September 17, 2024

Peptides—short chains of amino acids that are the “building blocks” of proteins—can be extremely effective for targeting a single pathway or mechanism in the body with great precision. For example, BPC-157 can help you recover faster by quelling inflammation, LL-37 can support a better immune system and squash a bout of SIBO, giardia, or other gut issues, and Semax can be effective as a potent nootropic or smart drug equivalent for cognitive performance.

When you “stack” multiple peptides, however, and use them together in a multi-targeted approach for a broader health goal, their benefits can compound and become even more powerful—often helping you experience significant improvement in a much shorter period of time.

But when it comes to which peptides work collectively, those you can stack together safely and effectively, what doses to use, and how often to take each—things can get a little confusing, to say the very least.

So in this article, I’m going to break down the best peptide stacks (including several that I’ve used successfully myself) to target recovery, muscle gain, fat loss, immunity, anti-aging, and more.

I’ll also cover recommended guidelines for dosing each peptide, the frequency they should be administered, whether peptides should be cycled on and off during the year, the best time of day to take peptides, and much more!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this is not to be taken, interpreted, or construed as medical advice. These are just my personal thoughts and not a prescription, a diagnosis, or any form of health care whatsoever. Please talk with a licensed medical professional if you’re interested in using peptides. As of now, peptide therapy is considered “experimental” and lacks clinical long-term research, so you should proceed at your own risk. In addition, most of this stuff is banned by the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA), US Anti-Doping Association (USADA), and other international governing bodies of sport, so you should not use any of these compounds if you are competing in any sanctioned sport. Also, please note that the world of peptides is ever-evolving, and while I do try to keep posted articles updated, I can only attest that this information is current as of September 2024. To check if your peptide is legal, visit globaldro.com, select your country, and have the name of the medication on hand to see if it's banned in any athletic sport. 

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The Best Peptide Stacks for Your Health Goals

Now, before I jump headfirst into the peptide stacking deep end, let me give just one more quick disclaimer (isn’t this legal stuff fun?!)…

…the dosing and frequency recommendations provided below are simply general guidelines.

Like any medication or supplement, peptide doses will change based on your body weight, size, and personal health status. I recommend you start on the lower end of a peptide dose and frequency to see how you personally respond. Above all, you should follow the instructions from your physician or peptide manufacturer.

I would also highly recommend that you review the detailed instructions for reconstitution, storage, and administration provided in this article before proceeding.

The “Recover Like Wolverine” Peptide Stack

One of my first serious forays into peptides was to heal an annoying, persistent, and quite painful torn upper hamstring by using what I call the “Recover Like Wolverine” stack.

And it worked—with pretty surprising speed, no less.

So if you have frustrating joint pain that won't go away, some kind of muscle tear or sprain, or simply want to enhance your athletic recovery, this peptide stack beats the pants off your typical old-school “R.I.C.E.” protocol (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).

This potent recovery stack incorporates the following peptides: BPC-157, TB-500, ipamorelin, tesamorelin, and GHK-Cu.

BPC-157

Isolated from a larger peptide known as “body protecting compound,” which is naturally found in human gastric juice, BPC-157 has numerous benefits. These include regenerative effects such as healing muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and skin burns, as well as increasing blood flow through angiogenesis and offering powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It can also be taken orally—companies such as CanLab, Peptide Sciences, Limitless Life, and LVLUP Health have access to oral versions of BPC-157 and several of the other peptides listed below. 

The instructions below include guidelines if you’re taking oral tablets.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • Injection: 250–350mcg 2x/day; OR
  • Injection: 500–700 mcg 1x/day; OR
  • Injection: 0.15mL of 2000mcg/mL solution every day for a 30-day cycle; OR
  • Oral: 500mcg capsules for a 30-day cycle
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection for systemic healing
  • Intramuscular injection for targeted healing
  • Orally for gut healing or convenience

Again, you can click here for dosing/reconstituting instructions. Unfortunately, as of January 1, 2022, the World Anti-Doping Agency listed BPC-157 as a prohibited substance, meaning athletes subject to WADA regulations are no longer allowed to use it in competition or training, as it could result in disqualification or penalties.

TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4)

TB-500 is a naturally produced peptide found in nearly every part of the human body. It increases the activity of the muscle protein actin to promote cellular growth and stimulate blood cell development and has been shown to repair damage to the heart, skin, tissue, ligaments, and other organs and provide pain relief. It is probably the best peptide for muscle repair, however, TB-500 is banned by WADA and most other global sporting organizations both in-competition and out-of-competition.

Yet, if you're looking to promote wound repair and healing, it is an incredible solution because it acts on actin and myosin fibers in tendons, ligaments, and muscles—which is also likely why this peptide is used as a popular healing and recovery strategy in the horse-racing industry.

• Dosing Guidelines: Please note that there are very few guidelines around dosing TB-500, so it’s best to follow your practitioner or manufacturer’s suggestions. However, here is what I’ve used:
  • 5-2.5 mg, 2–3x/week; OR
  • 25mL of 3000mcg/mL solution daily for a 20-day cycle
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin enhances recovery through the activation of human growth hormone (known as a “growth hormone secretagogue”), which is well-known to accelerate the healing process. Unlike using human growth hormone (HGH) directly, however, ipamorelin—when used at appropriate doses—appears to be relatively free of side effects and will not affect or interfere with your body’s natural production of GH.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 100-500mcg 1-3x/day; OR
  • 10mL of 2000mcg/mL solution 1x/day, 5 days per week
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection
• Timing Tips:
  • For best results, it is recommended to administer ipamorelin at the same time daily and avoid consuming food and large amounts of liquids at least 1 hour before and after.

Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin is like ipamorelin’s cousin; it promotes recovery through the same GH pathways, serving as a “growth hormone stimulating hormone.” In other words, it binds to and stimulates growth hormone receptors with similar potency as taking endogenous HGH—again, without the unwanted side effects.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 1mg 1–2x/day for 5 days per week for a 6–8 week cycle; OR
  • 5mL of 1mg/0.6mL solution 1x/day, 6 days per week for a 6–8 week cycle
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection
• Timing Tips:
  • Before bed, take it at least 90 minutes after eating. Upon waking, take tesamorelin ideally before exercise and eating.

GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper complex found in human plasma, saliva, and urine. It has many roles in the body, including promoting recovery. It seems to act as an anti-inflammatory agent that controls oxidative damage post-tissue injury, as well as signaling tissue remodeling and the generation of new, healthy tissue. While GHK-Cu is best injected subcutaneously for recovery, it can also be used topically/transdermally for other purposes like skin health or hair regrowth—such as the case with Jay Campbell’s hair regrowth peptide formula.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 5mg 1x/day for a 5–10 day cycle; OR
  • 2mL of 10mg/mL solution 2x/day
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection

Here is a list of resources to discover even more about these specific peptides:

• How To Use BPC-157: A Complete Dummies Guide To Healing The Body Like Wolverine.
• How To Build New Blood Vessels, Regenerate Muscle Tissue Fibers, Increase New Cell Growth & More With Something Called “TB-500.”
• Demystifying Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptides – Everything You Need To Know About GH, Ipamorelin, Tesamorelin & More!
• The Coolest, Craziest Peptides You’ve Never Heard Of (& Where To Get Them), Boosting Testosterone Without Drugs, The Newest Creatine Booster & More With LVLUP Health’s Kyal Van Der Leest
• How To Use Testosterone, Peptide Stacks That Will Blow Your Mind, The Truth About Getting Peptides On The Internet, & Much More With Jay Campbell.

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The “Lean and Mean” Peptide Stack (Muscle Gain & Fat Loss)

As I’ve stated many, many times throughout my career, muscle mass is not only helpful for staying strong and looking good naked ;), it’s also essential to maintaining a long and healthy life.

So, if you’re interested in getting bigger, stronger, sexier, and faster with age—in addition to lifting heavy things, eating adequate protein, and avoiding inflammatory foods—peptides can be another tool in your toolkit to help you simultaneously build muscle and burn fat.

(P.S.: This stack would work wonders when combined with the exercise, lifestyle, and biohacking tips covered in my article “Sexy Forever: How To Build Functional, Good-Looking Muscle For Life”). I particularly like this one for morning fasted workouts.

