Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as signaling molecules in your body. They occur naturally and regulate processes like growth hormone release, tissue repair, immune function, and metabolism. Therapeutic peptides are bioidentical or analog versions of these natural molecules.

Some are well studied. Most are not, and the honest answer is that long-term human safety data does not exist for a lot of what circulates. They are real compounds with real effects, which is the point and also the risk. Nothing here belongs in a routine that nobody clinical is watching.

For anything FDA-approved, yes, and that follows a consult and proper labs. Most of the compounds on our cheat sheet are not FDA-approved, and we do not sell those. If you are sourcing peptides elsewhere already, bring what you have to a consult and we will tell you honestly what we make of it.

Start with the problem, not the compound. Sleep, recovery, body composition, immune function, cognition. Then look at what the evidence actually supports for that problem, which is what the cheat sheet is for. Then have the conversation with someone who can see your labs.

A provider goes through your history, your labs and what you are trying to fix. If peptides are a reasonable tool for it, you get told which ones, at what dose, and what to watch for. If they are not, you get told that too. Either way you leave with a plan rather than a shopping list.

Usually as fast as labs come back. If you already have recent bloodwork, bring it and you can often start the same week. If you do not, expect a week or two while we get a proper baseline, which is worth the wait.

Bring the vials, the labels and whatever protocol you were given. No lecture. We will look at what you are on, what it is doing, and whether the dose and the source hold up.

Peptides arrive as a freeze-dried powder in a sealed vial. Reconstitution is the process of adding bacteriostatic water (BAC water) to dissolve the powder into an injectable solution. The calculator on this site does the arithmetic.

It depends on your vial size and desired concentration. A common approach is 2 mL of BAC water per 5 mg vial, but use our Reconstitution Calculator for precise measurements based on your specific peptide and dose.

Most peptides are injected subcutaneously (SubQ) using a U-100 insulin syringe. Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab, pinch the skin at the abdomen or thigh, insert the needle at a 45° angle, and inject slowly. Rotate injection sites to avoid irritation.

We recommend U-100 insulin syringes (typically 0.5 mL or 1 mL with 29–31 gauge needles). These are widely available at pharmacies. The fine gauge minimizes discomfort.

Timing varies by peptide. Growth hormone secretagogues (Tesamorelin, Ipamorelin, CJC-1295) are best taken on an empty stomach, often before bed or first thing in the morning. Recovery peptides (BPC-157, TB-500) can be taken any time. Check our Cheat Sheet for peptide-specific guidance.

Unreconstituted (dry powder): Store in a cool, dark place. Refrigeration extends shelf life. Reconstituted (mixed with BAC water): Must be refrigerated at 36–46°F (2–8°C). Never freeze reconstituted peptides. Most reconstituted peptides remain stable for 28 days.

Typically 28 days when properly refrigerated. Some run shorter or longer. Check the cheat sheet for the compound you are using. Always discard if the solution becomes cloudy or discolored.

You do not, unless somebody tested it. Ask for a Certificate of Analysis tied to your specific batch number, from a lab with no stake in the sale. Grey-market peptides are frequently underdosed, occasionally the wrong compound, and sometimes contaminated.

Independent laboratories (not affiliated with the manufacturer) verify each batch using techniques like HPLC and mass spectrometry. That confirms the vial holds what the label says, at the purity claimed, with nothing else in it.

The compound name, the batch or lot number, the purity figure with the method used to get it (HPLC and mass spectrometry are the usual pair), and the name of the lab that ran it. A page with a logo and a percentage on it is not a COA.

The common ones are minor and settle quickly: redness at the injection site, mild nausea, some water retention. The harder question is the one nobody can answer well, which is what a decade of use does, because most of these compounds have not been studied that long. Report anything unusual rather than waiting it out.