Garlic Shot (Vitamin B1 Injection)｜Effects, Side Effects, Cost Guide for Men

Onset and Duration of the Garlic Shot

Bottom line: Many patients feel relief within 10 to 30 minutes after administration, and the effect generally lasts 2 to 5 days.

With intravenous injection, the drug reaches the circulating bloodstream directly, bypassing absorption through the digestive tract. Fursultiamine is a fat-soluble derivative with high cell-membrane permeability, raising tissue thiamine concentrations several times faster than oral intake. Many patients describe feeling “light in the body” or “the heaviness behind the eyes is gone” before they even leave the clinic.

Duration varies by individual and is influenced by liver and kidney function, basal metabolism, and sleep quality, but fatigue typically returns within 2 to 5 days. Patients in chronic overwork rarely achieve full recovery from a single injection, and many see stable conditioning with 1 to 2 sessions per week.

Regarding the difference between “IV drip” and “injection,” this drug is given as an intravenous bolus (within a few minutes), so the entire visit — from arrival to departure — typically takes 15 to 20 minutes. The fact that you don’t have to lie on a bed for an extended period is another reason busy men favor this treatment.

Side Effects and Cautions of the Garlic Shot

Bottom line: The most common side effects are discomfort and vascular pain at the injection site. Serious side effects are extremely rare, but shock and anaphylaxis have been reported.

According to the package inserts approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Alinamin F Injection and others), reported side effects are as follows.

1. Injection site reactions: vascular pain, redness, swelling, and induration. These occur more often with rapid injection and can be mitigated by slow intravenous administration.
2. Gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite (frequency 0.1% to less than 5%).
3. Hypersensitivity reactions: rash, urticaria, itching. Discontinue immediately if these occur.
4. Serious side effects: anaphylaxis and shock (frequency unknown, extremely rare). Emergency care is required if respiratory distress, hypotension, or laryngeal edema appear.
5. Other: the unique odor and altered taste perceived immediately after injection are not side effects but transient pharmacologic phenomena.

Contraindications and cautions: Use is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any component of this drug. Administration to patients with hepatic or renal impairment, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children requires a physician’s judgment. Administration immediately after heavy alcohol consumption requires careful judgment due to the risk of Wernicke encephalopathy.

Recommended Frequency and Number of Garlic Shot Sessions

Bottom line: The standard is 1 to 2 sessions per week. During peak fatigue periods, 2 to 3 sessions per week; during maintenance, once every 2 weeks.

Frequency is determined by your fatigue level and goal. Use the table below as a guide.

The safety margin for overdose is wide: because B1 is water-soluble, excess is excreted in the urine, and the risk of accumulation toxicity is low unless dosing is extreme. That said, medical administration must always follow the appropriate dose under a physician’s supervision.

Garlic Shot vs. Placenta and High-Dose Vitamin C IV

Bottom line: Use them by goal — “fatigue recovery: garlic shot,” “beautiful skin and antioxidant support: high-dose vitamin C,” “autonomic nervous system and menopause: placenta.”

High-dose vitamin C IV is primarily aimed at antioxidant support, skin brightening, and immune support, with action targets that differ from those of the garlic shot. For details, see our article on high-dose vitamin C IV therapy. The two are complementary in purpose and can be combined, subject to a physician’s prescribing judgment.

Who Is the Garlic Shot Suitable (and Unsuitable) For?

Bottom line: Men with a carb-heavy diet, sleep deprivation, or high activity levels are well suited. Patients with a hypersensitivity history, severe hepatic or renal impairment, or undiagnosed chronic fatigue require caution.

Suitable Candidates

• Those with persistent chronic fatigue or malaise
• Those with a diet centered on carbohydrates and alcohol
• Those who want faster recovery after exercise or training
• Those with summer fatigue and reduced appetite from heavy sweating
• Executives and sales professionals with back-to-back meetings and business trips
• Pre-marathon or pre-competition conditioning
• Those who have difficulty taking oral supplements

Unsuitable (or Caution Required)

• History of hypersensitivity to vitamin B1 preparations
• Severe hepatic or renal impairment
• Pregnant or breastfeeding (physician judgment)
• Chronic fatigue of undetermined cause (rule out thyroid, depression, sleep apnea first)
• Undergoing treatment for malignancy (coordination with primary physician essential)

Behind “fatigue” can lie conditions that no injection will cure, such as anemia, thyroid dysfunction, depression, sleep apnea, or hepatic impairment. For severe malaise lasting more than two weeks, we recommend a general internal medicine workup first.

