[Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide protocol.]
Are you curious about peptide therapy?
You should be — these next-level compounds are revolutionizing what we know about fitness, recovery, disease, and more.
But let’s be real: Getting results isn’t just about jumping on the hype train.
It’s about knowing how to use them the right way, both safely and effectively.
Whether you’re working with a trusted healthcare provider or doing your own homework, proper administration of peptides is critical to unlocking their full potential.
Let’s break down the best science-backed methods and proven practices for successfully using peptides like a true biohacker.
What Are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids (usually 2 to 50 amino acids long) that are naturally occurring and play important roles in countless biological processes.
These powerful molecules act as hormones, neurotransmitters, and signaling agents, keeping the lines of communication open between your cells.
From regulating key functions to supporting overall health, peptides are the ultimate multitaskers for optimizing your physiology.
While peptides and proteins may seem similar, their distinction lies in their size and complexity.
Unlike peptides, proteins are larger and made up of one or more polypeptide chains (with usually over 50 amino acids per chain).
Peptides, on the other hand, are smaller in size and complexity yet this does not lessen their impact on your health.
Benefits of Peptide Therapy
Peptides are a powerful tool for taking your performance to the next level.
These bioactive compounds offer an abundance of benefits, ranging from enhancing muscle growth to speeding up recovery to improving skin appearance.
Here are the most desirable outcomes of peptide therapy you must know about.
Athletic Performance and Recovery
If you’re an athlete looking to level up your athletic performance and injury recovery, peptides are the way to go.
Peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500 help speed up tissue repair, allowing you to bounce back faster and hit the gym harder.
They also boost endurance by improving the delivery of oxygen to your muscle cells, allowing you to push through those intense sessions without burning out.
On top of that, peptides can reduce muscle inflammation and support joint health—both of which are essential for staying at your peak and shortening your recovery time between training sessions.
Whether you’re running or bodybuilding, peptides can help you train smarter and recover faster.
Anti-Aging and Skin Health
As we age, collagen production naturally declines, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.
So you can think of peptides as your “anti-aging buddy” for restoring youthful, vibrant skin.
They help enhance the skin’s natural ability to repair itself, leaving you with smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
How, you may ask?
By boosting collagen and elastin production, both of which work together to keep your skin firm and elastic.
But it’s not just about reducing wrinkles—peptides also pack anti-inflammatory power, which often translates to reducing skin irritation and redness.
With consistent use over time, most people will see plumper and more radiant skin.
Weight Management
Peptide therapy has rapidly evolved into next-level modalities for weight loss, especially with GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors agonists like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide leading the charge.
These peptides aren’t just another biohacking fad — they actively enhance insulin secretion and suppress glucagon release, balancing blood sugar levels while promoting sustainable weight loss.
What sets GLP-1 receptor agonists apart is their ability to regulate hunger.
Through the reduction of appetite and increased feelings of fullness, it is far easier for dieters to stick to a calorie deficit.
Research from The Lancet backs this up, showing that users can lose AND maintain an impressive ~10% of their body weight one year after following a regimen combining GLP-1s and exercise.
A major breakthrough when you consider the overwhelming majority of people tend to gain back most of their lost weight (possibly going beyond their starting weight) after “successfully” completing a diet!
Hormone Optimization
Peptide therapy may soon be able to hormone optimization, particularly when it comes to boosting testosterone and achieving an ideal hormonal balance in men and women.
Unlike synthetic hormone replacement, peptides would work by stimulating the body’s natural hormone production via synthetic versions of the body’s signaling molecules.
In theory, this would promote a more balanced and efficient endocrine system while avoiding risks associated with traditional hormone therapies.
The sermorelin peptide, for instance, mimics growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and triggers the pituitary gland to increase growth hormone production.
This results in enhanced muscle development, faster recovery, and improved libido.
Types of Peptides and Their Functions
Peptides come in various forms, each designed to address specific areas of health and performance.
