Peptide therapies have become increasingly popular for their ability to treat various health conditions, from improving athletic performance to supporting anti-aging, immune function, and weight loss. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that naturally occur in the body and act as signaling molecules, helping to regulate numerous biological processes.
Here, we’ll discuss the top 27 peptide therapies in no particular order. We’ll explain how they work, highlight their potential benefits, and outline the possible side effects. Whether you’re exploring peptide therapy for general wellness or specific health goals, this guide will provide valuable insights.
1. BPC-157
- How It Works: BPC-157 is a peptide derived from a protein in gastric juices and plays a role in healing and tissue repair.Â
- Benefits: Accelerates wound healing, improves joint and muscle recovery, reduces inflammation, and helps improve gut health.
- Side Effects: Mild nausea, dizziness, or local irritation at the injection site.
2. CJC-1295
- How It Works: CJC-1295 stimulates growth hormone release by acting on the pituitary gland.
- Benefits: Increases lean muscle mass, enhances fat loss, improves recovery, and promotes anti-aging effects.
- Side Effects: Swelling, tingling, or numbness in the extremities; water retention; fatigue.
3. Ipamorelin
- How It Works: Ipamorelin is a growth hormone-releasing peptide that mimics the body’s natural growth hormone release.
- Benefits: Boosts growth hormone levels, aids in muscle growth, fat loss, and improves sleep.
- Side Effects: Headaches, nausea, or mild irritation at the injection site.
4. Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1)
- How It Works: TA1 modulates the immune system and enhances the body’s defense against infections.
- Benefits: Supports immune function, fights infections, and may reduce chronic inflammation.
- Side Effects: Possible injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms.
5. Thymosin Beta-4 (TB4)
- How It Works: TB4 promotes healing by regulating actin, a protein critical for tissue repair and cell movement.
- Benefits: Speeds up recovery, reduces inflammation, and promotes healing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Side Effects: Rare but may include tiredness or injection site pain.
6. Melanotan II
- How It Works: Melanotan II stimulates melanin production, the pigment responsible for skin tanning.
- Benefits: It provides a tan without sun exposure, may suppress appetite, and improves sexual function.
- Side Effects: Nausea, flushing, and spontaneous erections in men.
7. PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
- How It Works: PT-141 activates melanocortin receptors to enhance libido.
- Benefits: Treats sexual dysfunction in both men and women and improves arousal and sex drive.
- Side Effects: Nausea, headaches, flushing of the skin, injection site reactions, headache, and vomiting.
8. AOD-9604
- How It Works: AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of human growth hormone that targets fat metabolism.
- Benefits: Promotes fat loss, aids in weight management, and may improve muscle recovery.
- Side Effects: Headaches, dizziness, or local irritation.
9. Sermorelin
- How It Works: Sermorelin stimulates the natural release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland.
- Benefits: Increases growth hormone levels, supports muscle growth, fat loss, and improves sleep.
- Side Effects: Flushing, nausea, and mild swelling at the injection site.
10. GHRP-2
- How It Works: GHRP-2 (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2) stimulates growth hormone release, enhancing muscle and fat metabolism.
- Benefits: Promotes muscle growth and fat reduction and supports overall recovery.
- Side Effects: Hunger, water retention, and dizziness.
11. GHRP-6
- How It Works: GHRP-6 increases growth hormone secretion, supporting muscle growth and recovery.
- Benefits: Stimulates appetite, enhances muscle mass, and aids in tissue repair.
- Side Effects: Intense hunger, joint pain, and swelling.
12. Tesamorelin
- How It Works: Tesamorelin stimulates growth hormone release, particularly to reduce visceral fat.
- Benefits: Reduces abdominal fat, improves metabolic function, and supports muscle definition.
- Side Effects: Rash, nausea, and joint pain.
13. Follistatin 344
- How It Works: Follistatin inhibits myostatin, a protein that limits muscle growth.
- Benefits: Promotes muscle growth and strength and potentially aids in muscle recovery.
- Side Effects: Possible localized pain and mild flu-like symptoms.
14. IGF-1 LR3 (Insulin-like growth factor-1 long arginine 3)
- How It Works: Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1 LR3) promotes cell growth and repair, particularly in muscle tissue.
- Benefits: Enhances muscle growth, increases muscle repair and recovery, and supports fat loss.
- Side Effects: Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), joint pain, and headaches.
15. Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic)
- How It Works: Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate appetite, slow gastric emptying, and stimulate insulin production.
