NAD+ Dosing Guide: How Much Should You Actually Take?

## NAD+ Dosing Guide: Evidence-Based Protocols by Route and Goal NAD+ dosing varies significantly by administration route, therapeutic goal, and individual factors. Published protocols range from 100mg to 750mg for subcutaneous injection and 250mg to 1000mg for IV infusion — a wide range that reflects both the early stage of clinical research and genuine differences in patient response.

Protocol	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Best For
Maintenance	100-200mg IV	1x/week	Ongoing	General wellness, energy
Therapeutic	250-500mg IV	2x/week	4-8 weeks	Cognitive decline, chronic fatigue
Intensive	500mg+ IV	Daily x 5-10 days	Loading phase	Addiction recovery, neurodegeneration
IM Protocol	100mg IM	2-3x/week	Ongoing	Convenience, self-administration

## The Three Dose Tiers and Who They Serve ### 100mg -- The Starting Line If you have never used injectable NAD+ before, this is where we start virtually every patient. The 100mg dose serves two purposes: it lets your body acclimate to exogenous NAD+ (the [flushing response is real](/guides/nad-side-effects-safety-what-to-expect), and nobody enjoys it on day one), and it gives us a baseline to gauge your sensitivity. **Who stays here:** Younger adults under 40 with mild energy goals, people who respond strongly to supplements in general, and those using NAD+ purely for wellness maintenance. **Typical protocol:** 2-3 injections per week for 4-6 weeks, then reassess. ### 200mg -- The Sweet Spot for Most Adults This is where the majority of our patients land for long-term maintenance. At 200mg, the dose is large enough to meaningfully replenish NAD+ stores but small enough to keep side effects minimal. Rajman et al. (2018) noted that moderate, consistent dosing outperformed intermittent high-dose approaches in preclinical models. **Who benefits most:** Adults aged 40-65, anyone dealing with noticeable [fatigue or brain fog](/guides/nad-for-energy-chronic-fatigue-cellular-health), people with moderate training loads. **Typical protocol:** 2-3 injections per week ongoing. Some patients cycle 3x weekly for 8 weeks, then drop to 2x weekly for maintenance. ### 500mg -- The Intensive Option We reserve the 500mg dose for specific situations: significant NAD+ depletion, chronic fatigue conditions, post-illness recovery, or short-term loading phases before dropping to a lower maintenance dose. This is not a "more is better" situation -- higher doses bring more pronounced flushing and can cause headaches or nausea if you jump in too quickly. **Who uses this:** Adults over 60 with documented depletion, patients recovering from prolonged illness, [athletes in intensive training blocks](/guides/nad-for-athletes-performance-recovery-guide). **Typical protocol:** 1-2 times per week for 2-4 weeks as a loading phase, then transition to 200mg maintenance. ## Goal-Based Dosing Schedules ### Anti-Aging Protocol | Week | Dose | Frequency | |------|------|-----------| | 1-2 | 100mg | 3x weekly | | 3-6 | 200mg | 3x weekly | | 7+ | 200mg | 2x weekly (maintenance) | ### Energy Enhancement Protocol | Week | Dose | Frequency | |------|------|-----------| | 1-2 | 100mg | 2x weekly | | 3-4 | 200mg | 2x weekly | | 5+ | 200mg | 1-2x weekly | ### Cognitive Function Protocol | Week | Dose | Frequency | |------|------|-----------| | 1-4 | 200mg | 3x weekly | | 5-8 | 200-500mg | 2x weekly | | 9+ | 200mg | 2x weekly | ### Athletic Performance Protocol | Period | Dose | Frequency | |--------|------|-----------| | Off-season | 200mg | 2x weekly | | Pre-event | 500mg | 2 days before | | Regular training | 200mg | 2x weekly | ## How Age Changes the Equation This is one area where we see clear patterns. NAD+ depletion accelerates with each decade past 30, and the dose needed to produce noticeable effects tends to track with that decline. - **Under 40:** Lower doses often sufficient. Start at 100mg, many stay there. - **40-60:** Standard 200mg range. This group sees the most dramatic improvements because the gap between their depleted levels and restoration is significant. - **Over 60:** May benefit from higher loading doses (200-500mg) and slightly more frequent maintenance. The 2020 study by Irie et al. in *Endocrine Journal* showed that older adults metabolize NAD+ precursors differently and may require adjusted protocols. ## When to Inject: Timing Matters More Than You Think **Morning dosing** tends to work best for energy goals. NAD+ naturally peaks in the morning as part of your circadian rhythm, so supplementing in sync with that cycle amplifies the effect. For a detailed breakdown, read our guide on [the best time to take NAD+](/guides/best-time-to-take-nad-supplements). **Evening dosing** may better support overnight cellular repair processes. However, we have seen a subset of patients report mild [sleep disruption with evening NAD+](/guides/nad-for-sleep-quality-improvement-guide) -- likely due to the energizing effect. **Consistency beats timing.** If you can only inject at 2pm, inject at 2pm every time. A reliable schedule matters more than the perfect hour. ## Signs Your Dose Needs Adjustment ### Signs You May Need More - No noticeable improvement after 4 weeks of consistent use - Effects wearing off quickly between doses - Persistent fatigue despite adequate sleep and nutrition - Slow recovery that has not improved ### Signs You May Need Less - Flushing that lasts more than 60 minutes - Recurring headaches after injection - Nausea that does not resolve with slower injection - Difficulty sleeping when dosing in the evening ### Signs You Are at the Right Dose - Sustained energy throughout the day - Improved mental clarity and focus - Better sleep quality - Faster recovery from exercise - Stable mood ## Important Dosing Principles 1. **Start low.** There is no advantage to starting at 500mg. You will flush, feel lousy, and potentially quit before the benefits arrive. 2. **Give each dose level 2-4 weeks** before deciding it is not working. NAD+ effects are cumulative, not instantaneous. 3. **Track your response.** Keep a simple log of energy levels (1-10), sleep quality, and any side effects. Patterns emerge within weeks. 4. **Work with a provider.** Self-dosing without medical guidance increases the risk of wasting money on the wrong protocol. Individual responses vary significantly. What works for one person may not be optimal for another -- and that is normal. The goal is finding your minimum effective dose and staying there consistently. If you are weighing the cost differences between delivery methods, our [NAD+ IV therapy vs. injection comparison](/guides/nad-iv-therapy-vs-injection-complete-guide) breaks down the numbers. You can also explore our [NAD+ injection products](/products/nad-001) to get started. --- ## References - [Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03421-7). *Nature Communications*, 2018. - [NAD+ intermediates: The biology and therapeutic potential of NMN and NR](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2017.11.002). *Cell Metabolism*, 2018. - [Effect of oral nicotinamide mononucleotide on clinical parameters and nicotinamide metabolite levels in healthy Japanese men](https://doi.org/10.1507/endocrj.EJ19-0313). *Endocrine Journal*, 2020. - [Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women](https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abe9985). *Science*, 2021.