Epithalon vs Glutathione

0.5 mg (sublingual) / 5.0 micrograms per eye (parabulbar)

Once daily · 20 days (sublingual) or 10 days (parabulbar)

Source class: clinical trial protocol. These are the only two human uses of the synthetic tetrapeptide Epitalon identified in a 2025 peer-reviewed review: 5.0 micrograms per eye injected parabulbarly for 10 consecutive days in retinitis pigmentosa, and 0.5 mg per day sublingually for 20 days in a circadian rhythm study [3]. The same review states that toxicity studies needed before approval as an active ingredient have not been done [3].

5-10 mg

Once daily · 10-20 day course, repeated 1-3 times per year

Source class: community practice, not peer-reviewed. No published human study has given the synthetic tetrapeptide Epitalon by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection at any dose. This figure is 10 to 20 times the only systemic human dose reported for the synthetic peptide, which is 0.5 mg per day sublingually [3]. It is often attributed to Khavinson's Russian clinical work, but that work used Epithalamin, the pineal gland extract, rather than the synthetic peptide [6][8].

100 mg per injection

2–3 times per week · Ongoing, as directed

Delivered under the skin, bypassing gut breakdown like the intramuscular route shown effective in a controlled trial (600 mg IM every other day) [7]. Subcutaneous-specific dosing is drawn from clinical practice rather than published trials, so start at the lower end to gauge tolerance. Most protocols use a 0.5–1 mL injection volume.

200 mg per injection (up to ~600 mg per week total)

2–3 times per week · Ongoing, as directed

The most common subcutaneous range used in practice. It mirrors the systemic delivery of the controlled intramuscular protocol [7]; subcutaneous-specific numbers come from clinical use rather than trials. Rotate injection sites (abdomen, thigh) and use sterile, single-use supplies.

250 mg per day

Once daily · Up to 6 months

The lower dose from the 6-month oral trial in 54 healthy adults; it raised glutathione stores roughly 17-29% in blood versus baseline, and levels returned to baseline within a month of stopping [2].

1,000 mg per day

Once daily · Up to 6 months

The higher dose in the same 54-person trial raised blood glutathione about 30-35% versus baseline and more than doubled natural-killer immune-cell activity versus placebo by 3 months [2]. In a separate 12-person pilot with no placebo arm, liposomal glutathione at 500-1,000 mg per day raised whole-blood glutathione up to 40% versus baseline within 2 weeks [12].

1,400 mg per infusion

3 times per week · 4 weeks (as studied)

Clinic-administered. In the 4-week Parkinson's trial (21 people: 11 on IV glutathione 1,400 mg three times weekly, 10 on placebo), reported adverse events were similar in the two groups, no one withdrew because of them, and the treatment did not show a statistically significant benefit over placebo on symptom scores [1]. Must be given by a healthcare professional.

100-200 mg per dose

3 times daily (as studied) · Up to 3 months (as studied)

Trial dosing in Parkinson's: 100 or 200 mg three times daily for 3 months in 45 people — symptoms improved in every group including placebo, neither dose beat placebo, and one of the 15 people in the 200 mg arm developed cardiomyopathy [10]. An earlier 30-person trial of 300-600 mg per day divided found adverse events no more frequent than placebo [9]. A single 200 mg dose raised brain glutathione in 15 people (about a 269% rise in the glutathione-to-creatine signal at 45 minutes versus baseline) [3]. Uses a compounded nasal spray; trial samples lost potency to 72-81% of label within 4-6 weeks [3].

600 mg per injection

Every other day · 2 months (as studied)

This is the dose used in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, where 600 mg intramuscular every other day for 2 months improved sperm motility and structure [7]. Given by a healthcare professional or trained self-injector.

2% oxidized glutathione (GSSG) lotion

Twice daily · 10 weeks (as studied)

Applied to the skin, not injected. In a placebo-controlled trial, a 2% oxidized-glutathione lotion twice daily for 10 weeks lightened skin tone and improved the skin barrier [8]. Topical use acts locally on the skin and does not meaningfully raise whole-body glutathione.