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Peptide Half-Life & Dosing Schedule Calculator

Select a peptide to see its half-life, pharmacokinetic decay curve, recommended dosing frequency, and a visual 7-day dosing schedule. Understand how often to dose and when steady state is reached.

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Choose from the dropdown to see half-life data, a pharmacokinetic decay curve, and a 7-day dosing schedule.

Understanding peptide half-life

A peptide's half-life is the time it takes for its concentration in the blood to drop by exactly 50%. After two half-lives, 25% remains. After three, 12.5%. After five half-lives, less than 3.2% of the original dose is still circulating — which is why pharmacologists consider five half-lives the point at which a drug is essentially cleared.

Half-life determines dosing frequency. Short half-life peptides like Sermorelin (10–20 minutes) or GHK-Cu (approximately 10 minutes subcutaneously) need to be dosed daily to maintain meaningful levels. Long half-life peptides like Semaglutide (approximately 7 days) or CJC-1295 with DAC (approximately 8 days) can be injected once weekly because they persist in circulation far longer.

What is steady state?

Steady state occurs when the amount of peptide entering the body equals the amount being eliminated, resulting in a consistent average concentration. It takes roughly 5 half-lives of consistent dosing to reach steady state. For a weekly semaglutide injection with a 7-day half-life, that means about 5 weeks. For BPC-157 dosed twice daily with a 4-hour half-life, steady state arrives within about 20 hours.

Understanding steady state matters because many peptides don't produce their full effects until this equilibrium is reached. This is why peptide cycling protocols typically recommend consistent dosing for several weeks before evaluating results.

Important caveats

Related tools & guides

Once you know how often to dose, you'll need to know how much to draw. Use our peptide reconstitution calculator to convert milligram doses into insulin syringe units. If you're combining multiple peptides, our peptide stacking guide covers timing, compatibility, and sequencing strategies.

Complete peptide half-life reference

Click any row to load the peptide in the calculator above. Half-life values are sourced from published pharmacokinetic studies where available.

Peptide Half-Life Typical Frequency Steady State
BPC-157 (subQ) ~4 hours 2x daily ~20 hours
TB-500 ~3 hours 2x weekly (loading) ~2 weeks
GHK-Cu (subQ) ~10 minutes 1-2x daily ~50 minutes
Ipamorelin ~2 hours 1-3x daily ~10 hours
CJC-1295 (no DAC) ~30 minutes 1-3x daily ~2.5 hours
CJC-1295 (with DAC) ~8 days 1-2x weekly ~6 weeks
Sermorelin ~15 minutes 1x daily (bedtime) ~75 minutes
DSIP ~7 minutes 1x daily (bedtime) ~35 minutes
Selank (nasal) ~20 minutes 2-3x daily ~100 minutes
Semax (nasal) ~20 minutes 2-3x daily ~100 minutes
AOD-9604 ~22 minutes 1x daily ~2 hours
PT-141 ~2 hours As needed (min 24h gap) N/A (as-needed)
Tirzepatide ~5 days 1x weekly ~4 weeks
Semaglutide ~7 days 1x weekly ~5 weeks
Retatrutide ~6 days 1x weekly ~4.5 weeks
Epithalon ~30 minutes 1x daily (10-day cycles) ~2.5 hours
KPV ~1.5 hours 1-2x daily ~7.5 hours
Thymosin Alpha-1 ~2 hours 2x weekly ~2 weeks
MOTS-c ~3 hours 3-5x weekly ~1 week

Frequently asked questions

What is peptide half-life and why does it matter for dosing?

A peptide's half-life is the time it takes for its plasma concentration to drop by 50%. It determines how often you need to dose to maintain effective levels. Short half-life peptides (like Sermorelin at 10-20 minutes) require daily dosing, while long half-life peptides (like Semaglutide at ~7 days) only need weekly injections.

How long does it take for a peptide to reach steady state?

Steady state is reached after approximately 5 half-lives of consistent dosing. For example, Semaglutide with a 7-day half-life reaches steady state in about 5 weeks. BPC-157 with a 4-hour half-life reaches steady state within about 20 hours of regular dosing. At steady state, the amount entering the body equals the amount being eliminated.

How often should I inject peptides?

Dosing frequency depends on the peptide's half-life and pharmacokinetics. Short half-life peptides like BPC-157 (~4 hours) are typically dosed 1-2 times daily. Medium half-life peptides like Ipamorelin (~2 hours) are dosed 1-3 times daily. Long-acting peptides like CJC-1295 with DAC (~8 days) or Semaglutide (~7 days) are dosed once weekly. Always follow your healthcare provider's guidance.

What is a pharmacokinetic decay curve?

A pharmacokinetic decay curve shows how a peptide's concentration in the blood changes over time after injection. It typically shows a rapid rise to peak concentration followed by exponential decay. The curve helps visualize why certain peptides need more frequent dosing — the faster the decay, the more often you need to dose to maintain therapeutic levels.

Is there a peptide half-life chart?

Yes — the reference table above is a complete peptide half-life chart listing the approximate half-life, typical dosing frequency, and time to steady state for each of the commonly used peptides, from short-acting ones like GHK-Cu (~10 minutes) to long-acting ones like semaglutide (~7 days). Click any row to load that peptide into the calculator.

Which peptides have the longest and shortest half-lives?

Among commonly used peptides, GHK-Cu and sermorelin have some of the shortest half-lives (around 10–20 minutes), which is why they're dosed daily or several times a day. Semaglutide (~7 days) and CJC-1295 with DAC (~8 days) have the longest, allowing once-weekly injection.

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Medical disclaimer: This calculator is an educational tool only. It does not constitute medical advice. Half-life values represent published averages and may vary between individuals. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any peptide or injectable substance.