- Bacteriostatic waterBAC water
- Sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol, which prevents bacterial growth so a reconstituted vial stays usable for ~28 days refrigerated. Use this, not plain sterile water, for multi-dose vials.
- Certificate of AnalysisCOA
- A lab document showing a batch's purity and identity. The single most important tool for verifying you got what you paid for.
- Concentration
- How much peptide is in each mL of solution (mcg/mL), set by the vial size and how much water you add. Determines how many units = your dose.
- Cycle
- A defined on-period of use (e.g., 8-12 weeks) often followed by a break, to maintain sensitivity and limit risk.
- Endotoxin
- Bacterial toxin measured in EU/mg. For anything injected, a COA should report endotoxin below 1 EU/mg.
- GH secretagogue
- Any compound that stimulates growth-hormone release (GHRHs, GHRPs, and oral MK-677).
- GHRH
- Growth-Hormone-Releasing Hormone. Analogues like CJC-1295, sermorelin, and tesamorelin prompt the body's own GH release.
- GHRP
- Growth-Hormone-Releasing Peptide (e.g., Ipamorelin, GHRP-2/6). Works through the ghrelin receptor; often stacked with a GHRH.
- GIP
- Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide, a second incretin hormone. Tirzepatide activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors.
- GLP-1
- Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, a gut hormone that reduces appetite and improves blood sugar. GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, etc.) are the basis of modern weight-loss medicine.
- Half-life
- How long it takes for half a dose to clear the body. It drives how often you dose, short half-life means more frequent injections.
- HPLC
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, the standard test for peptide purity. A good COA shows the HPLC chromatogram, not just a percentage.
- IGF-1
- Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, the downstream marker of GH activity. The key lab to confirm a GH peptide is working (and to catch excess).
- Insulin syringe (U-100)
- A fine syringe marked 0-100 units (1 mL). Standard for subcutaneous peptide dosing.
- IntramuscularIM
- An injection into muscle tissue, using a longer needle. Used for some peptides and certain preparations.
- Intranasal
- Administration as a nasal spray, absorbed through the nasal mucosa. Common for Semax, Selank, and some others.
- Lipohypertrophy
- Lumpy fat-tissue changes from repeatedly injecting the same spot. Prevented by rotating injection sites.
- Loading dose
- A higher initial dose (or frequency) at the start of a protocol, common with TB-500, before dropping to maintenance.
- Lyophilized
- Freeze-dried. Peptides are shipped as a lyophilized powder for stability and reconstituted before use.
- Mass spectrometry
- A lab test that confirms a vial actually contains the peptide it claims (its identity/molecular weight). Purity is meaningless if the molecule is wrong.
- Peptide
- A short chain of amino acids, smaller than a protein, that acts as a signaling molecule in the body. Therapeutic peptides mimic or modulate these natural signals.
- Reconstitution
- Mixing freeze-dried (lyophilized) peptide powder with a liquid (usually bacteriostatic water) to make an injectable or usable solution.
- Research use onlyRUO
- A label meaning a compound has not been evaluated by the FDA for human use. Most research peptides are sold this way.
- Stack
- Using two or more peptides together for complementary effects (e.g., BPC-157 + TB-500 for healing).
- SubcutaneousSubQ
- An injection into the fatty layer just under the skin (e.g., abdomen, thigh). The most common route for most peptides.
- Titration
- Gradually increasing a dose over time to let the body adjust, essential for GLP-1s to manage nausea.
- Units / IU
- The markings on an insulin (U-100) syringe. 100 units = 1 mL. Dose calculators convert your mcg dose into the units to draw.