What to do if IV fluid is not dripping? A comprehensive troubleshooting guide

October 2, 2025 •

5 min read

IV therapy failure is a surprisingly common occurrence in both clinical and home settings, with one study suggesting that peripheral IV catheters fail up to 50% of the time. Knowing what to do if IV fluid is not dripping can help you perform simple checks and ensure patient safety.

Quick Summary

Before panicking, perform a series of simple checks: ensure the clamp is open, the tubing isn't kinked, and the IV bag is elevated. A change in arm position can often resolve flow issues, but persistent problems require professional evaluation from a healthcare provider.

Key Points

First Step: Assess Safely: Always stop the infusion before troubleshooting anything and check the immediate area for any obvious issues.
Check the Basics First: Ensure the IV bag is elevated, clamps are open, and the tubing is free of kinks or twists.
Consider Catheter Position: A simple change in arm or body position can often resolve flow issues caused by the catheter pressing against a vein wall.
Identify Infiltration Signs: Look for swelling, coolness, or pain at the IV site, which indicates fluid leaking into the tissue and requires immediate nursing attention.
Do Not Force Flow: Never attempt to forcefully flush a potentially clogged line yourself, as this can be dangerous. Only a trained professional should perform this action.
When to Call a Pro: If basic checks fail or you see signs of infiltration, pain, or infection, contact your healthcare provider or nurse immediately.

Initial Checks for a Stopped IV

When you notice that your IV fluid has stopped dripping, your first priority is to remain calm. A pause in the flow does not always indicate a serious issue. Start with these simple, step-by-step checks before considering more complex problems. Always be cautious and follow your care provider's instructions, especially regarding IVs administered at home.

Check the IV Bag and Height

For a gravity-fed IV, the height of the IV bag is crucial for fluid flow. The force of gravity pulls the fluid down, and if the bag is too low, the pressure might not be sufficient to overcome resistance in the line or vein. Make sure the IV bag is hung on the pole at the prescribed height, typically significantly higher than the IV insertion site.

Is the bag empty? A simple, often-overlooked reason for a stopped drip is that the bag has run out of fluid. Check the fluid level to confirm. If it's empty, alert your nurse for a replacement. Do not attempt to change the bag yourself unless you have been specifically trained to do so.
Is the bag spiked correctly? Ensure the spike is fully inserted into the bag's port. A loose connection can cause a vacuum, preventing fluid from flowing into the drip chamber.

Inspect the Tubing

IV tubing is flexible and can easily become crimped or twisted, which will obstruct the flow of fluid.

Look for kinks: Follow the entire length of the tubing, from the IV bag down to the catheter insertion site. Gently straighten any obvious bends or kinks. Check particularly around the patient's arm and under the bed linens.
Examine the roller clamp: This clamp controls the flow rate and might have been accidentally closed. Roll the clamp to the open position and observe if the drip restarts. If a drip-rate regulator is being used, ensure the settings have not been altered.

Reposition the Limb

Sometimes, the IV catheter's tip can be pressing against the wall of the vein, especially if the patient's arm is bent at an awkward angle. This can stop the flow without any external signs of a problem.

Gently change arm position: Try straightening the limb with the IV. If the patient is lying down, have them shift slightly. A minor positional change may be all that is needed to move the catheter tip away from the vein wall and restart the flow.

Common Causes and Solutions for IV Flow Stoppage

If the basic checks don't solve the problem, a more specific issue may be at play. Understanding the underlying causes can help you describe the situation accurately to a healthcare professional.

Catheter Occlusion (Clog)

An IV line can become clogged by a blood clot, especially if the infusion rate is very slow or if there's been a backflow of blood into the catheter. This is a common problem.

Symptoms: Inability to flush the catheter (for trained home-care patients), lack of blood return when drawing back on a syringe, or complete cessation of flow despite other checks.
Solution: A trained nurse may attempt a saline flush to dislodge the clot. Never attempt to force fluid through a blocked line yourself, as this could dislodge the clot into the bloodstream. If flushing is unsuccessful, the catheter will likely need to be replaced.