Knowing which type to use, and when allows you to maximize whatever benefit you seek to gain from one or more peptides..
Here’s a breakdown of the main types and their functions…
Endogenous vs. Exogenous Peptides: Endogenous peptides are naturally made by your body and regulate critical functions like hormones and immune responses. Exogenous peptides come from outside sources (ex. supplements or foods) and work to enhance/mimic your body’s biological cascades triggered by natural peptides.
Growth Hormone Secretagogues: These peptides trigger your pituitary gland to release growth hormone, driving muscle growth, accelerating recovery, and improving metabolism. Definitely worth looking into if you are serious about physique enhancement for personal or competitive reasons.
Thyroid-Related Peptides: These peptides directly impact thyroid hormone production, helping to keep your metabolism “firing on all cylinders” and further aid in your fat loss efforts.
Immune-Modulating Peptides: These peptides boost your immune system, promoting healthy immune cell activity to fight off infections and foreign pathogens.
Cardiovascular Peptides: These peptides help maintain proper blood pressure and fluid balance, keeping your cardiovascular system in optimal condition.
Neuropeptides: These nootropic peptides influence cognitive function, ranging from lowering neuroinflammation to enhancing focus and concentratio, making them powerful agents for both repair and optimization.
No matter your goal, these peptides can help optimize any aspect of your health.
Methods of Administering Peptides
Choosing the right peptides is just the first step—how you administer them is what makes or breaks your success.
Here are four proven ways to administer peptides for the best possible results.
Subcutaneous Injection
Subcutaneous injections are hands-down one of the best and most common ways to administer peptides.
By injecting directly into the fatty layer under your skin, you ensure fast absorption of the peptide into the bloodstream.
This method is perfect for peptides that require high bioavailability to see consistent and noticeable results.
It’s quick, efficient, and doesn’t require a medical degree to perform properly.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Clean your injection site—common spots are the abdomen, thighs, or upper arms—with an alcohol wipe.
- Pinch the skin to lift the fatty tissue, insert the needle at a 45 to 90-degree angle, and inject.
- Once done, apply a little pressure with gauze if needed and dispose of the needle properly.
Subcutaneous injections provide steady and sustained absorption, making them ideal for keeping the desired outcome(s) consistent.
They’re a no-brainer for anyone serious about optimizing results with peptide therapy.
Oral Tablets/Capsules
Peptides used to be tough to absorb when taken orally—they’d get broken down in the gut before they could do their job.
But thanks to next-level advancements in drug formulation, orally ingested peptides can now survive the digestive process and make it into your bloodstream (where they can exert their effects)
These peptides come in easy-to-use tablets or capsules, designed with protective coatings or encapsulation technology to maximize absorption.
Innovations like lipidization and nanoparticle delivery systems are paving the way for even better bioavailability, making oral peptides a legitimate option for biohackers.
The best part?
Oral peptides are non-invasive, pain-free, convenient, and cost-effective (in other words, no need for sterile injections).
If you’re looking for an easier way to harness the benefits of peptides, oral delivery is the best option.
NOTE: This only holds true for a very small selection of peptides — for the vast majority of peptides, subcutaneous injections will still be your best bet.
Transdermal Applications
If needles or capsules aren’t your thing, transdermal peptide delivery may be a alternative delivery method.
Using patches or creams, this method allows peptides to absorb directly through the skin (dermis), thereby avoiding the digestive system and liver metabolism.
The end result is improved bioavailability and steady, sustained release of the target peptide for better health outcomes.
Peptide creams are perfect for localized treatments — i.e. targeting wrinkles, reducing inflammation, or easing joint pain.
For example, collagen-stimulating peptides can visibly improve skin elasticity and smooth out fine lines.
Whereas transdermal patches deliver a consistent dose throughout the day, cutting out the hassle of multiple applications/doses.
Just like the capsules, transdermal creams/patches are non-invasive and straightforward to use.
They also make peptide therapy more straightforward and accessible for anyone looking to optimize their health and performance without any hassles.
