NAD Specialist

What is NAD?

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) is a naturally occurring co-enzyme that is closely related to vitamin B3 (niacin).  Researchers first recognized the importance of NAD over a hundred year ago while studying Pellagra, a disease caused by niacin deficiency.  Since then, NAD has been shown to be a key fuel source to produce energy in the mitochondria of our cells.  In addition, it helps repair damaged cellular DNA, and prevents premature aging by protecting the DNA telomeres from shortening. NAD also plays a role in cell-to-cell communication, protein synthesis, RNA transcription and the release of neurotransmitters that control and normalized proper nerve and brain function.   

Why is NAD+ delivered via IV better than oral supplementation?

NAD+ levels can be increased through diet and nutritional supplements (niacinamide, nicotinic acid, oral stabilized NADH), however, oral absorption, and the rapid break down of NAD in the body make it impossible to increase NAD+ to the therapeutic levels that are achieved with intravenous NAD+.

What does IV NAD+ Therapy look like?

Treatment protocols are customized for the individual needs of the patient and may require anywhere from 5 to 14 days with a follow-up maintenance to provide lasting benefits.   Treatment is provided as an outpatient service at our Explore Health office in Scottsdale, AZ.  The IV infusion can range anywhere from 2 to 8 hours depending on the individual NAD dose and the patient’s physical response to the treatment.

How does IV NAD+ Therapy help with Addiction?

Addiction is a chronic neurologic disease. IV NAD+ helps to normalize the altered neurologic and brain chemistry to allow the addicted patient to focus on the mental and emotional challenges required for long-term recovery.   IV NAD+ supported recovery means you can thrive during your recovery, rather than constantly struggle to avoid relapse because of poor neurotransmitter levels and abnormal brain function.  IV NAD+ helps reduce anxiety and depression, improves sleep, increases mental and physical energy, eliminates cravings, improves focus and concentration, and promotes the clarity that is so much easier to achieve in a healthy and balanced brain.

Does Insurance pay for IV NAD+ therapy?

There is no FDA approved “cure” for addiction.  Most of the FDA approved medicines used in addiction recovery cover up symptoms of unbalanced or damaged brain chemistry.  Since IV NAD+ itself cannot be patented, there is no incentive for big pharmaceutical companies to invest in expensive double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies to receive an FDA approval.  Without an FDA approval, IV NAD+ treatment is not covered by insurance companies.

What is NAD+’s Role in Addiction?

After an acute alcohol or drug use episode or chronic abuse, NAD+ levels are depleted.   The inadequate NAD+ levels in the mitochondria liver cells make it impossible for the liver to perform the detoxification required for clearing the metabolites from alcohol or drug of choice. Over an extended period, this can lead to systemic toxicity, liver damage, and will make even an abstinent and sober person suffer.  NAD+ therapy can quickly and safely provide optimal NAD+ levels so the patient’s detoxification pathways will be restored.  With optimal NAD+ levels, withdrawals are reduced, nerve and brain function are corrected, and recovery will be a predictable outcome, rather than a low probability.

Are there other additional treatments, supplements, or protocols that will enhance my NAD+ IV therapy?

In addition to the NAD+ therapy, we will also recommend nutritional IVs that will include Vit C, B vitamins, amino acids, peptides, glutathione, etc for optimizing your recovery and rebuilding the brain.  We will also recommend a diet, exercise and coaching program with one of our referral counselors to help you achieve long term sobriety. 

People often ask, how can I afford this?

We think the better question is “How did you afford to pay for your drugs and alcohol that were destroying your quality of life?” or “How can you afford to continue struggling to live with your addiction?”, “What is your addiction costing you financially, personally, and professionally?”  If you seriously reflect on these questions, the same resourcefulness that was able to pay for your expensive and life destroying drug habit will provide you with the ability to pay for these affordable and life affirming services.

What is the expected success rate with this program?

Patients and loved ones often question the success rate of our alcohol and opiate recovery program.  Even though this seems like a logical and appropriate question, our office will answer with a question of our own.  “What is the addicted person’s motivation, ability, and commitment to totally changing their dependence and addiction to alcohol or drugs?  If the answer is less than 100%, we will advise that the patient returns to our office when they are truly ready to commit to sobriety.  With the patient’s 100% commitment to sobriety and adherence to our protocol, we can safely say that is virtually impossible for the person to relapse.  This is not saying 100% of our patients are sober, but those that follow our treatment plan and work on their sober life skills have unprecedented success that is unmatched in the addiction community anywhere in the world.  We have hundreds of people that long-term recovery was impossible that are now enjoying a sober life. 

How can I begin IV NAD+ therapy?

Because of the expense and time commitment required to successfully participate in our IV NAD+ restoration program, our office does not accept all patients into this program.  Patients interested in starting our program must demonstrate an ability and 100% commitment to follow our demanding protocol, take our suggested supplements, and participate in a patient re-education program which may include individual counseling, group meetings, sobriety coaching, and/or holistic counseling.  Patient’s that miss appointments without a 24-hour notice, show-up late, or do not continue with counseling support, will not be allowed to continue IV NAD+ therapy based on the discretion of our office.