How to use, store, and think about compounded peptides.
Long-form explainers organized by peptide category. Pick a category to narrow down, or browse all guides grouped by therapeutic area.
Skin & Hair
3 guidesTopical copper peptide protocol
15 min read
Topical GHK-Cu protocol guide: prescription concentrations, the OTC gap, and the seven Skin and Hair SKUs.
Why prescription compounded GHK-Cu (1 to 3 percent) outperforms The Ordinary, Biossance, and NIOD (0.05 to 0.1 percent). The seven topical SKUs RxPepsDirect prescribes and how to pick between them.
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Topical SNARE-inhibiting peptide
12 min read
SNAP-8 (acetyl octapeptide-3) guide: SNARE inhibition, the topical Botox-alternative claim, and what the evidence says.
SNAP-8 targets the same SNARE complex botulinum toxin disables, but topically and gradually. Less potent than Botox; effects accumulate over 4 to 12 weeks. Available in two compounded formulations.
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Topical mitochondrial-targeted cream
11 min read
Methylene Blue Anti-Aging Cream guide: sub-staining concentrations, mitochondrial fibroblast targeting, SSRI contraindication.
Topical methylene blue at 0.0064 percent stays below the 0.05 percent visible-staining threshold. Targets mitochondrial ROS in aging fibroblasts. SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, TCAs are hard contraindications even at low topical concentrations.
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Weight Loss
5 guidesTriple monoamine reuptake inhibitor (weight loss)
14 min read
Tesofensine protocol guide: triple monoamine mechanism, Phase IIb data, and the cardiovascular signal.
Not a peptide despite frequent miscategorization. 9.2 percent Phase IIb weight loss. Real cardiovascular signal. Monitoring is not optional.
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GLP-1 protocol guide
12 min read
Microdose GLP-1: dosing math, evidence, and how to start safely in 2026.
Microdosing semaglutide or tirzepatide means running them below the FDA-approved starter dose. The vial-duration math, the published evidence, and how to start with a provider.
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NNMT inhibitor (metabolic weight-loss)
14 min read
5-Amino-1MQ protocol guide: the NNMT inhibitor mechanism, the mouse data, and the missing human trial.
A small-molecule NNMT inhibitor that raises cellular NAD+ to push fat cells toward burning energy. All weight evidence is preclinical mouse and cell-culture work. Honest that no human trial exists.
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Growth hormone fragment fat-loss protocol
14 min read
AOD-9604 (GH fragment 176-191) protocol guide: the lipolysis mechanism, the failed obesity trial, and the honest fat-loss picture.
A growth hormone fragment built to burn fat without raising IGF-1. The rodent data is real, but the pivotal 534-subject obesity trial did not beat placebo and development stopped in 2007. Honest about the gap.
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Lipotropic injection protocol
13 min read
Lipotropic injections (Lipo-B / Lipo-C) protocol guide: what MIC, B12, and L-carnitine actually do, and the honest weight-loss evidence.
MIC (methionine, inositol, choline) plus B12 or L-carnitine. The standalone fat-loss evidence is weak. These are adjuncts to diet and GLP-1 therapy, not primary weight-loss drugs.
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Muscle Growth
6 guidesGrowth hormone stack
16 min read
CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin protocol guide: dosing, units-to-mcg, timelines, and the legal pathway.
Pulsatility, DAC vs no-DAC, syringe math, the 90-day rule, gray-market purity data, and the 503A pathway. Written for the patient who wants the full picture.
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GHRH analog (GRF 1-29)
19 min read
Sermorelin protocol guide: pharmacology, dosing, IGF-1 monitoring, and the non-responder reality.
The only GHRH analog still Category 1 compoundable. Daily injection, 6 to 12 month protocol, 30 to 40 percent non-responder rate, and IGF-1 the biomarker that decides the answer.
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GHRH analog (FDA-approved as Egrifta)
17 min read
Tesamorelin protocol guide: visceral fat reduction, dosing, and Phase III evidence.
The only GHRH analog with Phase III trials and an FDA approval. Visceral fat reduction, the 31 percent non-responder rate, and what reaccumulates when you stop.
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Oral GH secretagogue (MK-677)
16 min read
Ibutamoren (MK-677) guide: oral ghrelin receptor agonist, water retention, glucose elevation, WADA prohibition.
The only oral GH secretagogue. Real GH and IGF-1 elevation. Real water retention. Real fasting-glucose drift. WADA prohibited. Monitoring is mandatory.
