BPC-157
Body Protection Compound-157
BPC-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide based on a fragment of a protein found in human gastric juice. It is studied for tendon, ligament, muscle and gut healing. Nearly all of the evidence comes from animal and cell studies; no human trial has shown it works for injuries or established a dose.
Quick reference
How BPC-157 is dosed in practice
Most protocols use 200 mcg to 1 mg of BPC-157 a day, injected under the skin (SubQ), either once a day or split into two doses. A course usually runs 4–12 weeks, followed by a break (often around 4 weeks) before any repeat course.
Many people start at the low end, around 200–250 mcg a day, and only move up if they tolerate it. This guide does not list amounts above 1 mg a day.
Where the numbers come from: no human trial has tested a SubQ BPC-157 dose. The only published human safety study is a 2025 pilot in which two adults received an IV infusion on each of two days; it was not designed to set a dose. These ranges are practitioner convention; the animal studies dosed by body weight, and those doses don't translate directly to people. Treat the numbers as what people commonly do, not as a proven or safe dose.
Work out the units to draw with the reconstitution calculator and how long a vial lasts with the vial duration calculator.
How BPC-157 works
In rat and cell studies, BPC-157 acts on the VEGF / nitric-oxide pathway and promotes angiogenesis (new blood-vessel formation) at injury sites. Better blood supply to damaged tendon and ligament is one proposed explanation for the faster healing seen in those animal models.
Other effects reported in lab studies include growth-hormone receptor upregulation in rat tendon cells, increased fibroblast migration, and lower levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α). Because it comes from a gastric protein, it has also been studied in animal models of gut injury and inflammatory bowel disease. None of these effects has been confirmed in human trials.
In the DoseCraft framework, BPC-157 is filed under two of the Three Root Causes: Inflammation (cytokine effects) and ATP Shortage (tissue blood supply) — based on animal data.
Reconstitution math
- Remove the flip-off cap from the 5 mg vial. Wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol pad.
- Draw 2 mL of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
- Inject the bac water slowly down the inside wall of the vial — never directly onto the powder, which can damage the peptide.
- Swirl gently for 10–15 seconds. Do not shake.
- Refrigerate. Stable approximately 4 weeks at 2–8°C.
Dose math
5 mg vial + 2 mL bac water → 2,500 mcg per mL.
On a 100-unit insulin syringe (1 IU = 0.01 mL):
- • 8 IU = 200 mcg
- • 20 IU = 500 mcg
- • 40 IU = 1,000 mcg (1 mg) — the top of the range
Synergy stack
BPC-157 + TB-500 — the most common recovery pairing
BPC-157 is thought to work mainly through blood-vessel growth; TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) through cell migration via actin binding. Practitioners often run them together for tendon, ligament and muscle injuries. The combination has not been tested in a human trial.
TB-500 loading
5 mg SubQ every 5 days × 4 weeks
TB-500 maintenance
2.5 mg SubQ every 5 days × 4 weeks
Safety + side-effect profile
Human safety evidence is minimal: a 2025 pilot gave two adults an IV infusion on each of two days and reported no side effects and no changes in heart, liver, kidney, thyroid or blood-sugar tests. There is no controlled safety evidence for repeated SubQ use. Side effects people report are usually mild:
Unknown, not ruled out: long-term effects, and effects on the liver, hormones or heart with repeated use, have not been studied in controlled human trials — an absence of reports is not proof of safety. Avoid with: active cancer or a history of cancer (it promotes blood-vessel growth in animal studies), pregnancy, breastfeeding. Stop and see a healthcare provider if you notice sustained heart-rate changes, unusual swelling, or injection-site reactions that don't settle.
Interaction notes: drug interactions have not been studied. Tell your doctor if you take blood thinners or other regular medicines. BPC-157 is not an approved drug, so product content and purity are not regulated.
- • Localized injection-site irritation (typically resolves in 24–48 hours)
- • Transient mild nausea
- • Occasional tiredness in the first few days
Frequently asked
What is BPC-157?
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide based on a fragment of a protein found in human gastric juice. It is studied for tendon, ligament, muscle and gut healing, but almost all of the evidence is from animal and cell studies; no human trial has shown it works or established a dose.
What is the typical BPC-157 dose?
Most protocols use 200 mcg to 1 mg a day, injected SubQ once a day or split into two doses, for 4–12 weeks. Many start at 200–250 mcg a day. These numbers are practitioner convention — no human trial has tested this daily SubQ regimen.
How do I reconstitute BPC-157?
For a 5 mg vial, add 2 mL bacteriostatic water for 2,500 mcg/mL. On a 100-unit insulin syringe, 8 IU = 200 mcg, 20 IU = 500 mcg and 40 IU = 1 mg. Run the water slowly down the vial wall rather than onto the powder, refrigerate, and use within about 4 weeks.
What's the best BPC-157 stack?
The most common pairing is BPC-157 with TB-500. A typical TB-500 schedule is 5 mg SubQ every 5 days for 4 weeks, then 2.5 mg every 5 days for 4 weeks. The two are thought to act through different routes (blood-vessel growth vs cell migration), but the combination has not been tested in a human trial.
Are there BPC-157 side effects?
People report mostly mild effects: injection-site irritation, mild nausea, tiredness in the first few days. Human safety data are limited to a 2025 pilot of two adults given IV infusions, so the risks of repeated SubQ use, and long-term risks, are unknown. Avoid it with active or past cancer, in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and stop and see a healthcare provider if you notice sustained heart-rate changes or unusual swelling.
Is oral BPC-157 effective?
Unknown in people. BPC-157 was originally described as stable in gastric juice, and rat studies reported effects when it was given by mouth as well as by injection. No human study has compared the two. SubQ injection is the route most practitioner protocols use; oral products are mostly used for gut-focused goals.
How long does BPC-157 take to work?
No human trial has measured this. Practitioner protocols run 4–12 weeks, and people usually judge the effect by changes in pain and function over the first few weeks. If nothing has changed after a full course, get the injury reassessed rather than extending the course.
Should I cycle BPC-157?
There is no evidence on cycling. The common convention is a course of 4–12 weeks, then a break (often around 4 weeks) before any repeat course.
Protocols using BPC-157
Outcome-driven stacks with phased dose schedules and cited PMIDs.
Head-to-head comparisons
Cited side-by-side breakdowns that include BPC-157.
Related compounds
Often researched, stacked, or compared with BPC-157.
Cited research
Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in trials for inflammatory bowel disease (PL-10, PLD-116, PL 14736, Pliva, Croatia). Full and distended stomach, and vascular response. Inflammopharmacology, 2006.
The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration. J Appl Physiol (1985), 2011.
Safety of Intravenous Infusion of BPC157 in Humans: A Pilot Study. Altern Ther Health Med, 2025.
Page updated · How we grade evidence
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