@chaotichermes 8-compound peptide cycle: GHK-Cu, Selank, Semax, Epithalon, TB-500, BPC-157, CJC-1295/Ipamorelin
Current peptide cycle: ghk-cu - around 2-4mg daily selank - between 300-400mcg semax - between 300-400mcg epithalon - between 1 and 2mg everyday tb500 & bpc-157 - dose both at 500mcg cjc-1295 & ipamorelin - dosage of 300mcg each Will be tracking daily and reporting weekly.
The most-disclosed peptide stack on the site so far. @chaotichermes lists doses for all eight compounds and commits to daily tracking with weekly reports, the right experimental posture for n=1 work. The Selank + Semax pairing is the strongest cognition axis we've seen, and the recovery-peptide quartet is at research-typical doses. Two concerns hold this off the higher B range. Epithalon at 1-2mg every day is well above the published Khavinson protocols (5-10mg total, cycled). And eight simultaneous ingredients mean weekly tracking can't actually disentangle which compound is doing what.
| Goal | Score | Grade | Weight | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longevity | 76 | C | 20% | Epithalon at 1-2mg daily is well above the published Khavinson protocols (5-10mg total, cycled). GHK-Cu has aging-relevant collagen mechanisms. The longevity claim is real but the Epithalon dosing departs from the trial literature. |
| Cognition | 87 | B+ | 30% | Selank + Semax with disclosed doses (intranasal 300-400mcg each) is the strongest cognition axis on the site. Selank is slightly above the 75-250mcg published range; Semax is well within published cognitive-enhancement protocols. |
| Sleep & recovery | 84 | B | 50% | Four recovery peptides (BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, CJC-1295/Ipamorelin) at research-typical doses. GH pulsing aligns with deep-sleep architecture. Real mechanism, well-dosed. |
| Energy & metabolism | — | Not targeted | — | No ingredient with a primary metabolic mechanism. CJC/Ipa GH effects on metabolism at these doses are too peripheral to weight. |
| Body recomposition | — | Not targeted | — | Stack isn't framed as body-comp and no anabolic agent or training stimulus is mentioned. |
Ingredients (7)
GHK-Cu
- Dose
- 2-4mg daily
- Mechanism
- Tripeptide-copper complex with well-studied effects on collagen and elastin synthesis when applied topically. Injectable use is far less characterized.
- Take
- On the high side of typical research-vendor protocols (1-3mg/day is most common for subQ use), but not unreasonable. GHK-Cu has the strongest individual evidence base of the recovery-class peptides, primarily as a topical cosmetic. Injectable use at this dose is a step beyond the supporting literature, but the dose itself is in the enthusiast-circle range.
Selank
- Dose
- 300-400mcg
- Mechanism
- Synthetic heptapeptide based on tuftsin; proposed anxiolytic and nootropic effects via GABA-A receptor modulation and BDNF expression. Studied primarily in Russian clinical literature.
- Take
- Above the typical Russian published intranasal protocol (75-250mcg/day) but not unreasonably so. Author doesn't specify intranasal vs subQ. The Russian clinical literature is the main evidence base; Western RCT replication is thin. Anxiolytic and nootropic effects have been reported at this dose range.
Semax
- Dose
- 300-400mcg
- Mechanism
- Synthetic heptapeptide derived from ACTH (4-10) fragment. Approved in Russia for stroke and cerebrovascular indications. Proposed cognitive enhancement via BDNF, NGF, and dopaminergic system effects.
- Take
- Within the published Russian intranasal protocol range for cognitive enhancement (300-1000mcg/day). Semax is a heptapeptide derived from ACTH (4-10) with a long Russian clinical history including approved use in Russia for cerebrovascular indications. Cognitive enhancement effects in healthy adults are anecdotal but plausible. Dose looks well-chosen.
Epithalon
Epithalon on peptidelist.org ↗
- Dose
- 1-2mg daily
- Mechanism
- Synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) derived from epithalamin, a pineal extract. Claimed to upregulate telomerase, restore melatonin secretion, and normalize circadian rhythms in older adults.
