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Peptide & GLP-1 Protocol Guides
Reconstitution math, dosing guides, half-life explainers, and protocol tracking primers. Answer-first. Cited sources. No medical advice. Written by the Protocol Editor.
Reconstitution Math
The math behind mixing peptide vials — concentration, units to draw, syringe types, and bacteriostatic water.
- How to Reconstitute a Peptide VialThe exact math for reconstituting any peptide vial: concentration formula, worked examples, bac water volume choice, syringe types, and common mistakes.
- Bacteriostatic Water for Peptide Reconstitution: Complete GuideWhat bacteriostatic water is, why it's required for multi-dose peptide vials, how much to add, proper reconstitution technique, and beyond-use dating.
- How Many Doses Are in a Peptide Vial?Reference tables for doses per vial by vial size and dose amount, why bac water volume doesn't change dose count, real-world yield vs. theoretical, and GLP-1 vial dose counts.
- Peptide Storage Guide: Lyophilized and Reconstituted VialsHow to store lyophilized peptide powder vials and reconstituted solutions, beyond-use dates, compound-specific storage notes, the freeze-thaw warning, and signs of degradation.
- U40 vs U100 Insulin Syringes: Why the Type Changes Your DrawWhy U40 and U100 syringes produce different volumes for the same unit number, how to identify which syringe you have, the conversion table between types, and why this is the most common peptide dosing error.
- Blend Vial Math: Calculating Units When Two Peptides Share a VialHow to calculate units for blend vials when two peptides share bacteriostatic water, what goes wrong when dose ratio doesn't match vial mass ratio, and worked examples for CJC-1295/Ipamorelin and BPC-157/TB-500 blends.
- How Much Bacteriostatic Water to Add to a Peptide VialHow bacteriostatic water volume affects concentration and draw size without changing dose count, practical defaults for BPC-157, tirzepatide, and CJC-1295/Ipamorelin, and when your pharmacy's instructions take precedence.
- Sterile Injection Technique for Peptide ProtocolsStep-by-step sterile technique for subcutaneous peptide injections, reconstitution hygiene, why alcohol wipes need to dry before use, sharps disposal, and recognizing injection site infections.
- How to Evaluate a Peptide Source: FDA, Compounded, and Research-OnlyThe three tiers of peptide sources (FDA-approved, licensed compounding pharmacies, research-only suppliers), why each tier has different quality and legal status, and how to verify your source before using a vial.
BPC-157
BPC-157 reconstitution, half-life, dosing frequency, and protocol tracking.
- BPC-157 Reconstitution: How Many Units to DrawBPC-157 vial reconstitution guide: reference table of units for common setups, the formula, doses per vial, half-life, storage, and injection site tracking.
- BPC-157 Half-Life: Why You Dose DailyBPC-157 has a ~4-hour half-life. This guide explains what that means for dosing frequency, once vs. twice daily protocols, comparison to other compounds, and the half-life chart.
- BPC-157 and TB-500: Different Tools, Same StackHow BPC-157 and TB-500 work through complementary mechanisms, key differences in half-life and dosing cadence, blend vial reconstitution math, and multi-compound tracking.
- BPC-157 and Gut Healing: Mechanisms and Research ContextHow BPC-157 is researched for GI applications: nitric oxide pathway, VEGF upregulation, cytoprotective effects on the GI epithelium, oral vs. SubQ routes, and what the animal research does and does not show.
- BPC-157: Inject Near the Injury or at a Standard SubQ Site?Whether BPC-157 needs to be injected near the injury or works systemically from any SubQ site, what animal research shows about injection location, and practical considerations for site rotation near an injury.
- GH Secretagogues vs. Exogenous HGH: Key DifferencesHow CJC-1295/Ipamorelin differs from exogenous HGH (somatropin), why pulsatility matters, what a secretagogue cannot do that exogenous GH can, and the regulatory status difference between the two.
- BPC-157 Dosing Protocol: Ranges, Frequency, and DurationCommon BPC-157 dose ranges (200–500 mcg), once-daily vs twice-daily frequency rationale, typical protocol durations for injury vs GI use, units-to-draw reference table, and why fasting is not required.
Tirzepatide
Compounded tirzepatide reconstitution, dose escalation, and how it compares to semaglutide.
- Compounded Tirzepatide: How to Reconstitute and Calculate DoseHow to reconstitute compounded tirzepatide powder vials and calculate syringe units for any concentration — plus dose escalation tracking and half-life context.
- Tirzepatide vs. Semaglutide: Mechanism, Trial Data, and TrackingHow tirzepatide (dual GIP/GLP-1) differs from semaglutide (GLP-1 only), head-to-head trial data, side effect comparison, half-life differences, and what changes when you switch.
- Tirzepatide Dose Escalation: The Standard ProtocolStandard compounded tirzepatide escalation from 2.5 mg to 15 mg/week, why slow escalation prevents GI side effects, units to draw at each step, and how to track dose changes.
- GLP-1 Agonists and Body Composition: What the Trial Data ShowsHow tirzepatide and semaglutide affect fat vs. lean mass, what SURMOUNT-1 and STEP-1 show on body composition, why protein intake and resistance training change outcomes, and how to monitor body comp during GLP-1 therapy.
- Compounded Semaglutide: Reconstitution, Units, and Dose EscalationHow to reconstitute compounded semaglutide powder vials, calculate syringe units for any concentration, the standard dose escalation schedule, half-life and steady-state timing, and storage.
- Missed a Tirzepatide Dose? What to Do and Why It MattersThe FDA 4-day rule for missed tirzepatide doses, what happens pharmacokinetically when you skip a weekly GLP-1 injection, why GI side effects return after a gap, and the parallel rule for semaglutide.
