How to Inject NAD+ at Home: SubQ Sites and the Rush
NAD+ injections aren't FDA-approved and there's no official protocol. This is what people report doing, not medical advice, and nothing here is a dose recommendation.
How people inject NAD+ at home (and why IV is a clinic thing)
At home, NAD+ is a subQ shot. Small needle, slow absorption, ten seconds, done yourself. A smaller number of people go IM (bigger needle, faster in), usually into the outer glute.
IV NAD+ is not a home route. It's a clinic procedure, run slowly by a provider over a couple of hours, precisely because a fast, large dose of NAD+ into a vein causes real symptoms. It's done under supervision on a drip, not something to do yourself. If you're injecting NAD+ at home, you're doing subQ (occasionally IM). Leave IV to a clinic.
Where to inject NAD+ (subQ)
The recurring subQ sites are the belly (fine unless you're very lean), the upper outer glute or high hip, and the thigh.
Rotate them. One of the clearer habits people describe is using the thighs most of the time and moving to a different spot now and then to give one a break.
The NAD+ rush, and how people avoid it
This is the NAD+ thing to know before your first shot, because it surprises people.
Push a dose in and some people feel a rush come on over the next few minutes: flushing, chest heaviness or tightness, tingling, a pounding heartbeat, sometimes dizziness or nausea. It fades within a few minutes. It's one of the most repeated NAD+ experiences out there, so it's not a sign something went wrong.
There isn't a clean published explanation for exactly why it happens, so anyone stating a confident mechanism is guessing. What's consistent is what people do about it: inject slowly rather than in one quick push, and keep the amount modest, especially while you're new to it. Those two moves are the community's whole playbook for the rush, and they're the reason people ease in rather than going big on day one.
Passing in a few minutes is the normal pattern. If it doesn't ease up, or you get real chest pain or trouble breathing, that's a stop-and-get-checked moment, not a push-through-it one.
How much NAD+ do people inject?
To be clear up front: this is descriptive, not a recommendation. It's the pattern that shows up across community reports.
The doses people mention cluster in a recognizable way. Most report starting on the low end, around 20 to 25mg, taken a few times a week, and working up as they tolerate it. Once people settle into a routine, 50mg is the amount that comes up most, though how often they take it varies a lot. Some run higher, into the 60 to 100mg range. Amounts above that exist in the discussion but they're outliers and personal experiments, not the norm.
The consistent thread isn't a specific number, it's the approach: people ease in low and slow and let their own response guide them, which is exactly the kind of thing worth tracking rather than guessing at.
| Route | Where | At home? |
|---|---|---|
| SubQ | Belly, upper outer glute, thigh | Yes, the normal home route |
| IM | Outer glute | Sometimes, faster but can burn |
| IV | Vein, clinic drip | No. Clinic-only, provider-run |
Log your NAD+ doses next to how you actually felt
- Dose, site, and rush severity in one place
- Energy, sleep, and RHR overlays
- NAD+ is one where your own log tells you more than any study will
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you inject NAD+ at home?
Yes, at home it's a subQ shot into the belly, upper outer glute, or thigh. IV NAD+ is a clinic-only procedure, not a home route.
Is NAD+ injected subQ or IM?
SubQ is the usual home route. Some go IM (outer glute) for faster absorption, though it can burn.
Why do I feel a rush after injecting NAD+?
A lot of people get flushing, chest tightness, and a pounding heart for a few minutes after a dose. It passes. People keep it in check by injecting slowly and keeping the amount modest.
Should NAD+ be done as an IV?
IV NAD+ is done in clinics under supervision, run slowly over hours. It's not something to do yourself at home. At-home use is subQ.
Does injecting NAD+ hurt?
SubQ is usually easy but can leave a bump. IM can burn. The bigger thing people notice is the rush from going too fast, not pain at the site.
Related reading
- NAD+ Injections: What They Do and How People Run Them
- NAD+ Reconstitution: How to Mix and Store It
- Peptide Injection Sites Guide
- NAD+ Tracker
This article summarizes community reports and published research. Injectable NAD+ is not FDA-approved for general use. Talk to a licensed provider before starting, changing, or stopping any medication.
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