- Take
- Daily 1-2mg is well above the published Khavinson protocols, which used 5-10mg total over 5-10 day cycles 1-2x per year. Daily continuous dosing at 1-2mg means 30-60mg per month, roughly 10x the cumulative exposure the published research used. The Khavinson telomerase claims are already thinly replicated; departing from his dosing schedule on top of that puts this in unstudied territory.
TB-500
- Dose
- 500mcg
- Mechanism
- Synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4; preclinical evidence for actin-binding effects on cell motility and tissue repair. No human trials in this indication.
- Take
- If dosed daily, 500mcg/day = 3.5mg/week, which is in the typical 2-5mg/week loading-phase range for enthusiast protocols. If dosed less frequently, on the low end. Either way, in the reasonable range.
BPC-157
- Dose
- 500mcg
- Mechanism
- Pentadecapeptide derived from a gastric protein; preclinical evidence for angiogenesis, fibroblast migration, and growth factor signaling. No published human RCTs.
- Take
- Within typical research-vendor protocols (200-500mcg/day). Standard recovery-peptide pairing with TB-500. Dose is well-chosen.
CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin
- Dose
- 300mcg each
- Mechanism
- GH-releasing peptide combo. CJC-1295 (short-acting GHRH analog) stimulates pituitary GH release via GHRH receptors. Ipamorelin is a selective GH secretagogue (ghrelin mimetic) that triggers GH release without elevating cortisol or prolactin. Combined to produce pulsatile GH spikes.
- Take
- 300mcg of each is at the upper end of typical enthusiast protocols (100-300mcg of each, 1-3x/day). Author doesn't specify timing or frequency, both of which matter for GH pulsing. GH-axis stimulation requires bloodwork (IGF-1, fasting glucose, HbA1c) at sustained use; the post doesn't mention any.
Risks & interactions
- Epithalon dosing departs from published protocolsmedium
The Khavinson research used 5-10mg total over 5-10 day cycles, 1-2x per year. Daily continuous 1-2mg at 30-60mg/month is roughly 10x cumulative exposure. Whatever you think of the Khavinson telomerase claims (already thinly replicated), this isn't the dose schedule that produced any of the published outcomes. The author is in unstudied territory.
- Eight simultaneous compounds defeat n=1 attributionmedium
The tracking + weekly reporting commitment is the right experimental posture, but eight ingredients running concurrently means subjective changes can't be cleanly attributed to any single compound. If the author wants to actually learn from this cycle, fewer ingredients at a time (or a wash-out + reintroduction sequence) would teach more than tracking eight things together.
- GH-axis stimulation without disclosed bloodworkmedium
CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin elevates GH and downstream IGF-1. Sustained IGF-1 elevation has known associations with insulin resistance, joint stiffness, and theoretical cancer-progression concerns. The post doesn't mention IGF-1, fasting glucose, or HbA1c monitoring, which are non-optional at sustained recreational doses.
- Selank dose slightly above published rangelow
Russian clinical literature uses 75-250mcg/day intranasal; 300-400mcg is above that, though not by much. Selank's safety profile at slightly higher doses is not well-characterized. Easy mitigation: dial back to the published range and see if effects are maintained.
- Research-peptide sourcing applieslow
Standard concern across all research-vendor peptides: purity, sterility, endotoxin, and labeling can be off. Vendor reputation and certificates of analysis reduce but don't eliminate the risk. Eight compounds means eight sourcing decisions.
The eight-ingredient simultaneity is the structural problem with weekly subjective tracking; you can't tell which compound moved which marker. Adding standardized bloodwork (IGF-1 catches GH-axis effects, glucose/HbA1c catches metabolic disruption) and a quick cognitive battery (something like Cambridge Brain Sciences) gives objective signal alongside the subjective reports. The dose disclosure already puts this stack ahead of most. Pairing it with measurable outcomes would put it closer to a publishable case study.
Estimated cost
Research-peptide vendor pricing for eight compounds. GHK-Cu ~$30-60/mo, Selank ~$30-50/mo, Semax ~$40-60/mo, Epithalon ~$40-80/mo, BPC-157 + TB-500 + CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin ~$100-200/mo combined. Quality varies widely by vendor.