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ERR agonist exercise mimetic protocol
14 min read
SLU-PP-332 protocol guide: the ERR agonist exercise mimetic, the mouse data, and the total absence of human evidence.
An oral small molecule that switches on the ERR exercise gene program. Every result so far is from mice and cells, with zero human data. Honest about the gap and the anti-doping attention.
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Muscle growth peptide protocol
14 min read
IGF-LR3 (Long R3 IGF-1) protocol guide: the no-human-trial reality, dosing, hypoglycemia and cancer-signal risks, and the WADA ban.
Direct IGF-1 receptor agonist with no human muscle trial. Mechanism, conservative dosing, hypoglycemia risk, the cancer-signal concern, WADA S2 status, and the 503A pathway. Honest about how thin the evidence is.
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Recovery & Repair
5 guidesRecovery peptide protocol
18 min read
BPC-157 protocol guide: clinical data, physician dosing, and the limits of the evidence.
Mechanism, dosing, non-response rates, the angiogenesis question, WADA status, and the 503A pathway. Honest about what the human evidence is and is not.
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Copper tripeptide (skin & tissue)
14 min read
GHK-Cu protocol guide: collagen, the copper uglies, and the topical vs injectable evidence gap.
Topical has human RCT support. Injectable for cosmetic claims is anecdotal. The copper uglies are real and manageable. Hair-loss support, yes; DHT blocker, no.
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Thymic immune peptide
17 min read
Thymosin Alpha-1 protocol guide: T-cell maturation, the TESTS trial, and the chronic illness application.
The 2025 TESTS sepsis trial failed. The hepatitis B evidence stays strong. ME/CFS, Long Lyme, Long COVID applications are mechanistically plausible. 20 to 30 percent non-responder rate.
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EPO-derived repair peptide protocol
15 min read
ARA-290 (cibinetide) protocol guide: innate repair receptor, the neuropathy trials, and the non-erythropoietic difference.
An 11-amino-acid fragment of erythropoietin that triggers tissue repair without EPO's blood-thickening effect. Human evidence is small Phase 2 neuropathy trials. Honest about where the data stops.
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Four-peptide recovery stack
15 min read
KLOW (KPV stack) protocol guide: the anti-inflammatory tripeptide lead, the four-peptide blend, and the limits of the evidence.
Leads with KPV, the alpha-MSH tripeptide with the clearest preclinical anti-inflammatory data, then explains the BPC-157 / TB-500 / GHK-Cu stack and states plainly that the four-peptide blend has no combined human trial. Honest about what is mechanism and what is proof.
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Longevity
6 guidesMitochondrial-derived peptide (metabolic)
14 min read
MOTS-c protocol guide: AMPK activation, the WADA prohibition, and the human evidence gap.
Strong rodent data, thin human RCT data. AMPK activator (different mechanism than metformin). WADA prohibited since 1/1/2025. Not an exercise substitute.
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Longevity coenzyme
15 min read
NAD+ protocol guide: sirtuin activation, the bioavailability problem, and IV vs subcutaneous.
Oral supplements have a bioavailability problem the marketing rarely admits. IV produces the flush. Subcutaneous is the at-home middle ground. Not proven to extend lifespan.
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Delta sleep-inducing peptide
13 min read
DSIP protocol guide: sleep architecture, the 15-minute half-life, and the abandoned clinical pipeline.
Not a sedative. Most clinical data is 1981 to 1985 IV studies. Slow-wave sleep architecture modulator. 40 to 50 percent non-responder rate.
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Mitochondrial cognitive capsule (MB-5 to MB-25)
16 min read
Methylene Blue guide: mitochondrial electron carrier, MAO-A inhibitor, the SSRI contraindication.
Mitochondrial electron carrier at low dose, MAO-A inhibitor at any dose. SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, TCAs are hard contraindications. Hormetic dose curve. Medication screening is mandatory.
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Mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide
14 min read
Elamipretide (SS-31) guide: cardiolipin-stabilizing mitochondria-targeted peptide.
Cleanest mechanism in the mitochondrial-support category. Late-stage FDA program (Barth syndrome). Phase III ReCLAIM-2 missed primary endpoint. Available through 503A compounding.
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Longevity peptide protocol
15 min read
Epithalon (Epitalon) protocol guide: the telomere peptide, the Khavinson studies, and the limits of the evidence.
