Scientifically reviewed by Dr Stephan Hansberg
Is NAD+ injection legal? US, UK and Australia (2026)
Where NAD+ injections and IV infusions stand legally in the US, UK and Australia in October 2026: FDA compounding Category 1, UK unlicensed medicines rules, the TGA's NAD alert, and WADA's 100 mL infusion limit.
Key takeaways
- •NAD+ is a coenzyme, not a peptide, and there is no approved NAD+ injection product in the US, UK or Australia that we could find.
- •US: NAD is in Category 1 of the FDA's 503A list, meaning it is under evaluation and the FDA's interim policy allows compounding under conditions.
- •UK: an NAD+ injection or drip given to treat or modify body function is a medicinal product; unlicensed medicines can only be supplied in narrow circumstances.
- •Australia: the TGA says NAD, NAD+ and NADH are not permitted ingredients in listed medicines, and advertising unapproved NAD products is likely to breach the law.
- •Sport: NAD+ is not on the WADA List, but any IV infusion or injection over 100 mL in 12 hours is a prohibited method outside hospital care.
The short answer
NAD+ itself is not a controlled or banned substance in the US, UK or Australia, but an NAD+ injection or IV drip given to people is regulated as a medicine, and none of the three countries has an approved NAD+ injectable product. In the US, pharmacies can compound NAD under the FDA's interim policy because it is in Category 1, while in the UK and Australia the rules on unlicensed and unapproved medicines apply.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is a coenzyme found in every living cell, cycling between its oxidised (NAD+) and reduced (NADH) forms in energy metabolism. It is studied in cell and animal models of metabolism and ageing, and in some small human studies. It is not a peptide, but it is regulated alongside peptides in clinic and wellness settings.
NAD+ injection status at a glance (October 2026)
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | NAD+ injection or IV status | Key detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | FDA | No FDA-approved NAD+ injection; compounding allowed under interim policy | NAD and NADH disodium in 503A Category 1 (list updated 14 May 2026) |
| United Kingdom | MHRA | Medicinal product when used or presented to treat or modify body function; no licensed product found | Unlicensed medicines (specials) only for an individual patient's special clinical needs |
| Australia | TGA | Unapproved unless on the ARTG or exempt (for example, compounded by a pharmacist) | TGA alert: NAD, NAD+, NADH not permitted in listed medicines |
| Sport (WADA) | WADA | Substance not prohibited; method rule applies | M2.2: IV over 100 mL per 12 hours prohibited outside hospital care |
United States
The FDA's list of bulk drug substances nominated for 503A compounding, updated 14 May 2026, includes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide disodium reduced (NADH) in Category 1, bulk drug substances under evaluation. Under its interim policy, the FDA has said it does not intend to take action against a licensed 503A pharmacy compounding with a Category 1 substance while it is evaluated, provided the other conditions of section 503A are met.
That is why NAD+ injections are offered through compounding pharmacies and clinics in the US. It is not an FDA approval, and NAD+ is not an FDA-approved drug for any indication. A product sold directly to consumers with claims about treating disease would be an unapproved drug.
United Kingdom
Under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, a product administered to people with a view to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological function, or presented as treating or preventing disease, is a medicinal product. An NAD+ injection or drip given in a clinic for those purposes falls into that definition, and we found no NAD+ injectable product with a UK marketing authorisation.
UK law allows unlicensed medicines, known as specials, to be supplied in limited circumstances to meet the special clinical needs of an individual patient, under the responsibility of a prescriber. Advertising unlicensed medicines to the public is not allowed, and the MHRA's April 2026 statements on clinics show it treats medicinal claims about injectable wellness products as a medicines issue.
Australia
In April 2025 the TGA issued a safety alert on products claiming to contain NAD, NAD+, NADH or NMN. It said NAD, NAD+ and NADH are not permitted ingredients in listed medicines, that products making NAD claims without an AUST number may be unapproved or illegally supplied, and that advertising or supplying unapproved NAD goods is likely to breach the law.
Medicines compounded by a pharmacist for an individual patient are not entered on the ARTG and are not assessed by the TGA before supply. Australian clinics offering NAD+ infusions typically rely on that compounding pathway; advertising those infusions to the public raises the same advertising rules the TGA has enforced against peptide sellers in 2026.
Sport: the 100 mL infusion rule
NAD+ is not listed on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List. What matters for athletes is method, not substance: M2.2 prohibits intravenous infusions or injections totalling more than 100 mL in any 12-hour period, except those legitimately received during hospital treatment, surgical procedures or clinical diagnostic investigations. M2.2 is a Specified Method and applies in and out of competition.
An athlete who needs an infusion above that volume for medical reasons would need a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Germany's anti-doping agency has warned that lifestyle drip-bar infusions do not meet the hospital exception.
Where Celyfe fits
The Celyfe NAD+ Precision Pen holds NAD+ 500 mg in a pre-filled 3 ml cartridge for laboratory and analytical work. Batch A26085 was tested by HPLC at 99% purity by the independent laboratory Analiza Bialek, Wroclaw, Poland, in a report dated 2 October 2026, published in the Celyfe COA library. It is a research product, not an injection or infusion product, and nothing on this page describes its use in people.
Sources
Checked 8 October 2026:
- FDA: Bulk drug substances nominated for use in compounding under section 503A, updated 14 May 2026 (NAD and NADH in Category 1), fda.gov
- FDA: Interim policy on compounding using bulk drug substances under section 503A of the FD&C Act, fda.gov
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1916), legislation.gov.uk
- MHRA: The supply of unlicensed medicinal products (specials), Guidance Note 14, gov.uk
- TGA safety alert: NAD, NAD+, NADH or NMN medicines sold in Australia, April 2025, tga.gov.au
- WADA: Prohibited List 2026, M2.2, wada-ama.org
- NADA Germany: Warning about prohibited infusions in sport, nada.de
Research use only
Celyfe supplies research peptides for laboratory and research use only. Nothing on this page is guidance on use in humans or animals. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules in all three countries changed several times in 2026, so check the regulator's current publications or speak to a qualified adviser before relying on anything here.
Regulation alerts
Get notified when the rules change
We email when FDA, MHRA, TGA or WADA status changes for the compounds we cover, with the source linked. No spam, unsubscribe at any time.