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Longevity medicine · UK

NAD+ IV therapy, honest about the evidence.

A pharmacy-grade NAD+ infusion prescribed by a GMC-registered doctor. Real preliminary evidence for addiction recovery and selected fatigue. Thin evidence for anti-ageing in a healthy adult, and a good provider will say so before you pay.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What NAD+ IV therapy costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private clinics.

In short

A single 500 mg NAD+ IV in London: £400 to £550, home the same afternoon.

Session Indicative range
Medical screen and written plan £120–£180
NAD+ IV, 250 mg (introductory dose) £300–£420
NAD+ IV, 500 mg (standard session) £400–£550
NAD+ IV, 750–1,000 mg (extended) £550–£800
Course of 3 sessions (500 mg) £950–£1,500
Course of 6 sessions (addiction recovery protocol) £1,900–£3,500
Subcutaneous NAD+ (less invasive alternative) £180–£280

Prices vary by clinic, dose, whether the drip is delivered in a private suite, and whether a doctor is on site throughout. Most UK health insurers do not cover NAD+ IV therapy: it is a self-pay treatment.

The problem

Marketing outstrips evidence in this market.

NAD is a real coenzyme, central to cellular energy, sirtuin activity and PARP DNA repair. Levels decline with age. That does not mean every drip bar can sell you a longevity cure. It helps to split what is genuinely useful from what is being oversold.

  • Is IV even the right route?

    Oral nicotinamide riboside raises NAD levels in humans, costs a fraction, and has stronger safety data. For most goals, a trial of oral NR is the honest first step.

  • Is a drip bar the right setting?

    IV NAD+ is a prescription medicine. A clinic that will not name its prescriber, its compounding pharmacy or its aftercare pathway is not the right place to receive it.

  • What are you actually treating?

    A structured addiction-recovery programme has real evidence. Vague anti-ageing does not. A good provider will tell you which bucket you are in.

The journey

From medical screen to honest review.

A short screen, a plan in writing, an infusion delivered by a nurse under prescription, and a follow-up that is willing to stop if nothing has shifted.

  1. 01

    Before

    A short medical screen

    A telephone or video review with a GMC-registered doctor. What you are hoping to fix, current medications, kidney and liver history, pregnancy status, and a realistic conversation about evidence.

  2. 02

    Before

    A written plan and a firm price

    Single infusion or a structured course of three to six. Dose, drip time, expected side effects, oral alternatives, and total cost, in writing before you commit.

  3. 03

    On the day

    Line, baseline observations, slow start

    A cannula, blood pressure and pulse baseline, then a low starting rate. NAD+ is uncomfortable if run in fast, so the pace is patient-led.

  4. 04

    On the day

    The infusion, 2 to 4 hours

    Between 250 mg and 1,000 mg over two to four hours. Flushing, cramping, chest tightness and nausea are common and dose-limiting. The nurse titrates the rate to keep it tolerable.

  5. 05

    On the day

    Line out, short recovery

    A short observation once the bag is done, water and a snack, then home. No sedation, no driving restriction, most people go straight back to work.

  6. 06

    After

    Review at two to four weeks

    An honest read on whether you noticed a difference. If nothing has shifted, the sensible step is to stop rather than buy a package. If the response is real, maintenance can be discussed.

When it helps

Where the evidence is real, and where it is not.

The genuine indications, in descending order of evidence quality, plus the ones the marketing loves and the science does not yet support.

  • Structured post-addiction recovery

    The strongest human signal. Small trials and clinical programmes report reduced cravings and withdrawal symptoms during a supervised 6 to 10 day protocol. Not a stand-alone cure.

  • Selected chronic fatigue

    Some patients with well-worked-up chronic fatigue report short-term improvement in energy and clarity. Evidence is anecdotal to preliminary, not definitive.

  • Post-viral fatigue, cautiously

    A subset of long-COVID and post-viral patients feel benefit. Trial data is limited and mixed. Worth trialling only after standard work-up.

  • Brain fog and cognitive support

    Small studies suggest a signal for processing speed and mental clarity. Effect sizes are modest and the placebo response in this space is large.

  • Anti-ageing in a healthy adult

    Where the evidence is thinnest. Most positive data is from mouse models. Human RCTs are small and short. Do not expect a longevity benefit.

  • Skin, hair, general wellness

    Marketing claims outstrip evidence. If cosmetic improvement is your only goal, IV NAD+ is not a rational use of the money.

  • Athletic recovery

    Preliminary and largely anecdotal. Oral NR is a cheaper first step. A course is not recommended purely on this indication.

  • Red flag: it will not treat depression

    IV NAD+ is not a treatment for major depression, bipolar disorder or a substitute for psychiatric care. If mood is the issue, see a psychiatrist first.

Your options

IV, subcutaneous, or oral. And sometimes: none of the above.

What each route involves, what it costs, and where a biomarker workup or a plain no is the honest recommendation.

  • IV NAD+ infusion (standard)

    250 to 1,000 mg diluted in saline over two to four hours, titrated to tolerance. The most-studied route, and where the human data sits.