Pineal tetrapeptide, telomerase reactivation, the in vitro telomere result, the 266-patient extract trial, fly and mouse lifespan data, WADA S0 status, and the 503A pathway. Honest about how thin and unreplicated the human proof is.
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Cognitive
4 guidesTP-7 tuftsin analog (anxiolytic)
13 min read
Selank protocol guide: tuftsin-analog anxiolytic, Russian RCT evidence, and the 14-day course.
Russian clinical use for generalized anxiety. Non-sedating, no documented tolerance. Western replication is thin. RxPepsDirect prescribes the Semax/Selank combo spray.
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Russian nootropic + anxiolytic nasal spray
14 min read
Semax / Selank combo guide: ACTH-fragment cognition plus tuftsin-analog anxiolytic.
Two heptapeptides in one spray. Semax adds focus, Selank adds calm. Russian clinical use. Non-stimulant, non-sedating, 14 to 21 day course.
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Mitochondrial cognitive capsule (MB-5 to MB-25)
16 min read
Methylene Blue guide: mitochondrial electron carrier, MAO-A inhibitor, the SSRI contraindication.
Mitochondrial electron carrier at low dose, MAO-A inhibitor at any dose. SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, TCAs are hard contraindications. Hormetic dose curve. Medication screening is mandatory.
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Cognitive peptide protocol
15 min read
Dihexa protocol guide: the angiotensin IV nootropic with zero human data and a retracted mechanism paper.
Oral angiotensin IV derivative for cognition. We lead with the hard truth: no human trials, a retracted core mechanism paper, and a documented misconduct case behind the founding research. Mechanism, dosing, safety gaps, and the 503A pathway.
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Sexual Health
3 guidesMC4R agonist (sexual health)
15 min read
PT-141 (bremelanotide) protocol guide: MC4R mechanism, dosing, and the nausea reality.
The only FDA-approved on-demand HSDD treatment. 40 percent nausea at the fixed Vyleesi dose, MC4R tachyphylaxis, the male evidence gap, and why compounded titration matters.
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Pair-bonding nonapeptide hormone
13 min read
Oxytocin protocol guide: bonding peptide biology, troche vs nasal, and the context-dependent effect.
FDA-approved as Pitocin since 1953 for obstetric use. Off-label sublingual and intranasal for bonding and anxiety. Pregnancy is a hard contraindication.
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KISS1 / GPR54 reproductive desire peptide protocol
14 min read
Kisspeptin protocol guide: the reproductive-axis switch, the Imperial College London brain-imaging trials, and the pregnancy contraindication.
The upstream switch of the reproductive axis. Unusually for a libido peptide, it has real human data: placebo-controlled brain-imaging RCTs in men and women with low desire. Honest about short-infusion design, the pregnancy contraindication, and WADA status.
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Immune
3 guidesThymic immune peptide
17 min read
Thymosin Alpha-1 protocol guide: T-cell maturation, the TESTS trial, and the chronic illness application.
The 2025 TESTS sepsis trial failed. The hepatitis B evidence stays strong. ME/CFS, Long Lyme, Long COVID applications are mechanistically plausible. 20 to 30 percent non-responder rate.
Read the guide →
EPO-derived repair peptide protocol
15 min read
ARA-290 (cibinetide) protocol guide: innate repair receptor, the neuropathy trials, and the non-erythropoietic difference.
An 11-amino-acid fragment of erythropoietin that triggers tissue repair without EPO's blood-thickening effect. Human evidence is small Phase 2 neuropathy trials. Honest about where the data stops.
Read the guide →
Four-peptide recovery stack
15 min read
KLOW (KPV stack) protocol guide: the anti-inflammatory tripeptide lead, the four-peptide blend, and the limits of the evidence.
Leads with KPV, the alpha-MSH tripeptide with the clearest preclinical anti-inflammatory data, then explains the BPC-157 / TB-500 / GHK-Cu stack and states plainly that the four-peptide blend has no combined human trial. Honest about what is mechanism and what is proof.
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General
2 guidesInjection technique
5 min read
How to give a subcutaneous peptide injection.
Sites, syringe selection, the 90-degree-angle technique, rotation, after-care, and when symptoms warrant a call to your provider.
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Legal & regulatory
9 min read
Are peptides legal in the United States in 2026?
Yes with a prescription through a 503A pharmacy. The full picture covers the 503A patient-specific exception, the research gray market, controlled substances, state variation, and WADA bans.
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