NAD+ IV Therapy

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) sits at the center of cellular energy production. It shuttles electrons in the reactions that turn food into ATP, and it is the required fuel for two families of repair enzymes: sirtuins, which regulate longevity and metabolic pathways, and PARPs, which repair damaged DNA. As NAD+ levels fall with age, those repair and energy systems run less efficiently.

Oral NAD+ is largely broken down in the gut, so most supplements use precursors (like nicotinamide riboside or NMN) that the body must convert. IV NAD+ delivers the molecule directly into the bloodstream, which is the rationale behind the longer, higher-dose infusions clinics offer. Because rapid delivery is uncomfortable, the drip is given slowly over 60–90 minutes and the nurse titrates the rate to your tolerance.

After a health screen and IV placement, the NAD+ infusion runs slowly — often the longest of the common drips. Many people feel a wave of chest pressure, flushing, stomach cramping, or a need to "slow down" if the rate is too fast; this is expected, not dangerous, and the nurse will dial the drip back until it is comfortable.

There is no sedation and no downtime afterward. Some people report a clear-headed, energized feeling that day or over a course of sessions; responses vary widely and part of any effect may come from hydration and expectation. Frequency ranges from a single session to a loading series followed by maintenance, guided by your provider.

The science that NAD+ levels decline with age and that restoring them improves cellular function is well supported in laboratory and animal research — reviewed in depth by Rajman, Chwalek, and Sinclair in Cell Metabolism (2018).

Human evidence is much earlier. Most clinical trials to date study oral NAD+ precursors (nicotinamide riboside, NMN) rather than IV NAD+; these reliably raise blood NAD+ levels but have shown only modest, inconsistent effects on measurable outcomes. Rigorous controlled trials of intravenous NAD+ specifically are scarce.

The honest bottom line: the rationale is strong and the safety record at clinic doses is reasonable, but IV NAD+ should be viewed as a promising, still-unproven wellness therapy rather than an established treatment for aging, cognition, or addiction. Discuss expectations with a qualified provider.