NAD+
Cellular energy & vitality support
How it works
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme present in every living cell. It shuttles electrons in the reactions that produce ATP — the energy currency of cellular metabolism — and is a required cofactor for enzymes involved in DNA repair (PARPs), circadian regulation, and stress response (sirtuins).
Intracellular NAD+ concentrations decline with age and with metabolic stress. The clinical hypothesis behind NAD+ therapy is that restoring the coenzyme pool supports the enzymes that depend on it. The evidence base is active and still evolving; benefits reported by members vary and are not guaranteed.
What is known about the class
Subcutaneous administration bypasses first-pass metabolism and permits sustained tissue exposure. Sublingual absorption is variable and depends on formulation.
The pharmacokinetics of exogenous NAD+ are complex — much of an administered dose is rapidly broken down to precursor molecules (nicotinamide, nicotinamide riboside) that cells re-synthesize into NAD+ intracellularly.
Class-level information. Individual dose, schedule, and monitoring are set by the prescribing physician.
How this medication is regulated
Compounded NAD+ is not an FDA-approved drug. It is prepared by a licensed 503A compounding pharmacy under an individual prescription; the FDA does not review compounded medications for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality before they are marketed.
The FDA does not review compounded medications for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality before they are marketed.
If a provider considers NAD+ for a member
A naturally occurring coenzyme central to cellular energy production, metabolic reactions, mitochondrial function, and redox balance. NAD+ levels decline with age, which has made replenishment a focus of longevity care. At Meridian it is prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy and offered only under a physician’s prescription and guidance.
A provider may evaluate NAD+ when cellular energy production, mental and physical vitality, or healthy-aging support are prominent in an individual’s assessment and the overall clinical picture supports it.
Typically a small subcutaneous injection self-administered at home with guidance from your care team — or a sublingual form, when clinically appropriate and available. Frequency and strength are individualized by the prescribing physician and adjusted based on your response.
What to know
- —Obtained only through a qualified pharmacy using sterile-compounding standards.
- —Compounded NAD+ is not an FDA-approved drug; the research base is active and still evolving.
- —Brief flushing, warmth, or nausea can occur around administration; your care team helps you manage this.
- —A licensed physician independently decides whether NAD+ is appropriate for you after reviewing your health information.
What’s new in NAD+
Curated from public sources. Meridian does not endorse individual studies or news outlets; inclusion is not medical advice.
Nothing new yet — check back soon.
Every treatment option is presented for educational purposes only. All prescribing decisions are made independently by a licensed physician after review of your health history, goals, medications, laboratory information, and clinical evaluation. Nothing on this page is an offer of treatment or a guarantee of outcomes.
Meridian Vitality is a technology and health-services platform. Clinical services are provided by independent licensed medical professionals. Meridian Vitality does not independently diagnose, prescribe, or direct medical care.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded medications for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality before they are marketed. The availability of a treatment depends on the prescribing provider’s independent medical judgment, pharmacy availability, applicable law, the individual’s medical history, and other clinical considerations.
Potential benefits are not guaranteed. Individual results vary. Meridian Zenith™ is a proprietary Meridian Vitality program name for a compounded oxytocin / bremelanotide formulation.
Find out if NAD+ is appropriate for you.
A licensed physician independently reviews your intake and decides — you’re never charged unless care is approved.
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