Dosing Guide

How to reconstitute peptides with BAC water

Reconstitution is the process of mixing lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder with bacteriostatic water (BAC water) to create an injectable solution. BAC water contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol which prevents bacterial growth, making it safe for multi-use vials. To reconstitute: draw the required volume of BAC water into a syringe, inject it slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial — never directly onto the powder cake — then swirl gently until the powder fully dissolves. Do not shake. Store the reconstituted vial in a refrigerator and use within the recommended window (typically 30 days). The BAC water volume determines concentration — each peptide entry in the guide below includes the recommended reconstitution ratio.

Subcutaneous vs intramuscular injection

Most research peptides are administered subcutaneously (SubQ) — injected into the fatty tissue just beneath the skin, typically at the abdomen, thigh, or love handles. Use an insulin syringe with a short needle (28–31 gauge, 0.5 inch), pinch the skin, and insert at a 45-degree angle. Intramuscular (IM) injection delivers the peptide directly into muscle tissue (commonly the gluteus, quadriceps, or deltoid) using a longer needle at a 90-degree angle without pinching. SubQ is preferred for most peptides because it provides slower, sustained absorption. IM is used for peptides like NAD+, MGF, and certain blends where faster uptake or higher local concentration is desired. Each entry in the dosing table below lists the recommended injection type.

Dosing frequency and timing protocols

Most peptides follow one of four frequency patterns. Daily dosing is used for healing and repair peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500, with some dosed up to twice daily. The 5-days-on/2-days-off protocol is common for growth hormone peptides such as ipamorelin, CJC-1295, sermorelin, and tesamorelin — this mirrors natural GH pulsatility and prevents receptor desensitization. Cycle protocols (such as 20 days on, then a break) are used for mitochondrial peptides like MOTS-c (one injection every 5 days for 20 days, 2–3 times per year) and Epithalon (10mg daily for 20 days, 2–3 cycles per year). Weekly dosing is standard for GLP-1 class weight management peptides. Timing also matters: GH peptides work best when dosed fasted, often before bed, to coincide with natural GH pulses.

How to use the peptide dose calculator

Each peptide entry below includes an interactive dose calculator. To use it: first reconstitute your peptide using the BAC water amount listed in the specifications (for example, 2ml BAC water for a 10mg vial). Enter your target dose in micrograms (mcg) into the calculator. The tool will calculate the exact number of units to draw on an insulin syringe based on your vial's concentration. For example, a 10mg vial reconstituted with 2ml BAC water has a concentration of 5mg/ml (5,000mcg/ml). A 500mcg dose from this vial equals 0.1ml or 10 units on a standard 100-unit insulin syringe. Use the "Details" button on any row below to expand the full specification table and access the calculator.