Growth hormone · Muscle growth and tissue regeneration enhancement
IGF-1 DES
50–150 mcg around training
Truncated 67-amino-acid variant of IGF-1 from 1990s research, missing its first three amino acids, giving it about ten times the anabolic potency of regular IGF-1 with a short 20–30 minute half-life. Studied in animals for muscle growth, recovery, and tissue repair; remains an unapproved research chemical.
Important: IGF-1 peptides are insulin-like and can drop your blood sugar. Always eat a meal with protein and carbs shortly after injecting, and watch for low blood sugar signs (shakiness, sweating, dizziness). Do not dose right before bed.
Reconstitution
| Vial | 1 mL water | 2 mL water |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mg | 1 mg/mL | 0.5 mg/mL |
IGF peptides are often reconstituted with bac water for short-term use. Some prefer a low-pH diluent for longer storage, but bac water is the common practical choice for a vial used within its window.
- Use bacteriostatic water as the diluent.
- Add the water slowly, letting it run down the inside wall of the vial rather than onto the powder.
- Swirl gently to mix, then leave it to dissolve. Do not shake.
- Give it a few minutes. The finished solution should be clear and colourless.
Protocol
Route: Subcutaneous or intramuscular
Standard protocol (subcutaneous or intramuscular)
- 0.05 mg to 0.15 mg (50 to 150 mcg) per day, used pre- or post-workout
- It is short-acting, so it is timed right around training, often injected into the trained muscle and split between left and right sides
Dosing detail
- Common dose is 0.05 mg to 0.15 mg (50 to 150 mcg) per day, around training.
- Short half-life, so it acts locally and is cleared quickly. Inject into or near the worked muscle.
- Always eat after dosing because of the blood-sugar drop. Do not inject close to bedtime.
- Small draws, so a smaller fill keeps the numbers easy.
Duration
- Keep cycles under 4 weeks (30 days max) with at least 2 weeks off, to keep IGF receptors responsive. Eat shortly after every dose.
Notes
- A fast, short-acting IGF-1 variant with a local action.
- Watch for low blood sugar signs given its insulin-like action.
- Inject subcutaneously and rotate sites.
Storage and handling
- Keep the powdered (lyophilized) vial in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate it for longer-term storage before mixing.
- Once reconstituted and refrigerated at 2–8 °C away from light, use the vial within 90 days.
- Do not freeze a reconstituted vial, and keep it away from heat and sunlight.
- If the solution turns cloudy, develops floating particles, or shows any other sign of degradation, stop using that vial.