I’ve been seeing NAD+ around a lot lately. Many of the telehealth providers that I research and review for GLP-1 medications also offer NAD+ injections. But injections aren’t the only way people are getting NAD+: there are also supplements (like RHO Nutrition’s NAD+, which I have already tried) and patches (like Ion Layer, the subject of this article).

Ion Layer reached out to me asking if I would be interested in trying their products. I hadn’t heard of them yet, but as soon as I dug in a little bit, I was interested in learning more. Ion Layer is offering high-dose NAD+ and vitamin infusions without needles. I decided to give the NAD+ patch a try. Here’s my experience!

First, What is NAD+ and Why is Everyone Talking About It?

Without getting too medical here, because that’s not my area of expertise, let me explain what NAD+ is and why it’s such a craze right now. NAD+ is short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which is a coenzyme that’s found in almost every cell in your body. It plays a crucial role in your cellular energy production, metabolism, and DNA repair. From my basic understanding of it, it essentially acts as fuel for your cells. And the more efficiently our cells function, the better we feel and age.

As a woman in her late thirties who is doing what I can to take care of my body so I live a long, fulfilling life, concepts like these are very interesting to me. Like many things in our bodies, our NAD+ levels naturally decline as we age. This decline is linked to things like fatigue, slower recovery, and visible signs of aging. This is why supplementing with NAD+ has become such a popular health trend lately. People like me are turning to NAD+ therapies with the hopes of feeling benefits like:

• Increased energy
• Improved mental clarity
• Healthier aging
• Faster recovery times

There are several different delivery methods for NAD+, including IV drips, injections, sprays, patches, and supplements. Ion Layer uses medical-grade transdermal patches that require a prescription and offers a sustained, slow delivery method. Let’s chat about it!

My Experience Ordering From Ion Layer

Yes, Ion Layer provided me with a free patch kit so that I could test the product out. No, this is not a sponsored post, so please note that this is my real experience, including the good, the bad, and the indifferent. 

Getting started with Ion Layer is really straightforward; the only thing that takes a few minutes of your time is filling out the intake form and uploading a copy of your ID for the prescription. A prescription is required because the transdermal patches they use are considered a class 2 medical device. Once you choose which product you want, you pay and then are asked to fill out the intake form to get the prescription approved. The intake form has all the basic questions you would expect - all of your basic information. 

After I submitted my intake form, I received emails letting me know that my order was in process and that once the doctor approved it, my patch kit would be shipped. I think it was only a day or two before I received the email letting me know that my NAD+ patches were approved. I got a message from a doctor on the team advising me that my prescription was approved and that my NAD+ patch kit was being shipped out. I also got access to a patient log in where I could message the doctor back if I needed to.

After getting approved, I received multiple emails sharing shipping and tracking information. My kit arrived around roughly 3 days after being approved.

Using the Patches

I’ll be honest, I have never used a medical-grade patch before, and I was a little nervous. I read that the patches use small electric currents to push the NAD+ through my skin barrier and into my bloodstream. This is supposed to be a slower, more controlled process vs an IV drip or an injection, but the “electric currents” had me a little squeamish. I also read that the only time people ever feel an electric buzz from the patch is when the patch gets wet, so I made sure not to get the patch wet and made a plan to use it when getting it wet was unlikely (while I’m sleeping). 

When you get the kit in the mail, you get:

• 6 patches
• 6 black adhesive covers
• 6 blue water vials
• 6 pink saline water vials
• 6 vials of compound

Honestly, I was a little intimidated by the vials in the kit. Thankfully, Ion Layer does a great job of giving precise instructions for getting started and mixing the compound. The NAD+ doesn’t come pre-mixed because it can lose some of its effectiveness, so you have to do a little bit of prep work, but it’s worth it for the maximum results. 

