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Beginner's Guide to Peptides

Everything you need to know before your first peptide — explained clearly, without the hype.

This is not medical advice

PeptideWiki is an educational resource. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any peptide. Self-administration carries risks.

What are peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the same building blocks that make up proteins. Your body produces thousands of peptides naturally to regulate growth, healing, immunity, and more.

Unlike anabolic steroids (which are synthetic hormones) or SARMs (which bind to androgen receptors), peptides typically work by signaling your body's own systems — telling your pituitary to release growth hormone, accelerating tissue repair, or modulating inflammation.

Because they mimic natural signaling molecules, they tend to have more targeted effects and different risk profiles than traditional performance drugs.

Is this legal?

It depends on where you live and what the peptide is. In the US, most peptides fall into one of these categories:

FDA-approved drugs (e.g., Ozempic/semaglutide, Bremelanotide) — legal with a prescription
Compounded medications — legal from licensed compounding pharmacies with a prescription
Research chemicals — sold legally for in vitro research, not for human use
Banned in sport — many are prohibited by WADA/USADA

Always check local laws. This site is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any peptide.

Research peptides sold online are not FDA-approved for human use and are not subject to pharmaceutical manufacturing standards. Quality varies enormously between vendors. Only purchase from suppliers who provide third-party HPLC and mass-spectrometry Certificates of Analysis (CoA) for every batch.

The basics you need to know

Most research peptides come as a white lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder in a sealed glass vial. Before you can use them, you need to reconstitute (mix) them with a liquid. Here are the key concepts:

Lyophilized powder

The dry peptide in the vial. Many are stable at room temperature for months; others require refrigeration. Always follow peptide-specific storage instructions.

BAC water

Bacteriostatic water — sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol. Used to reconstitute peptides for multi-dose use.

U-100 insulin syringe

The standard syringe for subcutaneous peptide injections. 100 units = 1 mL.

Subcutaneous (SubQ)

Injection into the fat layer under the skin, usually in the belly or outer thigh.

Your first peptide

Search for any peptide below — we'll show you exactly how to get started with it.

Popular starting points:

Essential supplies checklist

Bacteriostatic water (BAC water) — 10mL vials — available online or at compounding pharmacies

U-100 insulin syringes (½ inch, 29–31 gauge) — 1mL capacity

Alcohol swabs — Wipe vial stoppers and injection site before every use

Sharps disposal container — Required by law in most states — never throw syringes in trash

Refrigerator space — Reconstituted peptides must be kept at 2–8°C

Marker / label tape — Label every vial with the date reconstituted and concentration

Certificate of Analysis (CoA) — Request HPLC/mass-spec CoA from your vendor before use — verifies purity and identity

Reading a protocol

When you see a protocol like “250mcg SubQ ED for 12 weeks”, here's how to decode it:

250mcgThe dose — micrograms. 1000mcg = 1mg.

SubQSubcutaneous injection — into fat tissue, not muscle.

EDEvery day. EOD = every other day. 3x/wk = three times per week.

12 weeksThe cycle length. Many peptides are run in 12-week blocks with 4-week breaks.

Half-lifeHow long it takes for half the dose to leave your system. Affects dosing frequency.

Common mistakes to avoid

Shaking the vial — Always swirl gently — shaking causes foaming and aggregation, which degrades the peptide

Not refrigerating after reconstitution — Reconstituted peptides must be refrigerated; some degrade in hours at room temp

Using the wrong syringe — Use U-100 insulin syringes — cc syringes are not the same unit scale

Skipping alcohol swabs — Always swab the stopper and injection site — every single time

Starting multiple peptides at once — One peptide at a time — you can't identify side effects otherwise

Not tracking doses — Keep a simple log of dose, time, and how you feel

Where to go next

Peptide Database

Browse all compounds with protocols and reconstitution info

Reconstitution Guide

Step-by-step mixing instructions with photos

Dosing Calculator

Find your exact syringe units for any dose

Research Articles

AI-curated PubMed studies on peptides

Interaction Checker

See if two peptides are commonly stacked

Experience Logs

Real community reports — see what others have tried