Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are peptides? | Short chains of amino acids (building blocks of proteins) that signal specific biological processes. Think of them as targeted molecular messengers. |
| Are peptides legal? | Gray area. Legal to sell for "research purposes only" in most US states. Not approved for human use by FDA. Possession for personal use not explicitly illegal but not officially legal either. See Legal by State. |
| Do peptides actually work? | Depends on the peptide. Some (like Tesamorelin) have FDA approval and solid human trials. Others (like BPC-157) have zero human studies but strong animal data and anecdotal reports. Many have minimal evidence. See effectiveness page. |
| Are peptides safe? | No compound is universally safe. Short-term side effects are generally mild for most peptides. Long-term safety unknown for most research peptides. See side effects page. |
| Do I need a prescription? | Most research peptides can't be prescribed because they're not FDA approved. Some clinics prescribe certain peptides off-label. See prescription requirements. |
Purchasing & Quality
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How do I know if a vendor is legit? | Demand third-party COA from Janoshik or similar. Verify lab exists. Check domain age (>6 months). See red flags checklist. |
| What's a reasonable price for peptides? | BPC-157: $28-45 (5mg), Ipamorelin: $22-38 (5mg), TB-500: $35-60 (5mg). See value comparison for full pricing. |
| What's a COA and why does it matter? | Certificate of Analysis - independent lab testing showing purity and content. It's the only way to verify you're not buying bunk/contaminated product. |
| Can I trust "pharmaceutical grade" claims? | No. Meaningless marketing term for research peptides. Only third-party COA matters. |
| Should I buy domestic or international? | Domestic (US vendors shipping within US) avoids customs seizure risk. International is cheaper but 10-60% seizure rate depending on destination country. |
Usage & Administration
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do all peptides need to be injected? | Most require injection (subQ). BPC-157 may work orally for gut issues. Topical options exist for GHK-Cu. But injectable is standard for most. |
| How do I reconstitute peptides? | Use bacteriostatic water, inject slowly down vial side, gently swirl (never shake). See protocols page for details. |
| How long do reconstituted peptides last? | Refrigerated: 2-4 weeks for most peptides. Powder form in freezer lasts 1-2 years. |
| Can I stack multiple peptides? | Yes, but start with one at a time to assess tolerance. CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin is proven synergistic stack. See stacking data. |
| Do I need to cycle peptides? | GH peptides: yes, 8-12 weeks on, 4 weeks off recommended. Healing peptides (BPC-157, TB-500): typically run 4-12 weeks as needed, no cycling required. |
| What needle size do I use? | Insulin syringes, 29-31 gauge, 1/2 inch or shorter for subQ injection. |
Specific Peptides
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is BPC-157 worth the hype? | Strong animal data, massive anecdotal support (73-79% report improvement for injuries/gut issues), but zero published human trials. See BPC-157 real talk. |
| What's the difference between CJC-1295 with and without DAC? | DAC = longer half-life (weekly dosing) but more side effects (water retention, prolactin). No DAC = shorter half-life (2-3x daily dosing) but cleaner side effect profile. No DAC preferred. |
| Which GH peptide is best? | Ipamorelin + CJC-1295 (No DAC) stack is gold standard. Ipamorelin alone if budget tight. GHRP-2/6 cheaper but cause intense hunger. |
| Does TB-500 work better than BPC-157? | Different mechanisms. TB-500 more systemic, BPC-157 more localized. Community reports BPC-157 more consistent results. Both together may be synergistic for severe injuries. |
| Can peptides help with fat loss? | Tesamorelin is FDA-approved for visceral fat reduction (proven). GH peptides have modest fat loss effects. Not a replacement for diet/training. |
Safety & Side Effects
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the most common side effects? | GH peptides: water retention, hunger (GHRPs), injection site reactions. BPC-157: minimal (60%+ report zero sides). TB-500: lethargy (30%). See full breakdown. |
| Can peptides cause cancer? | Unknown. BPC-157 and TB-500 promote angiogenesis (new blood vessels) which theoretically could support tumor growth. Zero long-term human data. Avoid if cancer history. |
| Will peptides affect my hormones? | GH peptides elevate GH/IGF-1 (that's the point). Long-term use can affect insulin sensitivity. Gonadorelin affects LH/FSH. Most healing peptides don't significantly impact hormones. |
| Do I need bloodwork? | Recommended for GH peptides (baseline + 8-12 week follow-up glucose/IGF-1). Optional but smart for all peptides. See safety guide. |
| What if I get an infection from injecting? | Stop immediately. See doctor if spreading redness, warmth, fever. Prevent by using alcohol swabs and sterile technique every time. |
Legal & Testing
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Will I fail a drug test? | Standard employment tests: no. Sports (WADA/USADA): yes, most peptides are banned. See sports ban status. |
| Can customs seize my package? | Yes, especially international orders. US domestic orders rarely seized. Seizure rates: 10-30% (USA), 40-80% (Australia), 60-90% (Japan/Singapore). See import laws. |
| What happens if my package is seized? | Most countries: seizure letter, product destroyed, no legal action for small personal amounts. Rarely prosecuted unless large quantities. |
| Is it illegal to possess peptides? | No explicit law criminalizing possession of most research peptides in US. Gray area. Vendors selling with medical claims can be targeted by FDA. |
Site-Specific Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do you sell peptides? | No. We provide information and comparison data only. |
| Do you have affiliate links? | No. We don't get paid by vendors. Zero affiliate partnerships. |
| Why tables instead of articles? | Because you need comparable data, not 2,000 words of SEO filler. Tables are faster and more useful. |
| How often do you update? | Quarterly for pricing/vendor data. As needed for legal changes. We note update dates on each page. |
| Can I request coverage of a specific peptide? | Contact us via contact page. We prioritize peptides with actual use data and multiple vendors. |
Still Have Questions?
Check our other pages for detailed data:
Or contact us if your question isn't covered.