Taula de Continguts
- When the mind runs out of energy
- What NAD+ is and why it matters for your cellular energy
- NAD+ and cognitive clarity: what the evidence says
- What to expect from a course of NAD+ infusions
- Results: what to expect, what varies and what cannot be promised
- Key points
- How Santé Clinics approaches it
- Frequently asked questions
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme present in every cell of your body, essential for producing energy and repairing DNA. Its levels decline with age, and that decline is linked to the mental fatigue many people describe from their mid-30s to 40s onwards. A course of intravenous NAD+ infusions, carried out by board-certified doctors after a prior assessment, is a way to support cellular energy and mental clarity: results vary from person to person.
When the mind runs out of energy
You wake up having slept seven hours and, by mid-morning, your concentration starts to wear down. Tasks you used to solve in twenty minutes now take an hour, and the feeling of brain fog returns several days a week. It is an increasingly common consultation among people aged 30 to 55 with long working days and a high cognitive load.
That fatigue can have medical causes that should be ruled out first: anaemia, thyroid disorders, insufficient night-time rest or a mental-health problem, among others. That is why, in serious aesthetic medicine, the first step is not an infusion but a medical assessment to determine whether intravenous NAD+ makes sense in your case.
What NAD+ is and why it matters for your cellular energy
NAD+ takes part in the electron transport chain inside the mitochondria, the process by which your cells convert nutrients into ATP, the energy molecule. It also acts as a substrate for sirtuins, proteins involved in cellular repair, and for PARP enzymes, which play a role in repairing damaged DNA.
The problem is that its levels do not remain stable throughout life. Research has documented a progressive decline of NAD+ in human tissue with age, in parallel with an increase in oxidative stress.
A study published in PLOS ONE in 2012 (Massudi et al.) documented a significant, age-associated decline in NAD+ levels in human tissue, together with an increase in oxidative stress.
The intravenous route allows NAD+ to reach the bloodstream directly, without passing through the digestive tract. This is the route we use at the clinic, always under medical supervision and with the infusion rate adjusted to your tolerance.
NAD+ and cognitive clarity: what the evidence says
The brain accounts for around 2% of body weight, but consumes approximately 20% of the energy you produce at rest. That is why the availability of cellular energy has a direct relationship with mental performance.
Research into NAD+ and cognitive function is an active field, especially in the study of cellular ageing. The specific clinical evidence on intravenous NAD+ and cognition is still limited, and being honest means saying so: we present it as support for wellbeing, never as a cognitive treatment.
In practice, people who come to the clinic are looking for support for mental energy, clarity and mood. Results vary and depend on factors such as rest, stress load and each person's starting point.
What to expect from a course of NAD+ infusions
The initial medical assessment
Every IV protocol begins with a medical assessment (€50) in which your history, regular medication and goals are reviewed. The medical team decides the starting dose —250, 500 or 1,000 mg— and may advise against the treatment if it detects a cause that requires a different care pathway.
Each session: between 60 and 120 minutes
The infusion is administered intravenously in a clinical setting, with the medical team by your side throughout the process. Some people notice mild chest pressure, warmth or nausea if the drip is fast; the discomfort subsides when the infusion rate is adjusted. Each session lasts between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on the dose and your tolerance.
The full course: 4 to 6 sessions
For a sustained result, the usual protocol is a course of 4 to 6 sessions, at a frequency the doctor adjusts to your case. At the end, your response is reviewed with you and a decision is made on whether maintenance is appropriate.
| NAD+ dose | Approximate duration | Price per session |
|---|---|---|
| 250 mg | 60-120 minutes | €500 |
| 500 mg | 60-120 minutes | €750 |
| 1,000 mg | 60-120 minutes | €1,000 |
Higher doses require a slower infusion. The doctor defines the initial dose and its progression within the course.
- Medical assessment
- Suitable profile?
- Personalised dose
- Alternatives or referral
- 60-120 min session
- 4-6 session course
- Review with the doctor
Results: what to expect, what varies and what cannot be promised
Some people describe a feeling of greater mental energy in the days after the first sessions; others notice no changes until well into the course. The response is assessed at the end of the 4-6 sessions, in a review with the medical team.
What varies most between patients is the starting point: age, sleep quality, stress load and habits. Intravenous NAD+ is a support for wellbeing —energy, clarity, mood and cellular ageing— and results vary; it is not a treatment for depression, anxiety or any neurological disease. If your fatigue is intense or persistent, the right pathway is a consultation with your doctor, and our team will tell you so.
| Stage | What is usually observed | What cannot be promised |
|---|---|---|
| During the session | Possible mild discomfort (warmth, pressure, nausea) that subsides when the drip is adjusted | A session completely free of discomfort |
| First few days | Some people report more mental energy; others, no change | An immediate effect, identical in every case |
| After the course (4-6 sessions) | Medical review of your response and a decision on maintenance | A specific level of cognitive improvement |
| Long term | The benefit depends on rest, stress and habits | Permanent results without maintenance |
Key points
- NAD+ is a coenzyme essential for producing ATP and repairing DNA; its levels decline with age, as documented by a PLOS ONE study in 2012.
- The brain consumes close to 20% of your energy at rest: cellular energy and mental clarity are connected.
- The usual protocol is a course of 4 to 6 infusions of 60 to 120 minutes, with doses of 250 to 1,000 mg (€500 to €1,000 per session).
- Every course starts with a medical assessment (€50), and the doctor may advise against the treatment.
- Results vary: it is a support for wellbeing, not a treatment for mental-health or neurological disorders.
How Santé Clinics approaches it
At Santé Clínica Estética, on Avenida Diagonal 384 (Barcelona), IV therapy is led by Dr. Alejandro Infante and delivered by a team of board-certified doctors. The starting point is always the medical assessment: a review of your history, your medication and what you want to achieve.
The protocol is personalised: the dose, the number of sessions and their frequency are defined in consultation, with fixed prices per session. If the doctor considers that NAD+ is not right for you, they will tell you and guide you towards the appropriate pathway.
Santé's aesthetic and hair consultations are free, but IV therapy requires an initial medical assessment (€50) for safety. We see patients in Spanish, English, Portuguese and Russian.
Frequently asked questions
How long does intravenous NAD+ take to take effect?
Some people report more mental energy in the days after the first session; others notice no changes until the third or fourth infusion. The response is evaluated once the 4- to 6-session course is complete, and results vary from person to person.
Does the NAD+ infusion have side effects?
During the infusion, mild and transient discomfort may appear —chest pressure, a feeling of warmth or nausea— which subsides when the drip rate is reduced. The medical team is with you throughout the session, which lasts between 60 and 120 minutes.
Can I combine NAD+ with other wellness treatments?
Yes, provided the medical team considers it appropriate in your assessment. It is common to integrate it into a wellness plan with personalised IV vitamins; the combination is defined in consultation, never in a standardised way.
Does it help if I have persistent fatigue or lack of concentration?
Intravenous NAD+ is not a treatment for depression, anxiety or any neurological disorder. If symptoms are intense or persist over time, the appropriate pathway is a consultation with your doctor, and our team will tell you so at the initial assessment.
How often can the course be repeated?
It depends on your response and your goals. After the initial 4- to 6-session course, the doctor reviews with you whether maintenance is appropriate and at what frequency; there is no single schedule, and results vary.