Basically, you use the pink bottle of sterile solitons and drip it onto the negative side of the patch until it’s saturated. Then, you take the blue bottle of sterile water and add it to your compound vial. Shake it up to activate the NAD+ and then pour that solution onto the positive side of the patch. Once you’ve added the solutions, you peel the adhesive off the back and place it on your skin to activate it, placing the black cover over top to keep it secure and protected. 

It’s important to note that Ion Layer suggests you place your patch on a hair-free area of your body. If you need to clear hair, they recommend using clippers vs using a razor (no idea why). I put my patch on my inner forearm as that’s naturally free of hair. Other places you can try include:

• Upper arm (deltoid area)
• Upper chest (below the collarbone)
• Lower back
• Front or side of the thigh
• Side of stomach (between the hip and ribs)

I placed my patch on my forearm before bed so that I would be sleeping while it made its way into my bloodstream, and I hopefully wouldn’t feel any side effects if I was going to feel any. I also didn’t want to deal with walking around with a visible patch and having people ask what it was. 

Results/How I Felt

First, I slept perfectly fine the night of my first patch. The patch itself wasn’t irritating or bothersome in any way. I barely noticed it there once I got used to it. I had to wear the patch for 14 hours, so after waking, I spent a few more hours with it on before taking it off and showering. I ended up taking it off after about 12 hours.

I was a little nervous about side effects as some people report nausea and/or cramping with NAD+ infusions, but I didn’t experience any of that. This is one of the reasons why Ion Layer promotes using the patches - they deliver a slower, steadier stream of the NAD+ to your bloodstream than using an IV or an injection.

The main things that I noticed were that I felt really awake and energized for the day. My body just felt good, and I was ready to get out in the gym and get to my Simply Strong App workout. I also found myself getting a lot less tired throughout the day. I usually hit a wall around 3 pm and could fall asleep if I were to allow myself to sit down and close my eyes, but I didn’t feel that way at all after using the NAD+ patch. 

Other than that, there wasn’t a huge difference. I feel like the more I use these patches, the more my body will respond. As I am writing this, I have only done one patch so far. I have 5 more in my kit to try. I am eager to use the rest of my patches and see how I feel. Depending on that, I will decide if I want to continue using them. My next patch is supposed to be used on day 6, according to the 30-day protocol, which has you using a patch every 5 days.

These patches aren’t cheap, but they are more cost-effective than going to a clinic and doing an IV drip or getting injections. Ion Layer offers one-time purchases, quarterly purchases, or monthly purchases. The most cost-effective way to do it is to do the monthly subscription, which comes out to just $83 per infusion, and the patches are delivered to your door each month. Most clinics offering IVs charge ~$500 per infusion, and the patches are apparently pretty comparable. 

Ion Layer gave me a coupon code to share with my readers, which is awesome. You can use the code “ACC” for $100 off!

Overall Thoughts and Recommendations

I think this is a really cool product and concept, and definitely worth looking into if you’re someone who has been wanting to use NAD+ for the myriad of benefits it offers and wants to do so in an effective but cost-efficient way. A lot of Ion Layer’s marketing is done with biohackers, doctors, and professional athletes - I am none of those, but I still enjoy trying things to help me feel my best.

Using Ion Layer is an investment in your health, and it might very well be worth it for you if it provides you with more energy, mental clarity, and better recovery. These days, there are a million ways to improve your health, and it’s hard to weed through what will actually move the needle. I suggest doing your research first and deciding if NAD+ is right for you. 

I will say that I believe NAD+ is far more effective when you already have a healthy, balanced routine in place that includes taking care of your body through proper nutrition and exercise. NAD+ should be used to enhance an already healthy lifestyle. It’s not a quick fix or magic elixir that can undo an otherwise unhealthy lifestyle.

Lastly, if you’re someone who is squeamish about needles and injections, the patch delivery method that Ion Layer uses is perfect for you. They’re pretty easy to put on, and you really don’t feel a thing. 

Will you try Ion Layer? If you do, make sure you use my code “ACC” to get $100 off your order!