Yesterday, we heard Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman describe experiencing “sustained mental and physical energy” from taking NAD+ supplements Nicotinamide Riboside “NR”  (FAQs) (Anecdotes) and Nicotinamide Mononucleotide “NMN” (FAQs and Anecdotes). What about his experience with NAD+ IVs (FAQs)? Here’s what he said (transcript and video below):

Dr. Andrew Huberman (At the 13:20 mark below):

“And, so, let’s take a moment and talk about increasing NAD directly, because that’s something I have some recent experience with, and that’s becoming more common, and is, yes, still FDA approved, at least as far as I know.

There are companies that can come to your house OR you can go to a facility, and they will give you an NAD infusion.

So, they will infuse you directly with NAD into the vein.

I’ve done this twice now.

And, I will say, as most people experience when they do an NAD infusion, it’s pretty darn uncomfortable.

In fact, so much so that a lot of people have to take anti-nausea meds in order to get the NAD infusion.

I opted to not take the anti-nausea meds, not because I’m particularly tough, but because I don’t like taking additional medication if I can.

But I’ve taken anywhere from 500 to 1000 milligrams of NAD by infusion.

I did that at times when I was feeling particularly run-down, or post-illness.

And I did indeed find that after the NAD infusion was complete, I felt much, much better in a number of different ways — improved sleep, improved vigor, coming off those illnesses.

I felt much better.

But, again, there is no clinical trial exploring NAD infusion for sake of vigor, et cetera, that I’m aware of.

I just happen to be somebody who is interested in exploring these tools and techniques from time to time.

And I deemed this as safe.

Whether or not it’s safe for you, you have to explore with your physician.

Also, I want to reemphasize what I said a moment ago.

Those NAD infusions are pretty darn uncomfortable.

You can have the person administering the infusion adjust the rate of the infusion so that the drip is slower, which makes it more tolerable as opposed to trying to get the whole infusion bag in there in 45 minutes or less.

I just wanted to get the whole thing over with.

So, I just said, put it in as quickly as you reasonably and safely can.

It took about an hour, maybe 45 minutes to an hour.

Initially, I felt nauseous.

I felt like someone was stepping on my chest.

I felt like someone was stepping on my legs.

I felt like, well, I just felt lousy.

I felt so awful.

And, then, after about 10 minutes, it passed.

And I felt fine.

And, then after the infusion was done, as I mentioned before, I felt terrific.

I was still able to fall asleep that night just fine, although I did make a point to do this earlier in the day.

I have heard of some people doing NAD infusions later in the day and having challenges with sleep.

But, again, that’s just anecdotal.

Or we could call it anecdata, if you want, but it’s anecdotal.

It’s generally assumed for obvious reasons that NAD infusions are more effective at increasing cellular levels of NAD than NR or NMN or both together — although the direct comparison has not been made, as far as I know.

And there’s still this general question as to whether or not any of this stuff is getting into cells directly and impacting NAD levels in specific cells — although I think, most people assume that the NAD infusions certainly are.

Now, there are a number of different experts out there who debate all the fine points of everything that I just said — people like Dr. Charles Brenner (FAQs), and people like Dr. David Sinclair, and people like Matt Kaeberlein,

There are people who really actively and heatedly debate all the issues that I just talked about.

I think the greatest debate is around whether or not increasing NAD levels in cells actually increases lifespan.

But there’s also a debate around whether or not NR is more advantageous than NMN, whether or not all this is too premature to explore yet already.

Again, I just want to restate the third time, I don’t do any of this stuff in the NAD pathways for sake of increasing lifespan.

I do it for sake of the vitality and energy effects that I subjectively experience.

I must say that NAD infusions are expensive enough, inconvenient enough, and let’s just say uncomfortable enough, that I don’t see myself doing them very often, although perhaps maybe a couple of time a year or more makes sense should I find myself feeling rundown or post-illness fatigue, or things of that sort“

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