Zero to first cycle

If you've never used peptides and you don't know where to start, read this once end-to-end. It covers everything in the order it actually matters.

1. What a peptide actually is

A peptide is a short chain of amino acids — somewhere between 2 and 50. Your body already uses thousands of them as signals between cells. Insulin is a peptide. Oxytocin is a peptide. The peptides sold for research are either synthetic copies of natural ones (like Tesamorelin, Sermorelin), modified versions for longer effect (like CJC-1295, IGF-1 LR3), or fully designed research compounds (like BPC-157, Retatrutide).

The point: peptides are signals. They tell specific receptors to do specific things. That's why they're narrower in action than steroids and broader than vitamins.

2. Are they safe? Are they legal?

Two different questions.

3. Pick the goal first, then the peptide

Don't browse the shop and pick the most interesting-sounding peptide. Pick the outcome you want, then pick the tool.

Browse the full shop and filter by category to see everything.

4. Read the product page top to bottom

Every product page on Capital Peptides includes a research overview. Read all of it before you order:

1. 1Plain English summary — what it actually does
2. 2FDA / WADA status panel
3. 3Quick facts — half-life, route, typical dose, schedule
4. 4Mechanism of action — how it works at the cellular level
5. 5Research applications — what has been studied
6. 6Reconstitution note — vial size, BAC water recommendation
7. 7Disclaimer and research-use context

The research overview for each peptide expands on all of this in depth. Read the contraindications section especially carefully — if anything there applies to you, stop.

5. Sourcing — vendors and COAs

Quality varies enormously across research peptide vendors. Two things separate good vendors from bad: published Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and consistent batch testing.

A COA is a lab report. It tells you what's actually in the vial. At Capital Peptides every single batch is independently tested by Janoshik Analytical — the most widely cited independent peptide testing lab — before it ships.

View our current batch COAs →

6. Reconstitution — turning powder into liquid

Peptides ship as a freeze-dried (lyophilised) powder. You mix it with bacteriostatic water (BAC water) before injecting. This is called reconstitution.

1. 1Wipe the vial rubber top with an alcohol prep pad.
2. 2Draw the target volume of BAC water into your insulin syringe.
3. 3Slowly inject the BAC water down the inside wall of the vial — don't shoot it directly onto the powder.
4. 4Gently swirl (never shake) until fully dissolved. The solution should run clear.
5. 5Store reconstituted peptide refrigerated (2–8°C). Most peptides are stable for 4–6 weeks once mixed.

The maths — vial size, BAC water volume, target dose, units to draw — is what the Reconstitution Calculator handles automatically.

7. The first injection

For most peptides, this is subcutaneous (sub-q) — under the skin into the fat layer.

• Site: lower abdomen, 2–3 cm from the navel. Rotate sites.
• Needle: 29–31 gauge insulin syringe (1 mL / U-100).
• Technique: pinch a fold of skin, insert at 45°, push the plunger slowly, withdraw straight out.
• After: release the skin fold, apply light pressure with a clean swab. No rubbing.
• First one feels like a big deal. The third one is nothing.

8. Track what you're doing

Write down your protocol from day one. Memory is unreliable; your notes are not.

What to log:

• Peptide name and dose
• Frequency (daily, EOD, weekly)
• Start date
• Vial size and BAC water amount used
• Injection site rotation
• Any side effects or observations — even minor ones
• Body weight, subjective sleep quality, recovery rating

A simple notes app or spreadsheet works fine. The point is that if something goes unexpectedly well — or unexpectedly wrong — you have data to reference.

9. Cycle off

Most peptides need cycle breaks. Receptors downregulate when you stimulate them continuously — a break resets sensitivity and maintains efficacy.

Check the research overview for each peptide for its specific cycling recommendation.

10. Bloodwork

Pull a baseline before your first cycle. Pull again at week 8 if running GH-axis or GLP-class peptides.

Standard baseline panels worth having:

• Full blood count (FBC)
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (liver + kidney function, glucose)
• Lipid panel
• Testosterone + SHBG (if running hormonal peptides)
• IGF-1 (if running GH secretagogues)
• HbA1c + fasting insulin (if running GLP/GIP class)
• TSH (thyroid baseline)

In Australia, a GP can order these panels on Medicare. Some private labs (e.g. Dorevitch, Sullivan Nicolaides) accept self-referral for most panels. Having numbers before you start means you can actually tell if something changed.

11. What to do if it's not working

Three failure modes:

1. 1Bad vial. Signs: cloudiness, colour shift, visible particles, zero effect when there should be some. Action: stop, check the COA for your batch, contact Capital Peptides support. We reship or refund — no questions asked.
2. 2Wrong peptide for the goal.Signs: 6+ weeks in, nothing has shifted, the research overview's documented effect window has passed. Action: re-read the mechanism section. If the pathway doesn't match your situation, you picked the wrong tool. Consult the research overview for alternatives.
3. 3Wrong dose or wrong route. Signs: subtle effects, but not what was described. Action: re-check your reconstitution maths with the calculator, verify the route (e.g. sub-q vs nasal for BPC-157), confirm your injection timing relative to food.

12. The next cycle

The second cycle is the easy one. You know your dose, you know your reconstitution maths, you know what to expect. Most users see compounding benefit cycle-over-cycle as they dial in protocols.

Update your logs when you change dose or peptide. Pull bloodwork at the 8-week mark if you're on a GH-axis or GLP-class protocol.

That's the whole arc.