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NAD+ IV Therapy

Last Updated on September 13, 2022 by Carol Gillette

Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Dr Julia Britz NMD

NAD+ is a powerful molecule found in every single cell of the body. Its job is to assist in biochemical reactions and supply the mitochondria with the energy it needs to maintain good sleep, stabilize mood, and ensure our immune systems work properly. This makes NAD+ IV therapy an essential therapeutic tool.

What is NAD+ IV Therapy and How Does it work?

nad+ iv therapyNAD+ truly is the master metabolizer! It has many roles, but the one I’ll focus on is its main function of electron transfer. NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is involved in redox (reduction of oxidation) reactions. This is a molecular exchange of accepting electrons, and then donating them, which generates and frees up potential energy. The electrons (stored energy) carried by NAD+ convert to ATP in the mitochondria (like the “battery” in the cells) via a process called oxidative phosphorylation. This results in energy production.

When the body has all the necessary ingredients for this process, our cells are well nourished and we feel good! When we don’t have them, we feel weak and sick. So, here’s where it gets interesting …

Around age 25 our body really slows down in the production of NAD+.1 An adequate level of NAD+ plays a protective role against cell degradation and aging. In fact, researchers in neuroscience are now calling NAD+ “the anti-aging molecule.”10 Not only does getting older decrease our storage of NAD+, but so does stress, chronic illness, poor sleep, overeating, and drug/alcohol use. Our bodies do naturally continue to produce small amounts of NAD+ from tryptophan and aspartic acid in combination with niacin (vitamin B3) — but real magic happens when we get therapeutic NAD+ IV doses.2,9

When I say “magic,” I’m not kidding.

Benefits of NAD+ IV Therapy

Deficient or depleted levels of natural chemicals such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, and dopamine — can be restored naturally, for instance, with diet and supplementation. With depleted NAD+ levels, we tend to also see low dopamine.3 NAD+ helps restore these neurotransmitters, and IV therapy may provide relief.

NAD+ can be considered for people with a variety of conditions.4-12

Conditions that restoring NAD+ may help include:
  • Addiction
  • Medication tapering support
  • OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Psychosis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Parkinson’s
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Age-related degenerative conditions
  • Psoriasis
  • Reversing neurodegenerative decline
  • Glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration
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NAD+ for Mental Health in Antidepressant Users

Research has opened up some bright wide vistas for potential benefits of restoring NAD in persons experiencing depression and other mental health symptoms.  A research study from 2015 reports that antidepressant users in particular may experience a decline in NAD levels. The relation between decreased NAD and antidepressant use needs further study, but adequate levels of NAD (a form of niacin) has already been established as a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for various conditions that could have been unsuccessfully treated with antidepressant medications, instead of correcting the diet and the use of IV treatments to restore NAD. We do know from lab testing that patients with poor dietary habits often develop a deficiency in NAD, which is a necessary component for natural mental well-being and physical health as well.13

NAD+ and Holistic Addiction Treatment

nad+ iv therapyTryptophan turns into NAD+ in the liver, which is partially why alcohol and drug use deplete it. NAD+ therapy is done intravenously over a few hours. Most people notice improvement very quickly which is one reason I like it so much. When I say “improvement” what I mean is that people report improved sleep, more stable mood, better energy, and reduced/eliminated tapering symptoms.

Yes, there are oral supplements, but you just can’t reach therapeutic doses with them. I do like them for keeping levels up between drips, but I don’t find them to be “enough” on their own for most people to notice a difference.

I see people get “stuck” near the end of their taper, experiencing those interdosing withdrawal symptoms, not being able to cut down to the next dose and that’s where I see NAD+ IV therapy do a lot for people.

We currently offer NAD+ IV in Sedona, AZ at Alternative to Meds Center. See our IV therapy page


1. Massudi H, Grant R, Braidy N, Guest J, Farnsworth B, Guillemin GJ Age-associated changes in oxidative stress and NAD+ metabolism in human tissue. Abstract, PubMed [INTERNET] 2012 Jul 27 [cited 2020 May 7]

2. Bakker BM, Overkamp KM, van Maris AJA , Kötter P, Luttik MAH, van Dijken JP, Pronk JT Stoichiometry and compartmentation of NADH metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Abstract, Oxford Academic, FEMS Microbiology Review [INTERNET] 2001 Jan 1 [cited 2020 May 7]