- Benefits: Promotes weight loss (up to 15%) by reducing appetite and food intake. Helps control blood sugar levels and is beneficial for individuals with or at risk of type 2 diabetes. It improves cardiovascular health by reducing the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
- Side Effects: The most common side effects are stomach-related (e.g., nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, burping, and vomiting). Although rare, certain people may have an increased risk of gallbladder stones and pancreatitis (e.g., dehydration, previous history of gallstones, sedentary lifestyle).
16. MOD GRF (1-29)
- How It Works: MOD GRF is a growth hormone-releasing hormone analog that increases growth hormone secretion.
- Benefits: Increases muscle mass, improves muscle repair, accelerates wound healing, strengthens bones, and improves fat loss.
- Side Effects: Local irritation, flushing, or mild fatigue.
17. KPV
- How It Works: KPV is an anti-inflammatory peptide that promotes healing and reduces inflammation.
- Benefits: Reduces inflammation and may be helpful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. It may also speed wound healing and reduce infection.
- Side Effects: Minimal, but can include mild injection site irritation.
18. DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide)
- How It Works: DSIP promotes delta wave sleep (deep sleep) and helps regulate sleep cycles.
- Benefits: Improves sleep quality, reduces insomnia, and may help increase alertness.
- Side Effects: Drowsiness and lethargy.
19. Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro)
- How It Works: Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, activating both GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptors, enhancing insulin sensitivity and reducing appetite.
- Benefits: More comprehensive metabolic control by acting on both GLP-1 and GIP pathways. Accelerates fat loss, especially abdominal fat, and improves insulin sensitivity. Results in significant weight loss for patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes (up to 25%).
- Side Effects: Common side effects are stomach-related and include nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, burping, flatulence, and indigestion. Although rare, like semaglutide, certain people may have an increased risk of gallbladder stones and pancreatitis.
20. LL-37
- How It Works: LL-37 is an antimicrobial peptide that enhances immune defense and supports healing.
- Benefits: Fights infections, reduces inflammation, and supports wound healing.
- Side Effects: Rare, but injection site reactions may occur.
21. Selank
- How It Works: Selank is a nootropic peptide that modulates mood and anxiety by stabilizing blood enkephalins (peptides found in the brain that help with stress).
- Benefits: Reduces stress, relieves anxiety, and improves memory.
- Side Effects: Minimal, may include drowsiness or dry mouth.
22. Semax
- How It Works: Semax is a nootropic peptide that mimics adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH is located in your pituitary gland and stimulates your adrenal glands to release cortisol.Â
- Benefits: Enhances focus, learning, and memory. It also helps reduce stress.
- Side Effects: Headaches or burning sensation in your nose or unpleasant taste in your mouth.
23. GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide)
- How It Works: GHK-Cu supports skin and hair regeneration by stimulating collagen and leasing synthesis in skin cells. It also blocks an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT (a hormone). DHT causes hair follicles to weaken over time.
- Benefits: Reduces signs of aging, improves skin elasticity, improves skin firmness and smoothness. It also reduces fine lines and wrinkles and prevents further hair loss in men and women.
- Side Effects: Mild skin irritation or redness.
24. Epitalon
- How It Works: Epitalon stimulates telomerase production (an enzyme that helps cells to keep multiplying), which may slow down aging at the cellular level.
- Benefits: Anti-aging effects and stress reduction.
- Side Effects: Mild headaches, itching, redness, or swelling at the injection site.
25. Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
- How It Works: Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps regulate appetite by increasing feelings of fullness and slowing gastric emptying, which reduces overall caloric intake.
- Benefits: Helps with weight loss (up to 6%) by reducing appetite and food consumption. It improves blood sugar control and is also used in treating type 2 diabetes.
- Side Effects: Common side effects are stomach-related and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Similar to other GLP-1 therapies, some people may have an increased risk of gallstones or pancreatitis.
26. Cerebrolysin
- How It Works: Cerebrolysin is a nootropic peptide that supports brain health by stimulating neuronal repair and improving brain function. It has antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory actions, and anti-apoptotic effects. It also enhances cerebral blood flow to help deliver nutrients and oxygen to brain cells.
- Benefits: It may improve memory and cognition and protect against neurodegeneration. It may also aid in stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery.
- Side Effects: Possible dizziness, headaches, sweating, or nausea. Mild injection site irritation can also happen.
27. DIHEXA
- How It Works: DIHEXA is a peptide from angiotensin IV (a peptide in your body that helps regulate blood pressure and fluid balance). It helps your brain cells communicate better by enhancing acetylcholine (a molecule that helps brain cells talk to each other). This helps in learning and taking on new information, experiences, and skills. It also affects our memory recall and object recognition.
- Benefits: It may improve memory, learning, and cognitive performance.
- Side Effects: Long-term safety is still being studied, with mild headaches as a potential side effect.
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