A tiny but mighty four-amino-acid peptide that activates your body's telomerase enzyme—essentially helping your cells hit the 'reset' button on aging by protecting and lengthening the protective caps on your chromosomes [1][2].
Written by Michael Carroll — Owner, Director of Research · Reviewed by the Peptide Initiative Research Team · Editorial standards
Subcutaneous
Route
3 recommended
Sites
Once daily
Frequency
Preparation
Bacteriostatic water (BAC water)—the preservative keeps it safe for multiple uses
Insulin syringes (29-31 gauge)—thin needles mean less discomfort
Alcohol swabs for cleaning vial tops and injection sites
Your Epithalon powder vial
Pro tip
Prepare all supplies on a clean surface before you begin. Having everything ready makes the process smoother and more sterile.
Mixing
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Gather all supplies on a clean, flat surface.
Remove the plastic cap from the peptide vial and wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab. Let it air dry.
Draw the appropriate amount of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
Insert the needle into the vial at an angle, aiming at the inside wall of the vial. Slowly push the plunger to let the water trickle down the glass wall -- do NOT squirt directly onto the powder.
Once all water is added, gently swirl the vial in a slow circular motion. Never shake the vial, as this can damage the peptide bonds.
Continue swirling until the powder is completely dissolved and the solution is clear. If particles remain, let the vial sit for a few minutes and swirl again.
Label the vial with the date of reconstitution, the peptide name, and the concentration (e.g. 250mcg per 0.1mL).
Example calculation
If you have a 10mg vial and add 2mL of BAC water, you get a concentration of 5mg/mL. So every 0.2mL (20 units on an insulin syringe) equals 1mg of Epithalon.
Dose calculation
For a 5mg dose at 5mg/mL concentration: draw 1mL (100 units on a standard insulin syringe). For a 10mg dose: draw the full 2mL or use two separate syringes.
Pro tip
Always add the bacteriostatic water slowly, letting it run down the side of the vial. Never shake the vial -- swirl gently to avoid damaging the peptide.
Location
Site 01
Abdomen
Pinch the skin 2 inches from navel. Avoid the area directly around the belly button. Rotate between left and right sides.
Site 02
Outer Thigh
Middle third of the outer thigh. Keep at least 4 inches above the knee and below the hip. Alternate legs each injection.
Site 03
Upper Arm
Back or outer area of the upper arm. This site may require assistance from another person for proper technique.
Rotate between 3 sites to prevent tissue buildup and ensure consistent absorption.
Pro tip
Rotate your injection sites with each dose to prevent lipohypertrophy (buildup of fatty tissue). Keep a simple log of where you last injected.
Step by step
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab and let it air dry completely
Pinch about an inch of skin to create a fold
Insert the needle at a 45-90 degree angle (45 if you're lean, 90 if you have more tissue)
Push the plunger slowly and steadily
Wait 5 seconds before removing the needle
Apply light pressure if needed—don't rub
Pro tip
This peptide uses subcutaneous injection (just under the skin)—the easiest and most common method for self-administration. Inject at a 45-90 degree angle into pinched skin. Aspirate before injecting to ensure you haven't hit a blood vessel.
Timing
Optimal timing
Best time
Evening injections (1-2 hours before bed) work best for most people since Epithalon supports melatonin production—aligning with your natural sleep cycle makes sense [3].
With food?
Epithalon can be taken regardless of food timing. It doesn't seem to affect absorption either way, so fit it into whatever routine works for you.
Stacking notes
If stacking with other peptides, inject them at different sites. Epithalon pairs nicely with GHK-Cu for a comprehensive anti-aging approach. Space injections at least 30 minutes apart to track individual effects.
Sample daily schedule
Evening (7-9 PM, about 1-2 hours before bed)
5-10 mg depending on protocol injection
Site: Rotate between belly, thigh, and arm
Evening timing aligns with your body's natural melatonin production cycle. Follow a 10-20 day cycle, then take 3-6 months off before repeating. Most research uses 1-2 cycles per year.
Dosing tiers
Dose
0.5 mg (sublingual) / 5.0 micrograms per eye (parabulbar)
Frequency
Once daily
Duration
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].
Dose
5-10 mg
Frequency
Once daily
Duration
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].
Preservation
Before mixing
Keep your Epithalon powder in the refrigerator (36-46°F / 2-8°C) for short-term storage or in the freezer (-4°F / -20°C) for long-term storage. Store in the original sealed vial away from light. Properly stored powder can remain stable for 2+ years when frozen.
After mixing
Once mixed with bacteriostatic water, refrigerate at 36-46°F (2-8°C). Never freeze the reconstituted solution—freezing destroys the peptide. Keep away from light and use within 21-28 days.
Shelf life after mixing
21-28 days
Signs of degradation
Discard the vial immediately if you notice any of these:
Cloudy or hazy appearance (should be crystal clear)
Visible particles floating or settled at the bottom
Color changes—any yellowing or discoloration means toss it
Unusual smell—fresh solution should have little to no odor
Important
When to stop
Any signs of allergic reaction—stop immediately and seek medical help
Persistent headaches that don't improve after the first week
Significant sleep disturbances that worsen rather than improve
Injection site reactions that spread or don't heal
Any side effect that feels serious or really concerns you
Your research protocol/cycle is complete
Epithalon is a research compound, not an FDA-approved medication. Never start, stop, or change your dosing without guidance from a qualified healthcare provider. This information is for educational purposes only—not medical advice.