This muscle gain/fat loss stack includes the following peptides: IGF-1 LR3, ipamorelin, CJC-1295 (without DAC), and tesamorelin.

IGF-1 LR3

There are basically two mechanisms by which you can increase muscle mass: hypertrophy (increase in muscle fiber size) or hyperplasia (increase in muscle fiber number).

IGF-1 LR3, which is essentially the long-acting version of IGF-1, a potent anabolic peptide, works to increase muscle by stimulating hyperplasia.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 50–150mcg 1x/day for a 4-week cycle; OR
  • 4mL of 620mcg/mL solution 1x/day
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection

Ipamorelin

Because it increases growth hormone (GH) secretion, Ipamorelin is also a potent muscle-building peptide. GH has major effects on skeletal muscle and function, which is why it’s such a widely used (and abused) sports performance drug.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 100–500mcg 1–3x/day for a 12-week cycle; OR
  • 10mL of 2000mcg/mL solution 1x/day, 5 days per week
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection
• Timing Tips:
  • For muscle gain/fat loss, I’ve personally seen the best results using ipamorelin before bedtime on an empty stomach.

CJC-1295 without DAC (Modified GRF 1-29)

CJC-1295 functions as a growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and increases IGF-1, which helps promote fat loss and increased muscle protein synthesis.

For this stack, you’ll want to use CJC without DAC (drug affinity complex), which is the shorter-acting version that more closely mimics your body’s natural growth hormone pulses.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 100mcg 1–3x/day for a 12-week cycle; OR
  • 10mL of 2000mcg/ml solution 1x/day, 5 nights per week
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection
• Timing Tips:
  • Take CJC-1295 before bedtime on an empty stomach.

Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin’s mechanism of action is very similar to that of ipamorelin; it works on growth hormone pathways and stimulates IGF-1, which triggers the production of muscle protein. It’s also been shown in large clinical trials to decrease visceral fat and reduce levels of triglyceride in the blood.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 1mg 1–2x/day for 5 days per week; OR
  • 5mL of 1mg/0.6mL solution 1x/day, 6 days per week
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection
• Timing Tips:
  • For muscle gain/fat loss, I’ve experienced the best results by taking tesamorelin in the morning before my fasted workout. But you can also take it before bed, at least 90 minutes after eating.

Resources to learn more about these specific peptides:

• Safe & Effective Alternatives to Ozempic® and Other GLP-1 Agonists: Potent Peptides For Weight Loss and Muscle Gain
• How To Use Growth Hormone Stacks For A Better Body: Everything You Need To Know About IGF-LR3, GHRP, and GHRH Peptide Stacks.
• Demystifying Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptides – Everything You Need To Know About GH, Ipamorelin, Tesamorelin & More!
• The Peptides Podcast: Everything You Need To Know About Anti-Aging, Muscle Gain, Fat Loss & Recovery Peptides.

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The “Never Get Sick” Immunity Peptide Stack

You may be, like me, pulling out all the stops to bolster your immune systems these days.

Peptides can be incredibly effective for targeting the multi-faceted immune system—which includes many organs, cells, and signaling molecules—providing you with well-rounded support to combat whatever comes your way.

(P.S.: This stack would be excellent for supporting your immune system when combined with the other suggestions in my article, “Three Little Known, Unconventional Antiviral Approaches For Boosting Your Immune System.”)

This immune-boosting stack includes the following peptides: TB-500, thymalin, and LL-37.

TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4)

You don’t hear about it much, but the humble thymus gland is critical in developing your immune system. Thymosin beta-4, a peptide produced by this gland, plays a large role in regulating immunity and producing white blood cells, lymphocytes, T cells, B cells, and antibodies.