Nasal Sprays
Nasal sprays work by having the target peptide(s) absorbed directly through the nasal mucosa for rapid results.
By bypassing the digestive system, nasal sprays boost peptide bioavailability, making them especially effective when targeting the brain or central nervous system.
Unlike other methods that spread peptides systemically throughout the entire body, nasal sprays are designed to target specific areas of the body.
This reduces unwanted side effects while making sure the peptide stays where it’s needed the most.
They’re also an easier alternative to injections—no need for professional help, learning proper injecting techniques, or overcoming a phobia of needles.
Moreover, recent innovations like nanocarriers and permeation enhancers have further enhanced the effectiveness of nasal sprays, expanding their potential to treat a variety of health conditions with even better results.
As described in the International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics:
These carriers serve the crucial function of safeguarding peptides against enzymatic degradation while also enabling a sustained release, thus extending the therapeutic impact.
By combining advanced formulation technologies, nasal sprays unlock new possibilities for targeting a variety of health challenges and growing the field of precision peptide therapy.
Dosage and Frequency Considerations
With the right peptides selected and the right method of peptide administration chosen, the next important step is how much of the peptide you end up using.
Peptide dosages aren’t a one-size-fits-all deal and are largely N-of-1.
The right dose depends on your body weight, metabolism, overall health, and what you’re aiming to achieve.
If you’re new to peptide therapy, here are my recommended dosages to start with.
Ipamorelin Dosage Guide:
General Dosage:
200-300 mcg injected subcutaneously, 1-3 times a day.
Additional Use Case Information (from The TOT Bible):
Before Training:
-
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- Inject Ipamorelin 30-45 minutes before workouts to take advantage of the HGH pulse, enhancing training intensity and fat loss.
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Body Composition Changes:
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- Most users will see noticeable changes with 300 mcg, once or twice a day, over 3 months or longer.
Before Bed (for Women):
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- An injection of 200-300 mcg immediately before sleep can lead to significant fat loss and improved body composition within 3 months (when combined with resistance training, cardio, and insulin-controlled living).
BPC-157 Dosage Guide:
Recommended Dosage:
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- 200-300 mcg, twice a day (400-600 mcg total per day) until injuries are healed, as outlined in Living A Fully Optimized Life
Administration Method:
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- Injected subcutaneously from the vial provided.
Additional Notes:
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- BPC-157 does not need to be injected near the site of injury, unlike some other peptides.
TB-500 Dosage Guide:
For Injury Treatment:
- Dosage: 2.0-2.5 mg twice a week in evenly spaced doses (e.g., Monday, Thursday).
- Duration: 4-6 weeks, with a 2-week break before resuming.
- Injection Method: Intramuscular or subcutaneous.
- Note: Injection does not need to be at the injury site since TB-500 is distributed systemically. However, you can inject at the injury area if preferred.
For Beginners:
- Starting Dose: 2 mg (2,000 micrograms) per day.
- Injection Method: Subcutaneous injection.
- Duration: 15 days.
- Maintenance: After 15 days, reduce to 1 mg per day if needed.
For Athletes (Performance Enhancement):
- Starting Dose: 2 mg per day.
- Injection Method: Subcutaneous injection.
- Initial Duration: 15 days.
- Maintenance: 1 mg daily for full recovery.
- Note: TB-500 is banned in competitive sports, so check the regulations of your sport.
For Healing and Injury Recovery:
- Animal Studies: Demonstrated faster wound healing and pain relief in rats.
- Human Dosage Calculation (example for a 200-pound person):
- Weekly Dose: 7.66 mg.
- Calculation: 90.7 kg × 0.084459 mg/kg = 7.66 mg per week.
- Note: These calculations are based on animal studies and are starting points rather than definitive doses.
For Bodybuilding & Preventing Injuries:
- Option 1: 750 mcg daily for 3 months, followed by 1 month off.
- Option 2: 3 mg every other day (EOD), effectively due to TB-500’s half-life of ~2-4 days.
