NAD+
NAD+ is a coenzyme present in every living cell and central to energy metabolism and DNA repair, which some clinics offer as an injection or IV infusion.
Regulatory status: Injectable and IV NAD+ are not FDA-approved. They are offered as compounded products, and NAD+'s eligibility as a bulk substance for compounding has been an area of active FDA scrutiny rather than settled approval.
Default vial
500 mg
Default mix
10 mL
Reported range
50–100 mg
Draw (U-100)
150 u
Inject slowly — rapid administration is the usual cause of flushing and chest tightness.
What it is
- A coenzyme essential to redox reactions in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
- Also a substrate for sirtuin and PARP enzymes involved in DNA repair and gene regulation.
- Sold as injectable or IV formulations by compounding pharmacies and IV clinics; oral precursors such as NR and NMN are regulatorily distinct products.
- Human study of the injectable form is mostly small IV work, including a controversial history in addiction-treatment settings.
How it is described to act
- 1
Given by IV or intramuscular injection, it enters the bloodstream directly, bypassing the absorption limits that affect oral precursors.
- 2
Proposed to be taken up by cells, though how much intact NAD+ crosses cell membranes rather than being broken down first is still debated.
- 3
Inside the cell it is a cofactor for sirtuins and PARP enzymes involved in mitochondrial function and DNA-repair signalling.
- 4
Clinical interest has centred on fatigue, addiction-recovery adjuncts and general wellness contexts, mostly in small or uncontrolled studies.
What the research has looked at
Precursor trials — indirect evidence
- Randomised trials of oral NAD+ precursors (NR, NMN) have reported measurable increases in blood NAD+ and were generally well tolerated. That is evidence about precursors, not about injected NAD+.
Injectable NAD+ specifically
- Direct human efficacy data for injectable NAD+ are much sparser than for precursors. Most claims for IV NAD+ in cognition or addiction come from small uncontrolled case series rather than randomised trials.
Strength of evidence: Limited human evidence
The biochemical rationale is solid and some human precursor data exist, but direct injectable-NAD+ efficacy evidence in people remains limited and largely uncontrolled.
Some human data exist, but they are small, short, or not designed to answer the questions people ask online.
Reported cautions and unknowns
- Small studies and clinical reports describe infusion-related discomfort such as chest tightness and nausea during rapid administration.
- Because injectable NAD+ is compounded rather than approved, sterility, concentration accuracy and long-term safety have not been verified through an FDA approval process.
References
Handling this vial
- Lyophilized vials are generally stored at 2–8 °C and kept out of light; once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water they are refrigerated and commonly discarded after 28 days.
- Mix by aiming water down the vial wall and rolling gently — do not shake — and never re-freeze a reconstituted vial.
- Pep-Tidy cannot verify what is in your vial. Ask your supplier for a current Certificate of Analysis (HPLC/MS).
NAD+ questions people ask
How do you reconstitute NAD+?
A common starting point for a 500 mg vial of NAD+ is 10 mL of bacteriostatic water, which gives 50 mg per mL. Aim the water down the inside wall of the vial, let it dissolve on its own, and roll gently instead of shaking. Pep-Tidy's reconstitution calculator will recalculate the numbers for any other vial size or water volume you use.
How many units of NAD+ is one dose?
At 50 mg per mL, that works out to about 150 units on a U-100 insulin syringe for a 75000 mcg dose. Change the vial size, water volume, or target dose in the calculator and the syringe reading updates with it. This is arithmetic, not a dosing recommendation.
What dosing schedule is reported for NAD+?
Published and community sources describe 50–100 mg, subcutaneous / im, every other day, typically run 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off. These figures describe what has been reported, not what anyone should take — talk to a licensed clinician first.
How should NAD+ be stored?
Lyophilized NAD+ vials are generally kept at 2–8 °C and out of light. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water they are refrigerated and commonly discarded after about 28 days. Never re-freeze a reconstituted vial and never shake it.
Read this before you act on anything above
Everything on this page is a summary of what other people have published — it is not medical advice, not a recommendation, and not a dosing instruction. Reported dose ranges describe what appears in the literature or in community protocols, not what anyone should take. Talk to a licensed clinician before using any peptide.