• Dosing Guidelines: There are very few guidelines around dosing TB-500, so it’s best to follow your practitioner or manufacturer’s suggestions. However, here is what I’ve used:
  • 750mcg 1x/day, cycle for 3 months on/3 months off; OR
  • 3mg every other day, cycle for 3 months on/3 months off; OR
  • 25mL of 3000mcg/mL solution daily for a 20-day cycle
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection

Thymalin

Thymalin is yet another immune-boosting peptide produced by the thymus gland. It has immunomodulatory properties and plays a role in Th1 cytokine production (proinflammatory) and T cell (cell-mediated immunity) production and function, both of which are vital for antiviral defense.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 5–10mg 1x/day for 3-10 days, repeat every 6–12 months
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection

LL-37

Research on this so-called “antimicrobial peptide” indicates that it also has antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Thus, it may be highly effective for autoimmune issues and gut conditions, including fungal and bacterial overgrowth.

Warning: If you have SIBO, the die-off and Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction from LL-37 can be uncomfortable and may involve flu-like symptoms and diarrhea for up to two weeks. After that, however, many people experience the complete resolution of SIBO symptoms and the elimination of bloating and gas in response to carbohydrate intake.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 100mcg 2x/day for 4–6 weeks
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection

Resources to learn more about these specific peptides:

• Peptides Unveiled: The Best Peptide Stacks For Anti-Aging, Growth Hormone, Deep Sleep, Hair Loss, Enhanced Cognition & Much More!
• How To Build New Blood Vessels, Regenerate Muscle Tissue Fibers, Increase New Cell Growth & More With Something Called “TB-500.”

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The “Benjamin Button” Anti-Aging & Longevity Peptide Stack

One of my personal favorite ways to stack peptides is to “slow the aging process” and promote longevity—basically turning me into a real-life Benjamin Button.

All joking aside, there’s seriously compelling research associated with peptides and aging. One theory, postulated by Professor Vladimir Khavinson, who is perhaps the most distinguished medical gerontology researcher in Russia, is that many of the woes of aging are due to the slow-bleed, continuous breakdown of proteins (remember: proteins are made of peptide chains) in tissues and organs, which leads to their eventual degradation and full-body aging.

However, when you replenish your peptide stores, they’re able to restimulate protein synthesis in tissues. This means that instead of experiencing protein degradation and organ breakdown with age, peptides enable you to actually repair as you get older. Pretty cool, right?

This anti-aging stack includes the following peptides: epithalon, thymalin, GHK-Cu, MOTS-C, humanin, and FOXO4-DRI.

Epithalon

Epithalon (also confusingly called epitalon, no “h”) is commonly referred to as the “primary anti-aging peptide” because it is one of the very few synthesized compounds that has been shown to directly activate the telomerase enzyme in humans. Telomerase renews and elongates telomeres, the caps on the ends of chromosomes that protect DNA from damage and cancer-causing errors. By activating telomerase, epithalon can reduce the shortening of telomeres, theoretically helping you “age backward.”

I personally use the “Khavinson Protocol” for dosing epithalon (yes, the very same aforementioned professor), which uses the exact dosage from a fifteen-year longevity study in humans that produced impressive results for controlling telomere shortening.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • Khavinson Protocol: 5–10mg 3x/week for 3 weeks, cycle 1x/year; OR
  • 1mL of 3000mcg/mL solution, 1x/day
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection
• Timing Tips:
  • Epithalon is best administered in the morning.

Thymalin

Thymalin is a peptide produced by the thymus and pineal gland. It has a positive effect on almost every system in the body, including the immune, cardiovascular, endocrine, and nervous systems.

This peptide is also believed to be able to prolong human life, which is why it’s an important part of this longevity stack. A 2003 study found that 2–3 years of treatment with thymalin was shown to reduce all-cause mortality for elderly volunteers by a factor of two!

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 5–10mg 1x/day for 10 days, cycle 1–2x/year
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection

GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu helps to keep you young and supple in a number of ways, including promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration (skin, hair follicles, stomach, bone tissue), increasing collagen and glycosaminoglycans, promoting blood vessel growth, possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and much more.

This peptide can be used topically/transdermally—such as in skincare or hair regrowth formulas—or injected for systemic effects.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • Injection: 0.2mL of 100mg/mL, 1x/day
  • Transdermal: 1mL applied 1x/day at night
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection for systemic effects
  • Transdermal application for topical effects (hair, skin)

MOTS-c

Anti-aging researchers are now aware of the potent role metabolic health and mitochondria play in longevity. MOTS-c is one peptide that powerfully affects both of these factors, serving as a potent metabolic regulator that can enhance autophagy, restore mitochondrial function, and improve insulin sensitivity.