Garlic Shot Treatment at Mens Care Clinic

Bottom line: At Mens Care Clinic, we always perform a physicians interview and medical history check before administering a safe dose.

Our prescribing protocol is as follows.

1. Medical interview (5-10 min): We review the course of fatigue, lifestyle, medical history, current medications, and allergy history.
2. Vital signs check: Blood pressure and pulse are measured to pre-assess shock risk.
3. Administration (5-15 min): Slow bolus injection, typically via the median cubital vein. For patients prone to vascular pain, we can switch to a diluted IV drip.
4. Post-injection observation (5-10 min): We monitor inside the clinic for 5 to 10 minutes after administration to check for any acute reactions.
5. Next-visit planning: Based on your condition and goal that day, the physician proposes a recommended frequency.

For the full scope of services, see the IV therapy menu. A physicians prescription is required for administration. Self-medication substitutes are not recommended.

Bookings can be made 24 hours a day via our online reservation form.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Does the garlic shot actually contain garlic?

A. No, it does not. The main ingredient is a vitamin B1 derivative (fursultiamine). The garlic-like odor felt during administration comes from the sulfur-containing structure of the fursultiamine molecule. No garlic extract from food is used.

Q2. How quickly will I feel the effect?

A. Most patients notice within 10 to 30 minutes that the body feels light or the heaviness behind the eyes is gone. If chronic overwork has been prolonged, a single injection may not produce complete recovery, and stable conditioning is typically achieved with 1 to 2 injections per week.

Q3. Are there any side effects?

A. The most common are discomfort, vascular pain, and redness at the injection site. Allergic reactions (rash, urticaria) occur rarely, and anaphylaxis has been reported extremely rarely. If you have an allergic constitution or have previously had symptoms with vitamin B1 preparations, please inform the physician in advance.

Q4. Will my body odor or breath get stronger?

A. The garlic-like smell felt by the patient immediately after administration originates from the bloodstream and rarely leaks externally as noticeable breath odor. However, a small minority report a slight sulfur-like odor in their breath or urine for several hours.

Q5. Is daily injection safe?

A. Because it is a water-soluble vitamin, excess is excreted in the urine and the risk of accumulation toxicity is low. However, administration in a medical setting must respect appropriate frequency under physician oversight, and our clinic generally recommends a maximum of 1 to 3 times per week. If daily injection seems necessary, we consider other differential diagnoses.

Q6. Can it be combined with placenta or high-dose vitamin C IV?

A. Because their action targets differ, combination use is possible under physician judgment. Whether to administer them on the same day or different days is individually optimized based on goal, condition, and budget. For more details, please also refer to our explanation of high-dose vitamin C IV.

Q7. Can pregnant or breastfeeding women receive it?

A. Pregnant or breastfeeding women require careful risk-benefit assessment under physician judgment. As a rule, we recommend information sharing with the obstetric primary physician.

Q8. Is it covered by health insurance?

A. Prescriptions for fatigue recovery and conditioning purposes are, as a rule, not covered by health insurance (self-pay). When there is a confirmed diagnosis of vitamin B1 deficiency (beriberi, Wernicke encephalopathy, etc.), insurance coverage applies, so those with severe symptoms should consider visiting internal medicine first.

Q9. Can I get an injection after drinking alcohol?

A. Administration immediately after heavy drinking requires careful judgment due to the risk of Wernicke encephalopathy. After light drinking, additional recovery purposes are generally fine, but depending on your condition and blood pressure that day, we may recommend rescheduling.

Q10. Should I choose an injection or an IV drip?

A. If you want to replenish only B1 in a short time, an injection is best; if you want to replenish multiple vitamins and minerals simultaneously, or if you tend to experience vascular pain, a diluted IV drip is recommended. At our clinic, we propose the optimal route at the initial interview.

Conclusion: Choose Not to Ignore Your Fatigue

The garlic shot is a medical injection whose main ingredient is a vitamin B1 derivative (fursultiamine), delivering fast-acting fatigue recovery and conditioning by activating carbohydrate metabolism. Its ability to rapidly establish blood concentrations that supplements and energy drinks cannot reach makes it a highly rational recovery option for busy men.

At the same time, chronic fatigue often masks other underlying conditions. If you have severe malaise lasting more than two weeks, accompanied by weight loss, low-grade fever, or cold sweats, please consider an internal medicine workup before injection. Our clinic organizes the causes of fatigue through a physician interview and proposes the necessary tests and administration plan.

Do not ignore fatigue. That is the first choice that decides tomorrow performance. The medical team at Mens Care Clinic will propose the optimal plan tailored to your condition.