Infiltration and Extravasation

Infiltration occurs when IV fluid leaks into the surrounding tissue instead of flowing into the vein. Extravasation is a more serious type of infiltration involving vesicant medications that can cause tissue damage.

Symptoms: Swelling, coolness, or blanching of the skin around the IV site, pain, discomfort, and a feeling of tightness.
Solution: Immediately stop the infusion and notify a nurse. The IV catheter must be removed, and a new one started in a different location. The affected limb should be elevated, and a warm or cold compress may be applied, as directed by the type of fluid that infiltrated.

Air in the IV Line

Although modern IV bags and tubing are designed to minimize this, air can sometimes enter the line and create an airlock that stops the fluid flow.

Symptoms: Large bubbles or an air gap visible in the tubing.
Solution: If air is present, clamp the line immediately and notify a nurse. They are trained to safely remove air from the tubing by priming the line.

Comparison of Common IV Problems


Issue	Symptoms	What to Do	What to Avoid
Kinked Tubing	Visible bend or twist in the line.	Straighten the tubing gently.	Ignoring it, as it will stop flow.
Catheter Position	Flow stops when limb is bent; resumes when straightened.	Gently reposition the patient's limb.	Bending the limb again unnecessarily.
Occlusion	Inability to flush; no blood return; no fluid flow.	Alert a nurse immediately.	Forcing a flush or forcing fluid to flow.
Infiltration	Swelling, coolness, pain at site.	Stop infusion, call a nurse, elevate limb.	Continuing the infusion or ignoring symptoms.
Empty Bag	Drip chamber and bag are empty.	Alert a nurse for a replacement.	Attempting to change the bag yourself.

When to Contact a Healthcare Professional

While some issues can be resolved with simple checks, many require professional intervention. You should contact a nurse or doctor immediately if you observe any of the following:

The drip does not restart after performing basic checks.
There are signs of infiltration or extravasation, such as swelling, pain, or skin changes.
The IV site is red, warm to the touch, or painful, which could indicate an infection (phlebitis).
You cannot identify the source of the problem.
The IV catheter has come out of the vein.
You are experiencing any severe pain or discomfort.

For more detailed information on preventing IV complications, consult with an authoritative source, such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

Conclusion: Prioritizing Safety

An IV that has stopped dripping can be a source of anxiety, but often the cause is something minor and easily fixed. By following a calm, systematic troubleshooting approach, you can rule out the most common issues. The key takeaway is to never attempt invasive or potentially dangerous fixes, such as forcefully flushing the line or ignoring signs of a serious problem. If you are ever in doubt, the safest and most prudent course of action is always to contact your healthcare provider for assistance. Your health and safety are the top priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common reasons for an IV drip to stop include a kink in the tubing, the patient's body position causing the catheter to press against the vein wall, or a roller clamp being accidentally closed.

If your IV site looks swollen, it could be a sign of infiltration. You should immediately stop the infusion, notify a nurse, and elevate the affected limb.

Slight fluctuations in the drip rate can be normal, especially with a gravity-fed IV, but a complete stop is not. If the drip rate significantly slows or stops, it is a sign that there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

No, you should never attempt to fix a clotted IV line yourself. A trained nurse may be able to flush the catheter, but forcing fluid can be dangerous. The best course of action is to contact your healthcare provider.

If you notice a large air bubble or a gap in the fluid in the IV tubing, clamp the line immediately to prevent more air from entering and call for a nurse. They will need to re-prime the line to remove the air.

For a gravity-fed infusion, the IV bag should be elevated significantly higher than the insertion site. The specific height can vary, so always follow your nurse's instructions to ensure proper flow.

If the IV comes out, immediately apply pressure with sterile gauze over the site to stop any bleeding. Once the bleeding has stopped, apply a bandage and call your healthcare provider or home health agency immediately for guidance.