It’s also been referred to as “exercise in a bottle” because it can mimic some of the effects of exercise by activating the AMP-K pathway.

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 10mg 1x/week for 10 weeks, 1x/year
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection
• Timing Tips:
  • For added mitochondrial benefit, administer MOTS-c right before endurance exercise, ideally in the morning.

Humanin

Humanin is another mitochondrial peptide and has been shown to produce strong cytoprotective actions against a variety of stressors and age-related diseases, including neurological disorders, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, hypoxic damage to the brain, and oxidized LDL cholesterol.

Interestingly, children of centenarians (individuals that live to be over 100 years old) have unusually high levels of humanin—a potential Fountain of Youth, perhaps?

• Dosing Guidelines: There are very few guidelines around dosing humanin so it’s best to follow your practitioner or manufacturer’s suggestions. However, here is the range I’ve seen recommended (I would not suggest exceeding 0.04mg/kg body weight per day).
  • 1–1.0mg 1–2x/day for a 2–8 week cycle, 1x/year
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection

FOXO4-DRI

FOXO4-DRI (D-retro inversion isoform) is a cell-penetrating peptide that’s been shown in mice to selectively cause destruction, or induce apoptosis, of senescent cells. Senescent cells stop multiplying but they don’t die off when they should, which can lead to more inflammation and accelerated aging. In fact, cellular senescence has been tied to a number of age-related conditions like cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. So by selectively targeting these senescent cells, FOXO4 can help reduce the risk of diseases related to aging. Pretty cool!

• Dosing Guidelines:
  • 3mg every other day for 6 days, repeat 1–3x/year
• Administration Route:
  • Subcutaneous injection

Resources to learn more about these specific peptides:

• The Little-Known Russian Wonder Compound & The Fringe Future Of Anti-Aging Medicine
• Peptides Unveiled: The Best Peptide Stacks For Anti-Aging, Growth Hormone, Deep Sleep, Hair Loss, Enhanced Cognition & Much More!
• The Coolest, Craziest Peptides You’ve Never Heard Of (& Where To Get Them), Boosting Testosterone Without Drugs, The Newest Creatine Booster & More With LVLUP Health’s Kyal Van Der Leest

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Summary

So, there you have it.

You're officially equipped with some of the most potent peptide stacks out there for recovering faster, building muscle and losing fat, having a rock-solid immune system, and living a long, healthy life.

To be honest, I wish I had this guide when I was first tinkering with peptides a few years ago—it sure would have saved me a whole heck of a lot of time, money, and self-experimentation. Hopefully, you find it as helpful as I would have back then!

If you're interested in any of the peptides mentioned above (from trusted, reputable sources) you can also check out my Peptides Resources Page.

In summary…

To “recover like Wolverine,” you can stack:

• BPC-157
• TB-500
• Ipamorelin
• Tesamorelin
• GHK-Cu

If you want to lose fat and gain muscle, combine these peptides:

• IGF-1 LR3
• Ipamorelin
• CJC-1295 (without DAC)
• Tesamorelin

For boosting your immune system, try stacking:

• TB-500
• Thymalin
• LL-37

Finally, to age gracefully and with a good healthspan and lifespan, use this ultimate anti-aging peptide stack:

• Epitalon
• Thymalin
• GHK-Cu
• MOTS-c
• Humanin
• FOXO4-DRI

Remember: If you need information on sourcing, administration, reconstitution, or other tips for getting started, be sure to check out this article, as well.

Additionally, if you want to take your health optimization to the next level, consider diving deeper into the strategies and insights shared above in my brand new, recently updated, best-selling book, Boundless (you can pre-order your copy now!). In Boundless, you'll find comprehensive guidance on enhancing mitochondrial function, optimizing circadian rhythms, and improving sleep, among other advanced techniques for boosting your health and longevity. Whether you're interested in smart drugs, peptides, or cutting-edge wellness practices, this book covers it all, providing actionable strategies to elevate your physical and mental well-being.

And, as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback, so feel free to drop me a line in the comments section below, and I'll be sure to respond!