3. Miller CL The evolution of schizophrenia: a model for selection by infection, with a focus on NAD. Abstract, PubMed [INTERNET] 2009 [cited 2020 May 7]

4. Wan FJ, Lin HC, Kang BH, Tseng CJ, Tung CS D-amphetamine-induced depletion of energy and dopamine in the rat striatum is attenuated by nicotinamide pretreatment. Abstract, PubMed [INTERNET] 1999 Oct {cited 2020 May 7]

5. Demarin V, Podobnik SS, Storga-Tomic D, Kay G Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with stabilized oral nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide: a randomized, double-blind study. Abstract, PubMed [INTERNET] 2004 [cited 2020 May 7]

6. Braidy N, Liu Y. NAD+ therapy in age-related degenerative disorders: A benefit/risk analysis. Exp Gerontol. 2020 Apr;132:110831. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.110831. Epub 2020 Jan 7. PMID: 31917996. [cited 2022 Sept 9]

7. Radenkovic D, Reason, Verdin E. Clinical Evidence for Targeting NAD Therapeutically. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020 Sep 15;13(9):247. doi: 10.3390/ph13090247. PMID: 32942582; PMCID: PMC7558103.[cited 2022 Sept 9]

8. Grant R, Berg J, Mestayer R, Braidy N, Bennett J, Broom S, Watson J. A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD. Front Aging Neurosci. 2019 Sep 12;11:257. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00257. PMID: 31572171; PMCID: PMC6751327. [cited 2022 Sept 9]

9. Braidy N, Villalva MD, van Eeden S. Sobriety and Satiety: Is NAD+ the Answer? Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 May 14;9(5):425. doi: 10.3390/antiox9050425. PMID: 32423100; PMCID: PMC7278809. [cited 2022 Sept 9]

10. Shade C. The Science Behind NMN-A Stable, Reliable NAD+Activator and Anti-Aging Molecule. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2020 Feb;19(1):12-14. PMID: 32549859; PMCID: PMC7238909. [cited 2022 Sept 9]

11. Cimaglia G, Votruba M, Morgan JE, André H, Williams PA. Potential Therapeutic Benefit of NAD+ Supplementation for Glaucoma and Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Nutrients. 2020 Sep 19;12(9):2871. doi: 10.3390/nu12092871. PMID: 32961812; PMCID: PMC7551676. [cited 2022 Sept 9]

12. Williams PA, Harder JM, John SWM. Glaucoma as a Metabolic Optic Neuropathy: Making the Case for Nicotinamide Treatment in Glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 2017 Dec;26(12):1161-1168. doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000000767. PMID: 28858158; PMCID: PMC5854489. [cited 2022 Sept 9]

13. Viljoen M, Swanepoel A, Bipath P. Antidepressants may lead to a decrease in niacin and NAD in patients with poor dietary intake. Med Hypotheses. 2015 Mar;84(3):178-82. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2014.12.017. Epub 2014 Dec 30. PMID: 25596911. [cited 2022 Sept 9]


Originally Published Jan 20, 2020 by Diane Ridaeus


This content has been written by a licensed Naturopathic Doctor.

Julia Britz

Julia Britz is a licensed naturopathic doctor who received her training from Bastyr University in San Diego, CA. She specializes in supporting people who are struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, OCD and eating disorders; as well as a chronic illness like autoimmunity and mold toxicity. Her passion for working with individuals suffering from these lonely conditions is that she too was a “hopeless case”, but got better.

Dismissed by doctors, she was told over and over there was nothing else she could try beyond pharmacotherapy, and so was inspired to create myocddiary.com, a site dedicated to documenting the daily life of OCD and related disorders. Through this project and holistic therapies, she found new levels of wellness, and in 2014 did a TED talk called “MyOCDdiary: an imperfect story.”  

She utilizes natural and integrative modalities including targeted amino acid therapy, peptide therapy, micronutrient therapy, NAD+ and IV therapy, botanical medicine and epigenetic analysis. Dr. Britz listens to her patients and respects where each person is on their healing journey. She understands that each individual has unique needs and she is passionate about finding creative ways to support them and optimize their health. She is passionate about the work being done at ATMC, by the healthcare team and the residents, because true healing happens when we all heal together. 

In her personal life, Dr. Britz loves to paint, go backcountry camping with her siblings, bake and explore ghost towns. Originally from Las Vegas, she now enjoys living in Arizona with her adorable cat, Icky Thump.

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NAD+ IV Therapy
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