The strongest-evidence peptides in modern medicine — GLP-1 agonists for diabetes and weight management, plus GHRH analogs for body composition. FDA-approved with Tier 1 evidence in their indications.
Class. Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist.
What it does. Slows gastric emptying, suppresses appetite, improves insulin sensitivity. The dual mechanism (GIP + GLP-1) drives the strongest weight-loss numbers in this library.
FDA status. Approved as Mounjaro (T2D, 2022) and Zepbound (chronic weight management, 2023).
Evidence. Tier 1 — SURPASS and SURMOUNT trial programs together enrolled >7,000 participants.
Schedule. Once-weekly subcutaneous injection.
Titration. 2.5 mg → 5 → 7.5 → 10 → 12.5 → 15 mg, increasing every 4 weeks as tolerated. The 5–15 mg range is the studied therapeutic window.
Why titrate. Most GI side effects (nausea, vomiting) cluster during dose escalation; slow titration improves tolerability and discontinuation rates.
Time of day. Any. Half-life is ~5 days, so the time of day you inject doesn't meaningfully affect drug levels.
Day of week. Pick a consistent day and stick with it (e.g., every Monday). The label allows up to 4 days early or late if you miss a dose.
With food. Fine to inject with or without food.
Injection site. Rotate between abdomen, thigh, upper arm — not the same spot two weeks in a row.
Class. GLP-1 receptor agonist.
What it does. Slows gastric emptying, suppresses appetite, improves insulin sensitivity. Cardiovascular benefit demonstrated in the SELECT trial.
FDA status. Approved as Ozempic (T2D), Wegovy (chronic weight management), Rybelsus (oral T2D form).
Evidence. Tier 1 across both indications. SELECT trial (2023) showed a 20% reduction in MACE in patients with obesity + established CVD.
Schedule. Once-weekly subcutaneous (Ozempic, Wegovy) or daily oral (Rybelsus).
Titration (injectable). 0.25 mg → 0.5 → 1 → 1.7 → 2.4 mg, escalated every 4 weeks. Wegovy targets 2.4 mg; Ozempic targets 1–2 mg for T2D.
Why titrate. Same as tirzepatide — GI tolerability dominates the early dose-escalation period.
Time of day. Any. Half-life is ~7 days, so timing doesn't affect drug levels.
Day of week. Pick one and stay with it; up to 5 days early/late on missed doses per the label.
With food. Injectable forms: any time, with or without food. Rybelsus (oral): take on an empty stomach with no more than 4 oz water, then wait 30 minutes before eating or other oral meds.
Class. GHRH analog (synthetic human growth hormone-releasing hormone).
What it does. Stimulates the pituitary's natural GH release, which in turn affects body composition — particularly visceral adipose tissue.
FDA status. Approved (2010) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Off-label community use targets visceral fat reduction in non-HIV populations.
Evidence. Tier 1 for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Tier 2–3 for off-label use — generally extrapolated from the approved-indication trials.
FDA-approved dose. 2 mg subcutaneous daily.
Off-label community protocols generally stay at the 2 mg dose because that's where the evidence is.
This is community practice when used outside the HIV indication — verify with a clinician before starting.
Time of day. Bedtime injection is the consensus protocol.
Why bedtime. Aligns with the natural pulsatile GH release that peaks during deep sleep — the goal is to amplify that natural pulse rather than fight against it.
Fasted state. Food (especially carbohydrate or fat) blunts the GH response to GHRH stimulation. Avoid eating within 1–2 hours of dose.
Injection site. Rotate abdomen sites; subcutaneous, not intramuscular.
Tissue-repair-adjacent peptides — anti-inflammatory and wound-healing. Animal data is generally consistent; controlled human trials are sparse for most of these. Read the evidence tier carefully.
Growth hormone secretagogues and other peptides used in healthspan / longevity-focused protocols. Most have plausible mechanisms but limited human outcomes data — read the evidence tiers carefully.
Named recipe cards for the most common community protocols, built only from peptides in this library. Each card lists the goal, the ingredients with doses, the cycle length, and an honest evidence tier. Stacks beyond the eight peptides we currently cover are flagged at the end — we don't fake content for compounds we haven't classified yet.
When to take what, organized by category. Half-life and fasted-state requirements drive most timing decisions; the rest is practical (anchor the dose to an existing habit so you don't forget). Reference guide, not a prescription — verify with a clinician for your specific situation.