How Does NAD Therapy Help with Anxiety?
- August 21, 2023
- Written by : Rebecca LaMarca, MSN, APN-BC, CNS
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. This feeling of fear is sometimes a normal response to stressful situations. But if it doesn’t go away, you might have an anxiety disorder like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, or panic disorder. These disorders cause intense, persistent anxiety that makes it difficult to get through daily life. In recent years, many people have added an innovative support option to their anxiety management plans: NAD IV therapy.
This intravenous treatment delivers NAD, an essential coenzyme, directly into your bloodstream. It might help ease anxiety symptoms when used alongside more common treatments like psychotherapy, medication, and self-care. Here’s what you should know about NAD therapy for anxiety and how the compassionate nurses at IV Elements can bring this support option right to your home.
NAD IV therapy is not FDA-approved to treat anxiety. This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor before starting any new treatment.
What is NAD?
NAD is a coenzyme that helps with essential functions like energy production, DNA repair, cell signaling, and maintaining cellular health. It’s found in every single one of your cells. NAD IV therapy boosts your NAD levels, which naturally decline as you age.
Can NAD help anxiety?
Studies show that there may indeed be a link between NAD therapy and stress, with the infusions effectively reducing anxiety in some people. Researchers haven’t determined how exactly boosting NAD levels could support an anxiety treatment plan. But some believe it could be linked to certain effects that NAD may have on your nervous system, including improved mitochondrial function, reduced oxidative stress, and less inflammation.
Improved mitochondrial function
Mitochondria are tiny structures within your cells that help turn food and oxygen into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is your body’s main source of energy. Your brain’s neurons rely on ATP to function properly.
If your NAD levels are too low, your neurons might become less energy-efficient and more vulnerable to cellular stress. Some researchers think that boosting NAD levels through therapy might help neurons get stronger and support healthy brain function. While more research is needed, some scientists think that improved neuron strength may help reduce vulnerability to anxiety.
Reduced oxidative stress
Some researchers think anxiety disorders might involve increased oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants that can damage your cells. Though more studies are needed, NAD could help your body manage oxidative stress by helping your cells fix themselves.
Less inflammation
Studies have linked chronic inflammation to mental health concerns, including anxiety. Your immune system and brain are connected, and your brain interprets inflammation as a threat. Some researchers think that NAD may help lower inflammation by improving mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress. NAD also supports the activity of sirtuins, a group of proteins that may help regulate inflammation by influencing inflammatory signaling pathways.
While NAD may help manage anxiety symptoms, it’s important to only use NAD IV therapy with FDA-approved anxiety treatment options, like therapy and medication.
Can NAD therapy be done at home in NJ for anxiety patients?
Yes! At IV Elements, we understand that anxiety can make it challenging to visit a drip lounge. The stress of being in an unfamiliar environment with strangers might seem to outweigh the potential benefits of NAD therapy. But anxiety shouldn’t stand between you and your integrative wellness goals. That’s why we offer mobile NAD therapy across New Jersey, New York City, and Philadelphia. One of our certified nurses will increase your NAD levels right in the comfort of your own home, making your infusion as peaceful as possible. Also, if you get anxious about phone calls, we make it easy to schedule your appointment online.
Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting NAD therapy or any other IV treatment.
How does NAD therapy compare to other anxiety support options?
NAD therapy for mood support is best understood as an alternative wellness approach that may complement other anxiety support options. The most commonly recommended support options include psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.
Psychotherapy
While NAD therapy involves biological processes, psychotherapy focuses on behaviors and thinking patterns. The most effective psychotherapies for anxiety disorders include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. During therapy, a mental health professional can help you change the way you respond to stressful thoughts or sensations, which can make it much easier to manage your anxiety over time.