- Option 3: 2.0-2.5 mg once every two weeks (i.e. bi-weekly) to maintain and keep body areas supple.
AOD-9604 Dosage Guide:
Once-a-Day Protocol:
- Dosage: 300 mcg once a day.
- Injection Method: Subcutaneous injection.
- Timing: Preferably in the morning, on an empty stomach (before cardio or at least 1 hour before your first meal).
- Duration: Can cycle from 6 weeks to 6 months, taking a one-week break to reset before starting another cycle.
Twice-a-Day Protocol (Dr. William Seeds):
- Dosage: 250 mcg twice a day.
- Injection Method: Subcutaneous injection.
- Timing:
- First Injection: In the morning before fasted cardio, or at least 1 hour before the first meal.
- Second Injection: Before bedtime, 1-4 hours after your last meal.
- Duration: Cycle for 6 weeks to 6 months. Take a one-week break to reset before beginning another cycle.
Additional Tips for Optimal Results:
- Fasting: Consider fasting for 3-4 hours after the first morning injection to potentially boost fat loss.
- Injection Sites: Inject AOD-9604 into the “fattest” areas of your body, particularly around your mid-section, for more effective results.
Cycle Duration & Effectiveness:
- Minimum Time for Results: Allow at least 3 months of consistent use to evaluate the peptide’s effectiveness in reaching your target weight or body fat percentage.
Semax Dosage Guide:
Recommended Dosing Protocols:
Dr. William Seeds:
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- Intranasal: 750-1000 mcg once a day.
- Subcutaneous Injection: 100-300 mcg once a day.
Ben Greenfield:
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- 0.5-1.0 mg per day (either nasally or via subcutaneous injection).
Nick Andrews (Entera Skin Care):
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- 1.0-1.5 mg via intranasal spray, particularly for late-night focus and to combat fatigue.
Intranasal Spray Calculation:
- Solution: 30 mg Semax in a 10 mL bottle.
- Per Spray: Around 300 mcg per spray (1-2 sprays per nostril).
Optimal Administration Routes:
- Intranasal spray and subcutaneous injection are preferred as oral absorption is poor for peptides.
- Intranasal application is confirmed as the best route for cognitive enhancement based on existing studies.
Timing:
- Morning: Best taken in the morning to avoid sleep interference.
- Afternoon (Alternative): Some users find testing nootropics around 3 PM during an “energy lull” useful.
For Stroke Recovery vs. Cognitive Enhancement:
- Semax 1% Solution: Faster recovery after strokes, migraine relief, transient ischemic attacks.
- Semax 0.1% Solution: Improves attention for repetitive tasks, enhances intellectual capacity in extreme situations, and alleviates cerebrovascular disease effects in healthy individuals.
General Guidelines:
- Start with a lower dose (100 mcg/day) and gradually increase as needed.
- Always find the minimum effective dose for optimal results.
Tesamorelin Dosage Guide:
Jay Campbell’s Optimal Dosage for Fat Loss:
Morning (upon waking):
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- 1 mg subcutaneously before fasted cardio or exercise.
Night (before bed):
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- 1 mg subcutaneously, at least 90 minutes after your last meal.
Injection Frequency:
Once a Day:
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- Inject at night as recommended for optimal results.
Females:
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- A once-a-day 1 mg injection works well for improving sleep and nighttime growth hormone production.
Ben Greenfield’s Protocol:
Cycle:
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- 5 days on, 2 days off.
- Injection: 1 mg subcutaneously in the morning before fasted cardio.
Personalized Cycle Recommendations:
Cycle Length:
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- Use Tesamorelin for no longer than 60 days in a row.
- Take a week-long break before starting another cycle.
Expected Results:
Time Frame:
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- Expect 4-6 weeks for noticeable changes in body composition (lean muscle gain, reduced visceral fat, etc.).
Body Fat Consideration:
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- Results will be more noticeable for individuals with less than 20% body fat.
