Education

How It’s Currently Being Used

NAD+ therapy is used as an adjunctive treatment alongside traditional addiction therapies like counseling, behavioral therapy, and support groups. It’s particularly utilized during the detoxification phase to help manage acute withdrawal symptoms. The reported benefits include:

• Reduction of Withdrawal Symptoms: NAD+ is believed to help alleviate common and often painful withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, depression, fatigue, and headaches.

• Decreased Cravings: Some studies suggest that NAD+ can bind to opiate receptors in the brain, which may help to curb cravings for drugs and alcohol.

• Brain and Cellular Repair: By restoring NAD+ levels, the therapy is thought to help repair cellular damage caused by long-term substance abuse, leading to improved brain function, mental clarity, and focus.

• Increased Energy: NAD+ is a key component in energy production at the cellular level. Replenishing it can help combat the chronic fatigue often experienced during addiction recovery.

Modalities Employed

The most common and effective method for administering NAD+ in addiction and detox settings is through intravenous (IV) infusions. This modality is favored because it delivers the co-enzyme directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system where it would be broken down and rendered less effective.

• IV Infusions: The therapy typically involves a series of IV sessions over several days to a couple of weeks, depending on the individual’s needs and the severity of their addiction. Each session can last several hours, with the NAD+ solution slowly dripped into the patient’s arm.

• Oral Supplements: While oral NAD+ supplements are available, their effectiveness is considered significantly lower than IV therapy. This is because a large portion of the active ingredients is lost during digestion, and they don’t achieve the high therapeutic levels needed for significant effect in addiction treatment.

Research and Outlook

While there’s growing interest and anecdotal evidence supporting the use of NAD+ in addiction treatment, it’s important to note that large-scale, rigorous clinical trials are limited. Much of the current data comes from smaller studies and reports from clinics offering the therapy. The lack of extensive, peer-reviewed research and the fact that NAD+ itself cannot be patented means that it has not received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as an addiction treatment, and is typically not covered by insurance.

Despite this, preliminary results are promising, showing a significant reduction in cravings and withdrawal symptoms in many patients. Researchers are continuing to investigate the therapeutic potential of NAD+ and its precursors, with an emphasis on understanding its mechanisms and developing standardized protocols for its use.