Medication
Some people manage their anxiety symptoms with medication. Medications can help treat anxiety by influencing neurotransmitters linked with mood and stress. The most common medications for anxiety include:
- SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which influence the neurotransmitter serotonin
- SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), which influence the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine
- benzodiazepines, which influence the neurotransmitter GABA
These medications act directly on brain chemicals. In contrast, NAD therapy has cellular and metabolic effects that may have a more indirect impact on anxiety.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to therapy and medication, you can help manage your anxiety with healthy lifestyle changes like:
- exercising – even short walks reduce stress hormones
- journaling – expressing your feelings can make them feel less overwhelming
- meditating – when you mindfully observe anxious thoughts, they’re less likely to consume you
- getting enough sleep – a well-rested brain has a much easier time managing stress
- eating nutritious foods – vitamins and nutrients help regulate stress levels
Like NAD therapy, lifestyle changes are usually most effective when used as part of a larger treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and possibly medication.
| Approach | Targets | How It Works | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychotherapy | Thoughts & behaviors | Reframes responses | FDA-recommended |
| Medication | Brain chemicals | SSRIs, SNRIs, GABA | FDA-approved |
| Lifestyle | Daily routines | Sleep, exercise, diet | Strong supporting evidence |
| NAD IV therapy | Cellular function | Mitochondrial support | Preliminary research |
Can NAD therapy worsen anxiety?
Yes, but it’s temporary. During an NAD infusion, the sudden rush of NAD can cause a stress-like response that includes anxiety or restlessness, especially if the drip is too fast. This side effect usually fades when the drip is slowed. At IV Elements, our board-certified nurses are committed to keeping you comfortable throughout your infusion. We’ll keep a close eye on your symptoms and infusion rate, slowing your drip immediately if you have any unpleasant side effects.
Schedule your in-home NAD IV for anxiety
Our experienced nurses are excited to enhance your anxiety management plan with mobile NAD therapy for anxiety in NJ, NYC, or PA! As proud members of the Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophic Medicine (PAAM) and the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), we strive to provide personalized, integrative care. In 2020, we attended the virtual Springfield Wellness Center NAD+ Brain Restoration Summit, where we explored the latest research on NAD treatment for a variety of health conditions alongside scientists and physicians.
In addition to NAD therapy, we offer a variety of customizable vitamin infusions to help you boost your overall health, take charge of anxiety, and thrive. Book your in-home infusion online today!
FAQ
Where can I get NAD therapy for stress support in NJ?
IV Elements offers in-home NAD therapy for stress and anxiety throughout NJ, NYC, and PA. You can also schedule an in-person session at our calming drip lounges in Hoboken, Asbury Park, Parsippany, and Marlton.
How much does NAD therapy cost in NJ?
It depends on the type of NAD therapy you get and where you get it. You can explore IV Elements’ NAD therapy pricing here.
Do I need a referral or prescription for NAD therapy for anxiety?
In most cases no. At IV Elements, we don’t require a referral or prescription to administer NAD therapy for anxiety. However, you should always talk to your doctor before starting any IV therapy.
How long does the anxiety-related effect of NAD therapy last?
Since this effect is usually caused by a rapid infusion rate, it often lessens or goes away once your drip is slowed.
Can NAD therapy replace anti-anxiety medication?
No. Since NAD therapy has not been approved by the FDA to treat anxiety, you should never use it to replace anti-anxiety medications. Instead, NAD therapy should only be used to support an existing anxiety management plan that includes FDA-approved treatments.
Can I get NAD therapy while taking SSRIs?
In general, yes, as there are no known interactions between NAD therapy and SSRIs. Still, you should always talk to your doctor before getting NAD therapy and share all the medications you take with your NAD therapy provider.
References:
- Anxiety & Depression IV Drip From IV Elements: https://ivelements.net/anxiety-depression
- What is NAD Therapy? | NAD Benefits, Uses and Treatments: https://ivelements.net/blog/what-is-nad-therapy
- NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing (Covarrubias et al., 2020): https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-020-00313-x
- How Does NAD IV Therapy Work? | Benefits and Uses for NAD: https://ivelements.net/blog/how-does-nad-therapy-work
- NAD+ and Enkephalinase Inhibition Infusions in SUD (Blum et al., 2022): https://doi.org/10.2174/2666082218666220527114427
- Oxidative Stress–Induced Nucleic Acid Damage and Psychiatric Disorders (Jorgensen et al., 2022): https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2066
- Inflammatory Cytokines and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (Costello et al., 2019): https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027925
- Schedule Your IV Therapy At-Home | Book IV Drip Now: https://ivelements.net/book-now-1
- Anxiety (MedlinePlus): https://medlineplus.gov/anxiety.html
- Vitamin Infusion: Get At-Home IV Drip for Revitalization: https://ivelements.net/vitamin-drips
- Boost Energy & Mitochondrial Function with BR + NAD Therapy: https://ivelements.net/nad-therapy
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