Clean technique checklist
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling supplies
Swab vial tops and injection site with alcohol and let dry
Never touch the needle tip or allow it to contact non-sterile surfaces
Use a new syringe and needle for each injection
Dispose of used sharps in a proper sharps container
Store reconstituted peptides according to the storage instructions above
Published research
Khavinson VKh, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA · 2003
This foundational study showed that Epithalon activates telomerase (the enzyme that rebuilds telomeres) in human fibroblast cells that normally don't have active telomerase. The cells actually grew telomeres longer—suggesting the possibility of extending cellular lifespan.
Al-Dulaimi S, Thomas R, Matta S, Roberts T · 2025
This recent study confirmed that Epithalon extends telomeres in normal human cells by increasing telomerase activity. Importantly, in normal cells the effect worked through safe telomerase pathways, while cancer cells used a different mechanism—suggesting Epithalon may be safe for healthy cells.
Araj SK, Brzezik J, Mądra-Gackowska K, Szeleszczuk Ł · 2025
This comprehensive review summarized 25 years of Epithalon research, confirming its effects on melatonin synthesis, telomerase activity, and multiple enzymes. It's one of the broadest-reaching peptides studied in longevity science.
Khavinson VKh, Kopylov AT, Vaskovsky BV, et al. · 2017
Researchers confirmed that the AEDG sequence (Epithalon) naturally exists in the pineal gland's polypeptide complex. This validated that Epithalon isn't just a synthetic invention—it's based on a naturally occurring peptide your body already uses.
Gatta M, Dovizio M, Milillo C, et al. · 2025
Epithalon restored impaired wound healing in cells damaged by high glucose (simulating diabetes). It worked by reducing oxidative stress and preventing harmful cellular changes, showing its potential beyond just telomere effects.
Khavinson VKh, Morozov VG · 2003
Thymalin (thymic) and Epithalamin (pineal) peptide preparations were assessed in 266 elderly people over 6-8 years, with the preparations given during the first 2-3 years. Mortality fell 2.0-2.1-fold in the Thymalin group, 1.6-1.8-fold in the Epithalamin group, and 2.5-fold with both. A separate group given both annually for 6 years showed a 4.1-fold decrease against control. This study used Epithalamin, the pineal gland extract, not the synthetic tetrapeptide Epitalon.
Labunets IF, Butenko GM, Khavinson VKh, Magdich LV, Dragunova VA, Pishel' IN, Azarskova MV · 2003
In aging CBA mice, long-term administration of the pineal preparation epithalamin increased stromal precursor, CD4+ and Mac-1+ cells in old bone marrow, improved migration of T-cell precursors from bone marrow to the thymus, and shifted thymic and splenic T-cell populations back toward the pattern seen in adult mice. The authors also reported that Epithalon increased thymic endocrine function. This is animal research, not human data.
Korkushko OV, Khavinson VKh, Shatilo VB, Antonyuk-Shcheglova IA · 2006
A 12-year randomised clinical study of epithalamine — the pineal gland peptide preparation, not the synthetic tetrapeptide — in elderly patients with coronary disease and accelerated cardiovascular aging. After 12 years the number of deaths in the epithalamine group was 28% lower than in the control group on the same basic therapy. Cardiovascular mortality was 2-fold lower, as was the incidence of cardiovascular failure and respiratory disease.
Korkushko OV, Khavinson VKh, Shatilo VB, Antonyk-Sheglova IA · 2011
A randomized comparative study in which 39 elderly coronary patients received six courses of epithalamin over three years in addition to basic therapy, with 40 controls on basic therapy alone, followed for 15 years. Treated patients showed slower cardiovascular aging, preserved physical endurance, normalized melatonin circadian rhythm, and significantly lower mortality. The published report presents efficacy outcomes and does not itemize adverse events.
Korkushko OV, Lapin BA, Goncharova ND, Khavinson VKh, Shatilo VB, Vengerin AA, Antoniuk-Shcheglova IA, Magdich LV · 2007
Pineal peptide preparations — epithalamin and the synthetic tetrapeptide Epitalon — restored night-time melatonin release and normalized the melatonin circadian rhythm in old monkeys and elderly people. The authors concluded that these preparations raise melatonin concentration without side effects and can be used in clinical geriatric practice.
Khavinson V, Diomede F, Mironova E, Linkova N, Trofimova S, Trubiani O, Caputi S, Sinjari B · 2020
In human gingival mesenchymal stem cells, the AEDG peptide (Epitalon) increased mRNA expression of the neuronal differentiation markers Nestin, GAP43, beta-tubulin III and Doublecortin by roughly 1.6-1.8 times. Molecular modelling indicated the peptide binds linker histones H1/3 and H1/6 at sites that interact with DNA, which the authors propose as an epigenetic mechanism for the increased transcription of neuronal differentiation genes.
Shay JW, Bacchetti S · 1997
A survey of published data covering essentially all major types of human cancer found telomerase activity present in the large majority of cases. Normal human somatic tissues generally keep the enzyme repressed, which is the contrast that makes telomerase activity a common feature of cancer cells.
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