The Basics
Start here if peptides are new to you
The vocabulary and the mechanics — what reconstitution means, how dosing math works, and how to tell a well-studied compound from a hopeful one.
What is reconstitution?
Most peptides ship as a lyophilised (freeze-dried) powder inside a sealed vial. In that state they're stable, but you can't inject a powder — you have to dissolve it first. That's reconstitution: adding a measured volume of bacteriostatic water (sterile water with a small amount of benzyl alcohol that inhibits bacterial growth) to turn the powder into a solution.
How much water you add determines the concentration, and that determines how many units you draw for a given dose. Less water = more concentrated = fewer units per dose. More water = more dilute = more units per dose, which can be easier to measure accurately for very small doses.
Work the numbers for any vial and dose on the dose calculator. It turns mg, mL, and mcg into the exact units to draw.
Units, mL, and the insulin syringe
Peptides are almost always drawn with an insulin syringe, and insulin syringes are marked in units, not millilitres. The standard is U-100: 100 units = 1 mL. So 50 units = 0.5 mL, 10 units = 0.1 mL, and so on.
This is why "draw to 10 units" is the practical instruction, not "draw 0.1 mL" — the units are literally the marks printed on your syringe. Common syringe sizes are 0.3 mL (30 units), 0.5 mL (50 units), and 1 mL (100 units).
30 units
0.3 mL syringe
Best for small, precise doses
50 units
0.5 mL syringe
A versatile middle ground
100 units
1 mL syringe
For larger-volume doses
Subcutaneous vs intramuscular
Most research peptides are given subcutaneously — into the fat layer just under the skin, typically the abdomen (a couple of inches from the navel) or the outer thigh, using a short, fine needle at a 45–90° angle. It's the same technique diabetics use for insulin.
A few compounds are given intramuscularly — deeper, into muscle — which requires a longer needle and different sites. The peptide's profile tells you which route its protocols use. Rotating injection sites reduces irritation and scar tissue.
Storage & stability
Before reconstitution
Lyophilised powder is stable refrigerated (2–8 °C) and, for many peptides, for extended periods frozen. Keep it dry and out of light.
After reconstitution
Once mixed, keep it refrigerated and use it within the window on the peptide's profile (often ~28–30 days). Don't freeze a reconstituted solution. Discard if cloudy or if particles appear.
How to read an evidence grade
Every profile carries one of these grades. It's the single most important thing to look at, because popularity and evidence are very different things.
Randomized human trials. Supported by randomized controlled trials in humans. Several compounds at this level are FDA-approved for specific indications.
Limited human data. Small open-label studies, case series, or trials in a narrow population. Directionally informative, not conclusive.
Animal models. Evidence comes primarily from rodent or other animal studies. Translation to humans is unproven.
In-vitro / mechanistic. Cell-culture or mechanistic work only. No meaningful in-vivo human evidence exists.
Anecdotal reports only. Community-reported use with essentially no controlled data. Treat claims with heavy skepticism.
Ready to explore?
For educational purposes only. Peptides are discussed as research chemicals for research use only — not medical advice. Consult a physician.