NAD+
Also known as Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD
Last reviewed · Awaiting clinical review
Main safety concerns
NAD+ is a coenzyme, not a peptide, and it is grouped here because it is used alongside peptide therapies. Most solid evidence is for oral precursors, not injections. Go slow, since fast dosing causes nausea and flushing.
- SeriousAvoid if: Active or recent cancer
- SeriousAvoid if: Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- WarningChest pressure or a racing heart during an IV drip
Educational information, not medical advice. If you have symptoms that worry you, contact a clinician or emergency services.
What is known
A cellular coenzyme central to energy and repair, injected to support energy and healthy aging.
On this page
What it is and how it works
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme every cell uses to turn food into energy and to run repair enzymes. Levels fall with age, which is the idea behind trying to restore it. The catch is that injected NAD+ is broken down and recycled quickly, and it is not clear how much raises levels inside cells. Note that NAD+ is not a peptide. It is included here because it is commonly used and sold next to peptide therapies.[1] [2]
Evidence by claim
Each claim is graded on its own. Tap a grade to see what it does and does not mean.
NAD+ is essential for energy metabolism and cellular repair, and its levels drop with age.
Source type: Review, Other
The biology is well established. Whether injecting NAD+ meaningfully raises tissue levels in people is less clear.
Boosts energy, focus, and healthy aging.
Source type: Review
No trial has tested injected NAD+ for energy or focus. Most human studies use oral precursors like NMN and NR, which are different from injected NAD+. Claims for injections come from users and clinics.
Helps with addiction recovery.
Source type: Review, Case report
The idea goes back to a 1961 report by one doctor, with no control group. Reviews say clinical studies are limited, and no controlled trial has shown it works.
Reported side effects
- WarningChest pressure or a racing heart during an IV drip(common)[2] [3]Seen during IV infusions and gone once the drip ended. Clinics slow the drip to ease it, but this has not been formally tested.
- CautionInjection site soreness(common)From user reports, not from any published study.
- CautionNausea, stomach cramps, or headache(common with IV drips)[3]Reported mainly during IV drips. In one small clinic study everyone on NAD+ had stomach symptoms during the drip, and they stopped when it ended.
Interactions and combination risks
- InfoOther longevity or peptide protocols
Often stacked with peptides in longevity routines. There is little formal data on any specific combination.
Who should avoid it
- SeriousActive or recent cancer
NAD+ fuels cell metabolism, which is a theoretical concern with cancer present.
- SeriousPregnancy or breastfeeding
No safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- WarningSevere liver or kidney disease, or unstable heart disease
Use only under close medical supervision.
Dosing
Placed after the evidence and risks on purpose. Nothing here is a recommendation for you.
| Route(s) | subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous (in a clinic) |
|---|---|
| Typical range | Community and clinic protocols, not from any published study: subcutaneous doses often start around 20 mg and work up to about 50 to 100 mg, sometimes with a short daily loading phase of 100 to 200 mg. Published IV studies used 500 mg a day for 4 days, or 750 mg dripped over 6 hours. |
| Frequency | 1 to 3 times weekly in community protocols, more often during a loading phase |
| Cycle guidance | Often a short loading phase, then ongoing maintenance. |
| Notes | Start low and go slow. In a small clinic study, everyone on a 500 mg IV drip had stomach upset, nausea, a faster heart rate, or chest pressure during the drip, and it stopped when the drip ended. A slow 6 hour drip in another small study caused no side effects. There is no published data on dosing. The blood is short and not well characterized in people. Doses are in tens of milligrams, so syringe volumes are larger than for most peptides. |
For the equipment itself, see syringes, needles, and the rest of the kit.
Reconstitution
| Vial sizes | 100 mg, 500 mg |
|---|---|
| Diluent | Often supplied as a ready made solution. If it is a powder, use bacteriostatic or sterile water. |
| Concentration | Example: a 500 mg vial plus 5 mL of water gives 100 mg/mL, so a 100 mg dose is 1 mL, which is 100 units on a U-100 syringe. Because doses are large, draws are bigger than for typical peptides. |
| Notes | Compounded NAD+ is often sold as an aqueous solution that needs no mixing. If yours is a powder, pick a water volume that gives an easy dose. |
General reconstitution technique
Units and volume arithmetic
Converts between an amount and syringe units for the vial and diluent you enter. It starts empty and does not suggest an amount. Open the full calculator
Result
Fill in steps 1 to 3 to see the arithmetic. Nothing here is a suggested amount.
Settings live in the address bar, so a pasted link reopens this calculator as you left it.
Educational arithmetic only. It does not choose an amount for you and is not medical or dosing advice. Verify every calculation independently.
Storage and stability
Dry powder (lyophilized)
| Temperature | Freeze for long term storage, or 2 to 8 short term |
|---|---|
| Shelf life | Many months when frozen |
| Notes | NAD+ is light sensitive. Keep it dark. |
After mixing
| Temperature | 2 to 8 (refrigerated) |
|---|---|
| Shelf life | About 1 to 2 weeks |
| Notes | Protect from light, do not freeze after mixing, and discard if the color changes. |
COA and purity notes
| Common adulterants | underdosed or mislabeled vials, solutions that have degraded from heat or light, wrong concentration versus the label |
|---|---|
| Mislabeling | NAD+ degrades with heat and light, so a fresh product and a recent COA matter. Check that the concentration matches the label. |
| Notes | Compounded and research NAD+ is unregulated. It is a coenzyme, not a peptide. |
Sources
[1]NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing
Covarrubias AJ et al. (Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology) 2021 (opens source in a new tab)· Review[2]A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD
Grant R et al. (Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience) 2019 (opens source in a new tab)· Other[3]Intravenous infusion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) versus nicotinamide riboside (NR): a retrospective tolerability pilot study in a real-world setting
Reyna K et al. (Frontiers in Aging) 2026 (opens source in a new tab)· Cohort study[4]Sobriety and Satiety: Is NAD+ the Answer?
Braidy N et al. (Antioxidants) 2020 (opens source in a new tab)· Review[5]Diphosphopyridine nucleotide in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of drug addiction. A preliminary report
O'Hollaren P (Western Journal of Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology) 1961 (opens source in a new tab)· Case report[6]Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the FD&C Act (categories list)
U.S. Food & Drug Administration 2026 (opens source in a new tab)· Regulatory record[7]Bulk Drug Substances Used in Compounding Under Section 503A of the FD&C Act
U.S. Food & Drug Administration 2026 (opens source in a new tab)· Regulatory record
Last reviewed 8 July 2026 · editorial status: reviewed