Cycle
Also known as: protocol cycle · run
A defined period of peptide administration followed by a planned pause, structured to manage receptor sensitivity and measure effects.
Cycling structures a protocol into on-cycle and off-cycle phases. A typical cycle length varies by compound class: 8–12 weeks on followed by 4 weeks off is common for GH-axis peptides; repair peptides are often run only during recovery windows; GLP-1 protocols are increasingly run indefinitely with dose taper rather than hard cycling.
The cycling argument has two pillars: receptor sensitivity preservation (prevents desensitization to the compound at the receptor level) and outcome measurement (off-cycle measurement isolates lasting vs. compound-dependent changes). Some compounds benefit strongly from cycling; others have no demonstrated benefit. Cycling everything uniformly is the forum default and not the practitioner default.
Related Terms
On-Cycle
The active phase of a peptide cycle during which the compound is being administered.
Off-Cycle
The pause phase of a peptide cycle during which no compound is administered, allowing receptor recovery and isolated outcome measurement.
Receptor Desensitization
The reduction in receptor responsiveness over time due to sustained or high-dose agonist exposure.
Stack
A combination of two or more peptides used concurrently to produce additive or synergistic effects on a research target.
Look up any peptide term inside DoseCraft Pro
The glossary is just the start. Inside DoseCraft you get 90+ compound deep-dives, a PK-aware protocol engine, interaction checker, and vendor trust scores — every term surfaced in protocol-design context, not a separate page.
Start Free Trial