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The Peptide Effect
Dosage Guide

Epithalon Dosage Guide: Anti-Aging Protocol

Educational reference covering epithalon (epitalon) dosage protocols, cycling schedules, reconstitution instructions, and telomerase activation research. Dosing information discussed in published studies for informational purposes only.

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Medical Disclaimer

This guide is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Dosages described reflect ranges discussed in published research and clinical practice literature — they are not recommendations. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any peptide. Legality and availability vary by jurisdiction.

Overview

Epithalon (also spelled Epitalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, developed as an analog of the naturally occurring pineal gland peptide epithalamin. It was originally developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology in Russia, where it has been the subject of decades of research into aging and longevity. The primary mechanism discussed in research literature involves the activation of telomerase, the enzyme responsible for maintaining telomere length at the ends of chromosomes. Studies in cell cultures and animal models have reported that epithalon treatment was associated with increases in telomerase activity, and several Russian clinical studies have explored its effects on biomarkers of aging in elderly populations. Epithalon is typically administered in short courses rather than continuously, a pattern derived from the bioregulatory peptide research tradition established by Khavinson and colleagues.

Dosing Protocols

Standard Anti-Aging Protocol

Route: Subcutaneous or intravenous injection
Dose: 5–10 mg
Frequency: Once daily
Duration: 10–20 days per course

This protocol reflects the dosing ranges most commonly discussed in published Russian clinical studies. The 10-day course at 10 mg daily has been the most frequently referenced protocol in Khavinson's published work. Subcutaneous administration is more practical for most settings, while IV administration was used in some clinical studies.

Cycling Protocol

Route: Subcutaneous injection
Dose: 10 mg
Frequency: Once daily for 10 consecutive days
Duration: 10-day course repeated every 4–6 months

The cycling approach is based on the bioregulatory peptide model, where short courses are reported to have sustained effects that persist beyond the administration period. Khavinson's research group has reported that the effects of a single course may persist for several months, which forms the basis for the 4–6 month interval between courses.

Low-Dose Ongoing Protocol

Route: Subcutaneous injection
Dose: 1–3 mg
Frequency: Once daily
Duration: Ongoing with periodic reassessment

A lower-dose continuous approach discussed in some longevity-focused communities. This protocol has less direct support from published clinical studies compared to the standard cycling approach. Users of this protocol typically report adjusting the dose based on subjective response.

Reconstitution & Storage

Vial sizes10 mg lyophilized powder per vial
Recommended water volume1 mL bacteriostatic water (BAC water) per 10 mg vial, yielding 10 mg/mL
StorageStore unreconstituted vials refrigerated at 2–8 °C (36–46 °F). Protect from light. Do not freeze.
Stability once reconstitutedReconstituted solution should be refrigerated and used within 20 days. Discard if solution becomes cloudy or contains visible particulates.

Use our reconstitution calculator to determine exact syringe units for your dose.

Cycle Guidance

Epithalon is traditionally administered in short courses rather than continuously, reflecting the bioregulatory peptide methodology developed in Russian gerontology research. The standard approach involves a 10–20 day course repeated every 4–6 months. This cycling pattern is based on published observations by Khavinson and colleagues suggesting that the peptide's effects on telomerase activity and pineal function may persist for months after a single course. Some researchers have described cumulative benefits with repeated courses over several years. The interval between courses allows for assessment of response and is consistent with how epithalamin (the natural precursor) was administered in the original clinical studies conducted in elderly populations in St. Petersburg.

Stacking Considerations

  • Epithalon is sometimes discussed alongside other Khavinson peptides such as Pinealon (a pineal bioregulator) and Cortagen (a cortex bioregulator), reflecting the Russian bioregulatory peptide tradition of using peptide combinations.
  • Some longevity protocols discussed in research communities combine epithalon with other anti-aging peptides such as MOTS-c or GHK-Cu, though published data on such combinations is limited.
  • Melatonin supplementation is sometimes discussed concurrently, as epithalon's mechanism involves the pineal gland and melatonin secretion patterns. However, the interaction between exogenous melatonin and epithalon has not been well characterized in studies.
  • Concurrent use with thymosin alpha-1 has been discussed in immune-aging (immunosenescence) contexts, though controlled data on this combination is lacking.

Potential Side Effects

  • Injection site reactions (redness, swelling, mild pain) — reported infrequently in published studies
  • Headache — occasionally reported in clinical study participants
  • Mild drowsiness or changes in sleep patterns — potentially related to effects on melatonin secretion
  • Flushing — reported rarely in some clinical contexts
  • No serious adverse events have been reported in the published Russian clinical studies, though these studies were generally small and of limited duration

Contraindications & Cautions

  • Known hypersensitivity to epithalon or any component of the formulation
  • Active malignancy or history of cancer — telomerase activation is a theoretical concern in the context of existing tumors, as cancer cells often upregulate telomerase
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding — no safety data available
  • Autoimmune conditions — caution is warranted due to potential immune-modulating effects, though specific data is limited
  • Children and adolescents — no safety or efficacy data in pediatric populations

Related

Epithalon Profileanti aginglongevitysemax dosagemots-c dosagethymosin-alpha-1 dosage

References

  1. Peptide promotes overcoming of the division limit in human somatic cells (2003) — PubMed
  2. Geroprotective effect of thymalin and epithalamin (2003) — PubMed
  3. Peptide regulation of gene expression and protein synthesis in bronchial epithelium (2006) — PubMed
  4. Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects (2006) — PubMed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most commonly discussed epithalon dosage protocol?
The most frequently referenced protocol in published literature involves 10 mg administered via subcutaneous or intravenous injection once daily for 10 consecutive days, with the course repeated every 4–6 months. This dosing pattern originates from the clinical research conducted by Professor Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology.
How does epithalon relate to telomerase activation?
Epithalon has been reported in cell culture studies to activate telomerase, the enzyme that adds protective telomeric repeats to the ends of chromosomes. A 2003 study by Khavinson and colleagues (PMID: 14615294) reported that epithalon induced telomerase activity in human somatic cells. Telomere shortening is discussed in aging research as a biomarker of cellular aging, and maintaining telomere length is a focus of longevity research.
Is epithalon the same as epithalamin?
Epithalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) that was designed as a defined-sequence analog of epithalamin, which is a complex peptide extract derived from bovine pineal glands. Epithalamin was used in earlier Russian clinical studies, while epithalon was developed as a more standardized and reproducible synthetic version with a known molecular structure.
How should epithalon be stored after reconstitution?
After reconstitution with bacteriostatic water, epithalon solution should be stored in the refrigerator at 2–8 °C (36–46 °F) and protected from light. The reconstituted solution is generally considered stable for up to 20 days. Unreconstituted lyophilized powder has a longer shelf life and should also be stored refrigerated.
Are there any long-term safety studies on epithalon?
The longest published human studies on epithalon and its precursor epithalamin span several years and were conducted in elderly populations in Russia. Khavinson and Morozov (2003) reported on long-term observations suggesting favorable safety profiles, though these studies were generally small and did not follow modern Western clinical trial design standards. No serious adverse events have been reported in the published literature.
Can epithalon be taken orally?
Epithalon is a tetrapeptide that is subject to enzymatic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract, which is why subcutaneous or intravenous injection is the standard route discussed in research literature. Some groups have explored intranasal and sublingual delivery as alternative routes, but published data on the bioavailability of epithalon via these routes is limited compared to injectable administration.