No matter which peptide you’re using, always begin with a low dose and gradually increase to allow your body to adjust.
Remember, patience is key… How long peptides take to work can vary from person to person.
That’s why it’s important to check in with your healthcare provider to fine-tune the dosage based on your individual needs, ensuring you get the most out of your therapy while prioritizing safety.
Choosing the Right Peptide Therapy
Choosing the right peptide therapy isn’t just about picking a random option off the shelf; it’s about aligning the therapy with your specific health goals.
If you’re going to work with a progressive and experiential-based doctor: Have them assess your medical history, current health status, and any medications you’re on to ensure there are no risks or contraindications.
Once you’ve figured out your goals and gotten the go-ahead from your doctor, it’s time to think about how you’re going to administer your peptides.
Unless otherwise indicated, the majority of your peptides re going to be subcutaneously injected.
Injections are absorbed directly into the bloodstream and bypass the digestive processes, which means faster and more reliable results.
Oral peptides may be easier to use, but their effectiveness can vary depending on absorption.
Above all else, peptide therapy isn’t a “set-it-and-forget-it” process.
You’ll need to continually monitor your progress and be prepared to adjust your treatment as needed.
Regular check-ins with your healthcare provider and/or health coach will help you track your results and tweak your protocol for maximum effectiveness.
Safety Considerations and Potential Side Effects
When it comes to peptide therapy, safety should always be your top priority.
To get the best results, you need to follow the right protocols via maintaining a sterile environment and following the protocols for proper peptide storage and handling.
Sterility is non-negotiable when it comes to preventing infections, always disinfect your surfaces and equipment before use.
When you’re injecting, clean the injection area with antiseptic and make sure to use sterile supplies straight after opening them to avoid any risk of contamination.
Storage is equally crucial: Peptides should be kept in a cool, dry place—typically in the fridge (2°C to 8°C)—and away from light and moisture.
Always store them in their original packaging and adhere to the recommended timelines for reconstituted solutions to keep them effective.
Begin Your Path to Safe Peptide Use and Mastery
Peptide therapy is a game-changer when it comes to optimizing health.
However, as with anything that impacts your body, safety comes first.
Stick to the proper dosing and administration protocols to ensure you’re getting the maximum benefits out of your peptide(s) while also minimizing risks.
Moreover, don’t dive in without proper knowledge—always consult with your doctor to ensure you’re on the right track.
And if you’re looking for top-tier peptides, BioLongevity Labs should be your go-to.
They set the benchmark for USA manufactured research peptides, with a relentless focus on purity, stringent third-party testing, and top-notch customer service.
BioLongevity Labs consistently delivers the highest quality products, trusted by professionals for both personal and clinical use.
Whether you’re looking to elevate your performance or integrate these products into clinical applications, BioLongevity Labs is a reliable source you can count on.
Use code Jay10 to get 10% off your order!
I also invite you to join me and other like-minded biohackers in The Fully Optimized Health Private Membership Group.
This is where we dive deep into using peptides to optimize health, especially for those in their 30s and beyond.
We’re also talking about cutting-edge biohacking and the latest and greatest in elite health optimization strategies.
And don’t forget to check out our other premium educational content dedicated to helping you fully optimize your health:
Peptides Demystified – the step-by-step, A-to-Z system for newbies desiring to master peptide use for the first time and forever.
The Ultimate GLP-1 Video Masterclass – how to PROPERLY utilize the world’s most powerful weight loss drugs for enhanced fat loss and overall longevity.
The Modern Woman’s Peptide Course – a must-have resource for any woman seeking to become more feminine, sexier, leaner, and healthier through the use of peptides.
Life Enhanced – Unlock the secrets to TOTAL Mind-Body-Spirit Optimization as Hunter Williams and I teach you how to live at the tip of the spear.
30 Days 2 Shredz – Reprogram Your Mind and Body for Maximum Fat Loss in Minimum Time with our Optimized Fasting Protocol
See you on the inside!
