How do you use research peptides?
Research peptides are reconstituted with bacteriostatic water (for vials) or dispensed by click (for pens) and administered subcutaneously — under the skin — at a compound-specific research dose on a set schedule. This peptide dosage chart lists that subcutaneous research dose, the dosing frequency, and the pros and cons for 14 peptides. Many research peptides have no established human dose and peptide dosage guidelines vary by compound, so every figure is for laboratory research reference only, not human dosing advice.
What does "subcutaneous" mean, and why is it the route shown here?
Subcutaneous (SC) means injected into the fat layer just under the skin. It is the most common route in peptide research protocols because it is simple and absorption is often in the 40–90% range, though it varies by compound — smaller molecules under 3 kDa typically absorb better than larger peptides. Several of these compounds are also studied topically, orally, or intraperitoneally.
How are peptide doses measured — mcg, mg, and IU?
Most research peptides are measured by mass in micrograms (mcg) or milligrams (mg), where 1 mg equals 1,000 mcg. HCG is the exception: it is measured in international units (IU), a standardized activity unit rather than a mass. How much bacteriostatic water you add at reconstitution then sets the concentration per draw, and on insulin syringes the unit markings show the volume drawn rather than the peptide mass itself.
How do you reconstitute a research peptide?
Reconstitution means adding bacteriostatic water to a lyophilised (freeze-dried) peptide vial to dissolve the powder before use, and the water volume you add determines the concentration per unit drawn. The pen formats need no reconstitution. See the bacteriostatic water guide for the exact reconstitution math.
How should research peptides be stored?
Lyophilised (freeze-dried) peptides are kept refrigerated and stay stable for months to years; once reconstituted, most are refrigerated and used within a few weeks. Keep them out of direct light and away from heat. See the peptide storage guide for compound-specific shelf life.
What is the difference between a peptide pen and a vial?
A pen is pre-filled and click-dosed — no mixing, and each click delivers a set amount. A vial is lyophilised powder you reconstitute with bacteriostatic water and draw with a syringe. Pens are simpler to use; vials give more flexibility over concentration.
Which of these peptides come ready to use, with no mixing?
The pen formats are ready to use — the retatrutide pens and the GLOW blend pen are click-dosed and need no reconstitution. Every vial format, including BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV and the others, is lyophilised powder that must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water first.
How is BPC-157 dosed in research?
In community research protocols, BPC-157 is used subcutaneously at roughly 200–400 mcg once daily, and there is no validated human dose. One 10 mg vial covers about 25–50 research doses. These figures are for laboratory research reference only, not human dosing advice.
How is TB-500 dosed in research?
TB-500, a thymosin beta-4 fragment, is used subcutaneously at about 1–2 mg once or twice weekly in community protocols (roughly 2–5 mg per week), with no human trials on the fragment itself. One 10 mg vial lasts about 2–5 weeks. For laboratory research reference only.
Which of these peptides are FDA-approved, and for what?
Four are FDA-approved for specific labeled uses: SS-31 (Barth syndrome), Tesamorelin (HIV-associated lipodystrophy), PT-141 (low sexual desire), and HCG (fertility and male hypogonadism). Every other compound in this guide, including retatrutide, is experimental and not approved for any use.
Do these research peptides have validated human doses?
Only the approved compounds have established clinical doses. BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV, MOTS-c and the blends have no validated human dose — their ranges are anecdotal, community research figures — while retatrutide's doses come from its published Phase 3 trials.
Where do the doses in this guide come from?
Doses are compiled from Peptpedia and published clinical trials where they exist; peptides without a validated human dose show community research-protocol figures instead. Where trials exist, these peptide dosing protocols typically start low and titrate the dose upward over several weeks. Every figure is provided for in-vitro, laboratory research reference only, per UAE MoHAP Circular 17/2022 — not as human dosing advice.