dementia symptoms.[1][2]
Folic acid is yellow in color — this ingredient makes the fluid yellow, hence the term “banana bag”.[1]
The typical composition of a banana bag is Thiamine 100 mg + Folic acid 1 mg + MVI 1 amp to 1 Liter of Dextrose 5% and Normal Saline + three grams of Magnesium Sulfate. The solution is typically infused over four to eight hours.
I think I’ve given those once for an alcoholic who couldn’t tolerate orally.
Didn’t know it’s called Banana Shake, uhm, sorry… BAG