The Calculator

Dosage & reconstitution

Everything you need to mix, measure, and draw. Use the tabs to jump to what you need.

1

Pick your peptide

Optional. Choosing one fills in common amounts you can adjust.

2

What is in the vial?

Look at your vial label. How many milligrams of peptide does it contain?

3

How much BAC water did you add?

The bacteriostatic (BAC) water you mixed in to reconstitute it.

4

What dose do you want?

The amount you want in a single dose.

Educational tool only. This helps you understand reconstitution and dosing math. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation of any dose.
Your syringe

Understanding your syringes

There are a few you might reach for. Two small insulin syringes for everyday subcutaneous doses, and a larger one for intramuscular shots or for mixing. Here is the difference, simply.

subQ

0.5 ml insulin (50 units)

The small one most people reach for. It holds up to 50 units, which is plenty for most subcutaneous doses, and each mark is a single unit. Use this one for any dose under 10 units. Those are nearly impossible to measure on a 1 ml syringe.

subQ

1 ml insulin (100 units)

Same U-100 markings, just a longer barrel that holds up to 100 units. Many use this one for GHK-Cu. Both of these are very common for subcutaneous shots.

IM & mixing

3 ml syringe

A larger syringe for intramuscular shots, like glutathione is often done, and for adding BAC water when you reconstitute. The Isla Vida starter kit includes one.

Subcutaneous (subq)

A shot into the layer of fat just under the skin, using a short, thin insulin needle. This is the most common way peptides are given.

Where: the top of the glute, the love handles, or the abdomen.

Intramuscular (IM)

A shot into the muscle, using a longer needle. Some compounds, like glutathione, are often done this way, though subq is sometimes possible too. Your supplier's notes tell you which a peptide calls for.

Where: the glute or the thigh.

Reading the U-100 syringe

1 full syringe= 100 units = 1.0 ml
Half full= 50 units = 0.5 ml
A quarter= 25 units = 0.25 ml
The small markson the 1 ml syringe each count 2 units. On the 0.5 ml syringe each mark is 1 unit, which is why small doses are easier to read on it

Units to milligrams, at a glance

The same 50 units means a different dose depending on how strong your mix is. Stronger concentration, more milligrams per unit.

1 mg / ml50 units = 0.5 mg
2 mg / ml50 units = 1.0 mg
5 mg / ml50 units = 2.5 mg
The Basics

How to reconstitute, step by step

"Reconstitute" just means mixing your dry peptide powder with BAC water so you can use it.

The one idea to hold onto. Add the water gently down the side of the vial, swirl, never shake, and let the powder dissolve on its own. That is reconstitution in a sentence.

The water to use

Bacteriostatic water is the standard for most peptides. It has a preservative, so the vial lasts. It is the standard choice.

In stock
Bacteriostatic water (10ml)
Sterile water with a preservative, so a mixed vial lasts for weeks.
View at Isla Vida →
Starter kit
BAC water, five 1ml syringes, a 3ml mixing syringe, and alcohol wipes in one box.
View at Isla Vida →
Before mixing. Only mix the vial you are using now. Dry powder keeps in the fridge for up to 2 years, or in the freezer for up to 5 years. Never freeze and thaw a vial more than once. Keep vials out of light.
After mixing. A mixed vial lives in the fridge and is commonly used within 60 to 90 days. NAD+ and AOD-9604 are the exceptions, at about 30 to 45 days. Keep it on a shelf, not in the fridge door, where it gets jostled every time the door opens. Roll it gently between your palms before each draw.

Always check the COA

A COA, or Certificate of Analysis, is the lab report that shows a peptide was tested for purity and identity. A trustworthy company makes it easy to find, often with a QR code or batch number on the vial.

1
Look for the test date. A COA should be recent and should match your batch. An old or missing date is a reason to pause.
2
Match the batch number. The number on the COA should match the number on your vial, so you know the report is for what you actually received.
3
Check the purity figure. Most reputable sheets report purity at or above 98 to 99 percent. If you cannot find a COA at all, that tells you something too.
The Supplies

What you need on hand

The small items that make this easier and are worth keeping stocked.

A quick word on needles. Needle thickness is measured in "gauge," and it works backwards: the bigger the number, the thinner the needle. A 31 gauge is among the thinnest, which most people find the most comfortable.
Where to Buy

Where to buy peptides

Ready to order? Isla Vida carries research-use peptides, with lab results you can check before you buy.

Visit Isla Vida