How to do NAD+ injections at home
A small subcutaneous shot you give yourself after a physician's instruction. Here is what the routine actually looks like.
Quick answer
An at-home NAD+ injection is a small subcutaneous (SubQ) shot, a short, fine needle into the fatty tissue just under the skin, that you self-administer after a physician gives you instruction and an individualized protocol. For most people it takes only a few minutes, similar to how many people already self-administer other prescribed subcutaneous injectables. You never self-start: NAD+ is a compounded, physician-prescribed medication, dispensed by a licensed pharmacy, and your physician sets and adjusts your specific plan. This article describes what the at-home process generally looks like, not a dose you should give yourself. Individual results vary, and NAD+ may support general wellness goals rather than treat any specific condition.
Is it hard to give yourself a NAD+ injection?
This is the question most people ask first, and the honest answer is reassuring: a subcutaneous injection is one of the simpler self-care steps in medicine. It is the same general technique millions of people use at home for other prescribed subcutaneous injectables. The needle is short and fine, the target is the soft tissue just under the skin, and the whole step usually takes a couple of minutes once you have been shown how.
That does not mean it is casual. It is still a prescribed medical procedure, so it is done only with your physician's instruction, the medication a licensed pharmacy dispenses for you, and the technique you were taught. The goal of this article is to shrink the imagined difficulty down to the real, small task, while being clear that safety comes from doing it the way your physician directs.
What is an at-home NAD+ injection?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in every living cell, central to mitochondrial energy production, DNA repair, and hundreds of metabolic reactions. Research has documented that NAD+ levels decline with age in human tissue [1]. That is why NAD+ has become a focus in longevity and cellular-health medicine.
At ElevateMD, NAD+ is delivered as a subcutaneous injection, into the fatty layer under the skin, not as an in-clinic intravenous drip. The medication is compounded and physician-prescribed, dispensed by a licensed pharmacy only after a physician has reviewed your health history. The "at home" part simply means that, once your physician has prescribed your plan and you have been shown the technique, you administer the small SubQ shot yourself on your own schedule instead of sitting for an in-clinic appointment.
What does the at-home process generally look like?
Below is the general shape of a SubQ self-injection routine for educational purposes. Your physician and your pharmacy's instructions for your specific medication always take precedence over any general description.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and gather your supplies on a clean surface.
- Check your medication, confirm it is the correct vial, that it looks as expected, and that it has been stored as instructed.
- Prepare the dose your physician set. The amount is determined by your physician and is part of your individualized protocol, never a number you choose yourself.
- Choose and clean an injection site. Common subcutaneous sites are areas with a layer of fatty tissue, such as the abdomen or the upper thigh. Clean the skin as instructed.
- Rotate your sites. Using a slightly different spot each time helps keep the skin comfortable over the course of a plan.
- Administer the small SubQ injection using the technique your physician or pharmacy demonstrated.
- Dispose of the needle safely in an approved sharps container, never in household trash.
- Note anything you want to raise with your care team, and follow your physician's guidance on timing and follow-up.
This list is a what-to-expect overview, not dosing instructions and not a prompt to begin on your own. The specifics, how much, how often, and which sites, come from your physician.
What does a subcutaneous injection feel like?
Most people describe a SubQ shot as a quick, minor pinch rather than a painful event. Because the needle is short and fine and the medication goes into soft tissue under the skin, it is generally gentler than having an intravenous line placed for an in-clinic session. Some people notice brief stinging or a little tenderness at the site afterward; rotating sites and following your physician's technique tips usually keep that minimal. If anything feels unusual, that is a conversation for your care team.
Storing and handling your medication
Compounded medications come with specific storage and handling instructions, for example, how to keep the vial and how to handle it before use. Follow the directions provided with your prescription and by your pharmacy, and ask your ElevateMD physician if anything is unclear. Proper storage is part of using the medication safely; this is one more reason the process stays physician-directed rather than do-it-yourself.
Why this is always physician-directed (you never self-start)
The single most important thing to understand about at-home NAD+ is that the convenience of self-administration does not change who is in charge of the plan. Your physician decides whether NAD+ is appropriate for you, sets your individualized protocol, adjusts it over time based on your response, and answers questions along the way. That continuity, the same care team following your plan, is exactly what an unmonitored, buy-it-online approach skips. At-home NAD+ is meant to be simple to do and physician-directed at every step. In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Are NAD+ injections hard to do yourself?
For most people, no. A subcutaneous injection uses a short, fine needle into the fatty tissue under the skin and typically takes a few minutes, the same general technique many people already use for other prescribed subcutaneous injectables. You only do it after a physician has instructed you and set your individualized protocol. Individual experiences vary.
Where on the body do you give a NAD+ injection?
Subcutaneous injections go into areas with a layer of fatty tissue, commonly the abdomen or upper thigh, and sites are rotated to keep the skin comfortable. Your physician or pharmacy will show you the specific sites and technique for your prescription.
Does an at-home NAD+ shot hurt?
Most people describe it as a quick, minor pinch rather than a painful event, and it is generally gentler than having an intravenous line placed in a clinic. Some brief stinging or tenderness at the site can occur. If anything feels unusual, contact your care team.
Can I decide my own NAD+ dose at home?
No. NAD+ is a compounded, physician-prescribed medication, and the amount and schedule are set and titrated by your physician, never chosen by you. The at-home convenience is about where you administer it, not about self-prescribing.
How do I get started with at-home NAD+?
Start with ElevateMD's short online assessment. A licensed physician reviews your goals and health history, and if NAD+ is clinically appropriate, your personalized protocol is prescribed and the compounded medication is shipped from a licensed pharmacy to your home, with instruction on technique. Eligibility depends on the state where you live.
See whether at-home NAD+ is right for you
Take the free 60-second ElevateMD assessment. A licensed physician reviews your goals and health history, and if NAD+ is clinically appropriate, your personalized, physician-directed plan, with clear instruction on the simple at-home technique, ships to your door.
Start your free 60-second assessment →
ElevateMD is a LegitScript-certified telehealth longevity practice. NAD+ is a compounded medication prescribed only after physician review. This page is educational and is not individualized medical advice. Individual results vary.
References (primary sources)
- Covarrubias AJ, Perrone R, Grozio A, Verdin E. NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 2021;22(2):119-141. (PubMed)
- Massudi H, Grant R, Braidy N, Guest J, Farnsworth B, Guillemin GJ. Age-associated changes in oxidative stress and NAD+ metabolism in human tissue. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e42357. (PubMed)
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