Epitalon
Epithalon — synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly)
Epitalon (epithalon) is a synthetic four-amino-acid peptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) modeled on epithalamin, an extract of the pineal gland. It is promoted for longevity, sleep and melatonin regulation. Evidence is mostly from cell and animal studies; a limited 2002 human study used synthetic Epitalon injections around the eye for retinitis pigmentosa. Longevity studies used epithalamin rather than Epitalon, and there is no established systemic or longevity dose.
Quick reference
How Epitalon is dosed in practice
There is no established systemic or longevity dose for Epitalon. A limited 2002 human study used synthetic Epitalon injections around the eye for retinitis pigmentosa; it does not establish dosing for SubQ or longevity use. The human longevity studies used epithalamin, a related pineal extract.
Protocols in circulation differ about tenfold. One convention uses 500 mcg–1 mg a day; another uses 5–10 mg a day. Both are usually injected SubQ once daily for 10–20 days, repeated two or three times a year.
Neither convention has been tested. When you see an Epitalon dose, check which convention it follows before you draw — mixing them up means a tenfold error.
Work out the units to draw with the reconstitution calculator and how long a vial lasts with the vial duration calculator.
How Epitalon works
Epitalon is a synthetic 4-amino-acid peptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) modeled on epithalamin, a peptide extract of bovine pineal gland that Russian research groups have studied for decades.
Effects reported in lab and animal studies include telomerase activation and telomere lengthening in human cells grown in culture, effects on pineal melatonin production in aging animals, and changes in antioxidant gene expression. These have not been confirmed in human trials of Epitalon.
Human evidence is thin: a limited 2002 study gave synthetic Epitalon injections around the eye to people with retinitis pigmentosa. Longevity studies gave epithalamin to elderly people and reported improvements in some aging markers. Most of this research comes from one group and hasn't been independently replicated. Epitalon is not FDA-approved or EMA-approved.
In the DoseCraft framework, Epitalon is filed under all three Root Causes through its proposed effects on circadian rhythm and melatonin — a hypothesis, not a tested outcome.
Reconstitution math
- Remove the flip-off cap from the 50 mg vial.
- Draw 5 mL of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
- Inject slowly down the vial wall.
- Swirl gently. Do not shake.
- Refrigerate. Stable approximately 30 days at 2–8°C.
Dose math
50 mg vial + 5 mL bac water → 10 mg per mL.
On a 100-unit insulin syringe (1 IU = 0.01 mL):
- • 5 IU = 500 mcg; 10 IU = 1 mg (lower convention)
- • 50 IU = 5 mg; 100 IU = 10 mg (higher convention)
- • The two conventions differ tenfold — confirm which one you're following before you draw
Safety + side-effect profile
There is too little human data to call Epitalon safe or unsafe. Few serious side effects have been reported, but no trial has looked for them systematically.
Avoid with: active or past cancer (telomerase activation is a theoretical concern, since many cancers rely on telomerase), pregnancy, breastfeeding.
Interaction notes: no interaction studies exist. The short, infrequent courses limit overlap with other compounds.
- • Sleep changes, including vivid dreams (user reports)
- • Mild tiredness in the first days of a course
- • Rare injection-site soreness
Frequently asked
What is Epitalon?
Epitalon is a synthetic four-amino-acid peptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) modeled on epithalamin, a pineal gland extract studied in Russia. It is promoted for longevity and sleep. Evidence is mostly from cell and animal studies, plus a limited 2002 human study using synthetic Epitalon injections around the eye for retinitis pigmentosa. Human longevity studies used epithalamin, not Epitalon.
What is the typical Epitalon dose?
There is no established systemic or longevity dose for synthetic Epitalon. A limited 2002 human study used injections around the eye for retinitis pigmentosa; it does not establish dosing for SubQ or longevity use. Human longevity studies used epithalamin, a related pineal extract. Protocols in circulation differ about tenfold — some use 500 mcg–1 mg a day, others 5–10 mg a day — usually for 10–20 days, repeated two or three times a year. Both are practice conventions, not trial results.
Does Epitalon really activate telomerase?
In cell culture, a study in human cells reported telomerase activation and telomere lengthening. Whether Epitalon does this in people — and whether that would slow aging — hasn't been tested. Treat the longevity claim as unproven.
Is Epitalon FDA-approved?
No. Epitalon is not FDA-approved or EMA-approved for any use. Products sold online are unregulated, so purity and content vary.
How do I reconstitute Epitalon?
50 mg vial + 5 mL bacteriostatic water → 10 mg/mL. On a 100-unit insulin syringe, 5 IU = 500 mcg, 10 IU = 1 mg, 50 IU = 5 mg, 100 IU = 10 mg. The two dose conventions differ tenfold, so check which you're following. Refrigerate; stable approximately 30 days.
Will Epitalon help me sleep better?
Unknown. Many users report better sleep, and animal studies suggest effects on melatonin, but no trial of Epitalon has measured sleep in people.
Are there safety concerns with telomerase activation?
It's a theoretical concern: many cancers rely on telomerase, so activating it could in principle help an existing cancer grow. There's no human data either way. Avoid Epitalon with active or past cancer.
Should I cycle Epitalon or use it continuously?
Protocols use short courses — 10–20 days, two or three times a year — rather than continuous use. That's practitioner convention; no trial has compared schedules.
Related compounds
Often researched, stacked, or compared with Epitalon.
Cited research
Pineal-regulating tetrapeptide epitalon improves eye retina condition in retinitis pigmentosa. Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 2002.
Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bull Exp Biol Med, 2003.
Geroprotective effect of epithalamine (pineal gland peptide preparation) in elderly subjects with accelerated aging. Bull Exp Biol Med, 2006.
Page updated · How we grade evidence
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