- Tirzepatide Side Effects: What to Expect and How to Manage ThemSide effect rates from SURMOUNT-1, why GI symptoms peak during escalation and improve at steady state, practical management strategies for nausea and constipation, and which side effects require calling your provider.
- GLP-1 Washout: How Long Tirzepatide and Semaglutide Stay in Your SystemWashout timelines for tirzepatide (~25 days) and semaglutide (~35 days), surgical considerations and ASA guidance on GLP-1 and anesthesia, drug interactions requiring clearance, and appetite return timing after stopping.
- I'm on a GLP-1 — What Other Peptides Do People Add?Map of the broader peptide landscape for GLP-1 users curious about additions: BPC-157, CJC-1295/Ipamorelin, TB-500. Why tracking gets harder fast and what to discuss with your provider before adding compounds.
- Oral vs. Injectable GLP-1: Rybelsus, the Lilly Pill, and Tracking DifferencesHow oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) compares to injectable Ozempic/Wegovy: bioavailability, fasted-dosing window, dose schedules, cost, and what changes for protocol tracking when you switch formats.
CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin
CJC-1295/Ipamorelin blend and separate vial reconstitution, DAC vs. no-DAC, and injection timing.
- CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin Reconstitution and Dosing GuideBlend vial vs. separate vial reconstitution math for CJC-1295/Ipamorelin, DAC vs. no-DAC explained, injection timing, doses per vial, and stack tracking.
- How CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin Work: GH Secretagogue BasicsWhat a growth hormone secretagogue is, how CJC-1295 (GHRH analog) and Ipamorelin (ghrelin mimetic) each trigger GH release, why they're stacked for synergy, and DAC vs. no-DAC differences.
- CJC-1295 with DAC: How the Long-Acting Form WorksHow the Drug Affinity Complex extends CJC-1295's half-life to 6–8 days, why DAC blunts pulsatility vs. the no-DAC form, the published IGF-1 elevation data, why it's not paired with Ipamorelin, and reconstitution math.
- Ipamorelin Injection Timing: The Fasted-State Requirement ExplainedWhy insulin levels at injection time control GH pulse amplitude, the two optimal windows (morning fasted, bedtime), how long to wait before eating after injection, and why timing matters less for CJC-1295 with DAC.
- Longevity Peptide Stack: What People Actually UseWhat "longevity peptides" really means in practice: NAD+, Epitalon, Thymosin Alpha-1, GH secretagogues, BPC-157, low-dose GLP-1s. Evidence ranking and why GLP-1 agonists have stronger mortality data than the niche peptides.
Protocol Tracking
Why multi-compound protocol tracking is hard, injection site rotation, and the neutral tracker model.
- Why Multi-Compound Protocol Tracking Is Geometrically HarderHow protocol complexity scales geometrically with each compound added, what goes wrong without a dedicated tracker, and what neutral Switzerland positioning means for your data.
- Peptide Injection Site Rotation: How and WhyWhy injection site rotation prevents lipohypertrophy and impaired absorption, how to set up a rotation system across SubQ sites, and how multi-compound stacks complicate rotation.
- Half-Life and Accumulation: Why Effects Strengthen Over WeeksHow drug accumulation works when dosing interval is shorter than clearance time, when steady state is reached for tirzepatide vs. BPC-157 vs. semaglutide, and what clearance after stopping means for washout timing.
- Recovery Stack Protocol: BPC-157, TB-500, and CJC-1295/IpamorelinHow to structure a BPC-157 + TB-500 recovery stack, what adding CJC-1295/Ipamorelin does to complexity, blend vial reconstitution math, injection site rotation, and half-life curves for all three compounds.
- How to Track Dose Escalation Protocols AccuratelyWhy dose escalation changes the units-to-draw calculation, what a complete escalation log captures, how to document holds and step-backs, and why dose in mg matters more than units when switching vials.
- Why Your GLP-1 Provider Needs Accurate Dose LogsWhat clinical decisions depend on accurate GLP-1 dose history, what a complete escalation log captures, why compounded protocols need more documentation than pen-format drugs, and how to prepare for provider follow-up visits.
- Why a Dosing Calendar Is Not Enough for Complex ProtocolsWhat a protocol dose log captures that a calendar cannot, why missed doses are invisible in calendar-based tracking, how multi-compound protocols break calendar-based systems, and what a complete protocol timeline looks like.
- NAD+ in a Peptide Protocol: Tracking and StackingNAD+ isn't a peptide but is commonly stacked alongside them: how it works, oral precursor (NMN/NR) vs SubQ injection, why injections burn, dosing ranges, and how to track NAD+ alongside CJC-1295/Ipamorelin and BPC-157.
- Peptide Stack Design Basics: How to Think About Multi-Compound ProtocolsThe three principles of stack design (complementary mechanisms, cadence compatibility, half-life awareness), common stack archetypes (recovery, GH pulse, body composition, longevity), and what goes wrong when stacks are over-built.
- Should You Use a Claude or ChatGPT Artifact as Your Peptide Tracker?AI artifacts handle one-shot reconstitution math but cannot persist data, sync across devices, or track a protocol over time. A dedicated tracker is required for ongoing multi-compound protocols.
- Best Peptide Tracker Apps in 2026 (Tested + Compared)Honest comparison of 10 peptide tracker apps in 2026: PepTracker, PeptideKit, PeptIQ, Smart Peptide Tracker, SHOTLOG, The Pep Planner, and My Pep Calc — rated by platform, features, and best-fit use case.
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