Updated on October 1, 2026 by John Ingham
Injectable NAD+ is not FDA-approved to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other psychiatric disorders. Evidence for psychiatric benefit is limited, and its role in mental health treatment remains investigational.
NAD+ is involved in normal cellular processes, but that does not establish that injections or infusions improve psychiatric symptoms. It should not replace evidence-based clinical care.
What Is NAD+
NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It is a coenzyme found in every cell in the body and plays a central role in energy production and cellular repair.
NAD+ participates in cellular metabolism and signaling. Research into these biological roles does not by itself demonstrate that injectable NAD+ improves cognition, stress responses, or psychiatric symptoms in humans.
How NAD+ Injections and Infusions May Support Mental Health
NAD+ therapy is being studied for its ability to support brain chemistry and improve how the brain handles stress and recovery.
Claims sometimes made about NAD+ include the following; these are not established psychiatric benefits of injections or infusions:
- Improving dopamine and serotonin balance (not established clinically)
- Improving focus and mental clarity
- Reducing fatigue and burnout
- Helping regulate mood
- Assisting with brain fog and cognitive slowing
Clinical evidence has not established that injectable NAD+ makes psychotherapy more effective for depression, anxiety, trauma-related conditions, or co-occurring disorders.
NAD+ Intake Methods Compared
Comparative evidence does not establish a preferred delivery method or psychiatric “best use” for NAD+. Absorption alone does not demonstrate mental-health benefit.
When NAD+ Injections and Infusions May Be Considered
Depression and Low Energy
Low motivation, fatigue, and slowed thinking are common in depression, but evidence that injectable NAD+ improves these symptoms is limited.
Anxiety and Chronic Stress
Injectable NAD+ has not been established as an effective treatment for anxiety or chronic stress.
Trauma and Cognitive Fatigue
Working through trauma can be mentally exhausting. Evidence that injectable NAD+ improves focus or trauma processing during treatment is limited.
Dual Diagnosis
For individuals navigating multiple mental health conditions, treatment should address each condition using established clinical approaches; psychiatric benefit from injectable NAD+ remains unproven.
What Remains Unproven About NAD+ Therapy
Reliable clinical evidence has not established that injectable NAD+ improves these outcomes:
- Mental clarity and focus
- Emotional regulation
- Energy levels
- Sleep patterns
- Stress resilience
- Reduced cognitive fatigue
It is not an established treatment for mental health conditions, and claims that it improves engagement in treatment remain uncertain.
NAD+ Injections and Infusions Alongside Other Mental Health Treatments
Some clinics offer NAD+ alongside other treatments, but this does not establish an additional psychiatric benefit.
The effectiveness and safety of adding NAD+ to treatments such as ketamine or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) have not been established.
Treatments NAD+ may be utilized alongside of may include:
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Somatic Experiencing
- Psychodrama
- Trauma-Informed Therapy
- Medication Management
- Neurofeedback
- Mindfulness and Meditation-Based Therapies Art
- Experiential Therapies
- Ketamine therapy
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
NAD+ should not replace these treatments, and its additional clinical benefit has not been established.
Is NAD+ Therapy Safe
Compounded sterile NAD+ injections carry quality and safety considerations. FDA has reported severe chills, shaking, vomiting, and fatigue after injectable NAD+, with some cases requiring medical care. FDA has also warned about microbial and endotoxin contamination risks when unsuitable ingredients are used for sterile compounding.
As with any treatment, it should be guided by a medical professional who understands the full clinical picture.
Final Thoughts
NAD+ therapy is gaining attention, but biological plausibility should not be confused with demonstrated psychiatric benefit.
Evidence for clearer thinking, improved energy, or better treatment engagement from injectable NAD+ remains limited.
For individuals exploring options beyond traditional approaches, NAD+ is worth understanding in context, especially when combined with structured, evidence-based care.
Frequently Asked Questions About NAD+ for Mental Health
What is NAD+
NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It is a coenzyme found in every cell that helps your body produce energy and maintain normal cellular function. In the brain, it plays a role in neurotransmitter activity, focus, and how the body responds to stress.
What is NAD+ therapy used for
Injectable NAD+ is marketed for a range of wellness purposes, but it is not FDA-approved to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other psychiatric disorders. Evidence for psychiatric benefit is limited.
Does NAD+ help with mental health
Evidence for psychiatric benefit from injectable NAD+ is limited. Claims that it balances dopamine or serotonin, improves mood stability, or enhances therapy have not been established in adequate clinical studies.
Is NAD+ therapy safe
Compounded injectable NAD+ carries quality and safety risks. FDA has received reports of severe chills, shaking, vomiting, and fatigue, sometimes requiring medical care. A clinical setting does not eliminate these risks.
What is the best way to take NAD+
No delivery method has been established as the best way to treat psychiatric disorders with NAD+. Delivery into the bloodstream does not establish clinical benefit or justify ranking methods by mental-health effectiveness.
Sources
- Blum, K., Gondré-Lewis, M. C., Modestino, E. J., Baron, D., McLaughlin, T., Gold, M. S., & Steinberg, B. (2022). Open-label pilot study of NAD+ combination infusion (descriptive reference label). Psychological Research and Behavior Management, 15, 2749–2758. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36118157/
- de Mello Gindri, I., de Oliveira, J. A., de Assis, A. M., de Souza, L. F., de Souza, D. O., & Moreira, J. C. F. (2024). Evaluation of safety and effectiveness of NAD in different clinical conditions: A systematic review. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 326(1), E1–E13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37971292/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024, October 30). FDA reminds compounders to use ingredients suitable for sterile compounding. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/fda-reminds-compounders-use-ingredients-suitable-sterile-compounding
- Cleveland Clinic. (2026, February 26). NAD+ supplements: Can they really slow down aging? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/nad-supplement
- Wang, J., Zhang, X., Zhang, L., Wang, X., & Wang, Q. (2022). Potential therapeutic effects of NAMPT-mediated NAD biosynthesis on depression and anxiety. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, Article 1097807. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9775136/
- Radenkovic, D., Reason, A., Verdin, E., & Hughes, B. G. M. (2020). Clinical evidence for targeting NAD therapeutically. Pharmaceuticals, 13(9), 247. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7558103/
- Qader, M. A., Al-Mamari, S. A. A., Al-Lawati, H. A. H., Al-Harthi, M. A. H., Al-Rawahi, M. S. A., & Al-Mahrouqi, H. H. T. (2025). A systematic review of the therapeutic potential of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) precursors on cognitive impairments in several diseases. BMC Neuroscience, 26, Article 13. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11877801/
- Conscious Health & Wellness Center. (n.d.). The benefits of NAD+ IV infusion therapy. Retrieved April 7, 2026, from https://conscioushealthcenter.com/nad-iv-infusion/