  • Subcutaneous NAD+ (SC)

    Smaller doses under the skin. Cheaper, quicker and less uncomfortable. Bioavailability is lower and evidence is thinner. Reasonable for maintenance.

  • Oral nicotinamide riboside (NR)

    Tru Niagen and similar. Raises blood NAD levels in humans. Good safety record. Not proven to extend lifespan or reverse ageing.

  • Oral nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)

    Also raises NAD. Regulatory status in the UK is unclear. Less human data than NR. A reasonable trial before committing to IV.

  • Addiction recovery protocol

    A structured 6 to 10 day IV course inside a supervised programme, alongside psychotherapy and standard addiction care. The most credible use case.

  • Longevity biomarker panel

    Before spending on IV NAD+, a biomarker workup and epigenetic age test is often a more rational first step.

  • Second opinion

    If a clinic has quoted you a large package, an independent second opinion on whether it is worth it is reasonable before you commit.

  • When to say no

    For an otherwise healthy adult chasing longevity, the honest answer is often: not yet, the evidence is not there.

What to look for in a provider

Proper longevity clinics, not drip bars.

Named prescribers, licensed compounding pharmacies and batch traceability are the markers to look for.

  • Prescribed by a GMC-registered doctor after a proper screen, never a walk-in drip bar

  • CQC-registered clinics with aseptic preparation and named nursing staff

  • Pharmacy-grade NAD+ from a UK-licensed compounding pharmacy, batch-tested

  • Written informed consent covering flushing, cramping, nausea and chest tightness

Safety and side effects

What to expect, honestly.

IV NAD+ is uncomfortable if run in fast. Slow titration and a nurse in the room matter more than any single dose figure.

  • Flushing and warmth

    The most common effect. A hot, prickly sensation across the face and chest during the infusion. Slowing the drip settles it.

  • Cramping and chest tightness

    Cramps in the chest, abdomen or limbs, and a heavy chest feeling, are dose-limiting. This is why the drip must be run slowly over hours.

  • Nausea

    Common and rate-related. Anti-emetic on standby, slower rate, small sips of water. Rarely reaches vomiting when the drip is properly titrated.

  • Anxiety during the infusion

    The physical symptoms can feel alarming. A calm environment, a nurse in the room and an honest brief beforehand matter more than any pre-medication.

  • Not in pregnancy or breastfeeding

    Safety data is inadequate. NAD+ IV is not offered in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

  • Caution with active cancer

    NAD+ interacts with PARP and sirtuin pathways relevant to tumour biology. Discuss with your oncologist first. Not offered without clearance.

  • Kidney and liver review

    Basic renal and hepatic function is checked. Adjustments or refusal in significant impairment.

  • Grey-market drip bars

    A recurring concern. Untraceable NAD+, no medical prescriber, no aftercare. If a clinic will not name its prescriber or its compounding pharmacy, walk away.

  • Cost is a real side effect

    A course of six sessions is £1,900 to £3,500. In a healthy person chasing longevity, that money is often better spent elsewhere.

Related

Where NAD+ IV sits in a longevity workup

FAQs

Six honest answers before you book.

Does NAD+ IV therapy actually work?

It depends on what you want it to do. For a structured post-addiction recovery programme there is preliminary human evidence. For selected chronic fatigue and cognitive symptoms there is a modest signal. For anti-ageing or longevity in a healthy adult, most positive data is from mouse studies and small human trials, and the honest answer is that it is not proven. A good provider will say which category you sit in before you pay.

How is NAD+ IV different from oral NR or NMN?

Oral nicotinamide riboside (Tru Niagen) and nicotinamide mononucleotide raise blood NAD levels in humans, cost far less, and have a stronger safety record. IV NAD+ delivers a much larger dose directly, which is why it is used in structured addiction recovery. Neither route is proven to extend human lifespan. For most goals, trying oral NR first is the sensible order.

What does a session feel like?

A cannula, a slow drip over two to four hours, and a nurse titrating the rate. Expect flushing, warmth, chest tightness, abdominal cramping and nausea, especially in the first hour. These are dose-limiting: the drip is slowed until they settle. Once the bag is finished, you go home and back to normal activity.

How much does IV NAD+ cost in London?

A single 500 mg infusion is typically £400 to £550. A 750 to 1,000 mg extended session is £550 to £800. A structured course of three sessions is £950 to £1,500 and a six-session addiction-recovery course is £1,900 to £3,500. Subcutaneous NAD+ is £180 to £280 per dose.

Is it safe? Who should not have it?

It is generally well tolerated when run slowly by trained staff. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Active cancer patients need oncology clearance because of NAD interactions with PARP and sirtuin pathways. Renal and hepatic function is reviewed first. The greatest safety risk is unregulated drip bars that will not name their prescriber or their compounding pharmacy.

Should I buy a package if it is unlikely to help?

No. If your goals are cosmetic, general wellness or vague anti-ageing in an otherwise healthy adult, the evidence does not justify the cost. An oral trial or a biomarker workup first is more sensible than committing to a course.