Peptide Calculator: Reconstitution and Dosing Calculator Guide

What is a Peptide Calculator?

A peptide calculator is an essential tool that helps you determine the correct volumes of bacteriostatic (BAC) water needed to reconstitute your peptide powder to your desired concentration. It also helps you calculate accurate doses based on body weight and convert between insulin units and micrograms. Without proper calculations, peptide users risk over-dosing, under-dosing, or creating inconsistent concentrations that make tracking results nearly impossible.

Understanding peptide mathematics takes practice but becomes second nature quickly. The core concepts are simple: you\'re diluting a powder into a liquid to create a specific concentration, then measuring precise volumes to deliver exact micrograms. This guide breaks down every calculation you\'ll need, with real examples for the most popular peptides.

Reconstitution Basics: Water Volume & Peptide Amount

Reconstitution is the process of mixing your freeze-dried peptide powder with bacteriostatic water to create an injectable solution. The amount of water you add dramatically affects your final concentration—the amount of peptide dissolved per unit of volume. Using too little water creates an overly concentrated solution that\'s difficult to measure accurately. Using too much water creates a dilute solution requiring larger injection volumes.

The Three Key Variables

• Peptide Amount: Usually measured in milligrams (mg), this is the weight of freeze-dried peptide powder in your vial
• Water Volume: Measured in milliliters (mL), this is how much BAC water you\'ll add to the vial
• Final Concentration: Measured in micrograms per milliliter (mcg/mL) or micrograms per insulin unit (mcg/unit), this is the strength of your final solution

These three variables relate through a simple equation: Peptide (mg) × 1000 ÷ Water (mL) = Concentration (mcg/mL). If you know any two variables, you can calculate the third.

Concentration Math Explained

Concentration describes how much peptide is dissolved in a given volume of liquid. When you see "100 mcg/mL," that means there are 100 micrograms of peptide in every 1 milliliter of solution. Understanding this relationship is crucial for accurate dosing.

Converting Between Units

Peptide weights are stored as milligrams (mg), but doses are measured in micrograms (mcg). One milligram equals 1000 micrograms: 1mg = 1000 mcg. This conversion is built into reconstitution calculations:

Practical Example

Suppose you have a 5mg vial of BPC-157 and add 5mL of BAC water:

This creates a 1000 mcg/mL concentration. If you draw 1mL on a syringe, you\'re injecting 1000 mcg. If you draw 0.5mL, you\'re injecting 500 mcg. Concentration determines the relationship between volume drawn and dose delivered.

BAC Water Volume Calculations

Calculating the correct BAC water volume is the most important decision in peptide reconstitution. This decision determines your final concentration and impacts how easy (or difficult) dosing becomes. Most experienced users settle on a standard concentration that makes mental math simple.

The 100 mcg/Unit Standard

Many peptide users prefer a concentration of 100 mcg per insulin unit (100 mcg/unit). On a standard 100-unit insulin syringe where 1mL = 100 units, this means:

• 1 unit = 100 mcg
• 10 units = 1000 mcg
• 25 units = 2500 mcg

To calculate BAC water for this concentration: Water (mL) = (Peptide Amount in mg × 10) ÷ Desired Concentration (100 mcg/unit). For a 10mg vial: Water = (10mg × 10) ÷ 100 = 1mL... wait, that\'s not right. Let me recalculate properly.

For 100 mcg/unit concentration (which equals 1000 mcg/mL on a standard syringe): Water (mL) = (Peptide Amount in mg × 1000) ÷ 1000. For 10mg: Water = 10mL. For 5mg: Water = 5mL. This is actually simple—the water volume in mL equals the peptide amount in mg when targeting 1000 mcg/mL (which is 100 mcg/unit).

Calculating for Different Peptide Amounts

Syringe Measurements: Insulin Units to MCG

Most peptide users inject subcutaneously using insulin syringes with 1mL capacity and 100-unit markings. Understanding the relationship between insulin units (volume) and micrograms (dose) is essential for accurate injection.

Standard Insulin Syringe Markings

• Total capacity: 1mL
• Total markings: 100 units
• Therefore: 1 unit = 0.01mL
• 10 units = 0.1mL
• 100 units = 1mL

Converting Units to Micrograms

The conversion from units to micrograms depends entirely on your final concentration. This is why establishing a standard concentration is so important.

Example: 100 mcg/Unit Concentration

If you reconstituted to 100 mcg/unit:

• 10 units = 1000 mcg
• 25 units = 2500 mcg
• 50 units = 5000 mcg

Example: 50 mcg/Unit Concentration

If you reconstituted to 50 mcg/unit (double water volume):

• 10 units = 500 mcg
• 25 units = 1250 mcg
• 50 units = 2500 mcg

Mark your syringe barrel with tape or permanent marker at your target unit line before reconstitution. This prevents accidental over-dosing or under-dosing due to miscounting.

Reconstitution Examples for Popular Peptides

Different peptides have different standard dosing ranges, so reconstitution amounts vary. Here are step-by-step examples for the most popular peptides using a simple 100 mcg/unit concentration standard.

BPC-157 Reconstitution

BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is typically dosed at 200-500 mcg per injection, once daily. A common vial size is 5mg.

TB-500 Reconstitution

TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) is typically dosed at 2mg (2000 mcg) twice weekly. Standard vials are 5mg or 10mg.

Sermorelin Reconstitution

Sermorelin (GHRH) is typically dosed at 200-300 mcg once daily before bed. Standard vials are 2mg or 5mg. Sermorelin tends toward lower volumes for injecting, so some prefer higher concentrations (2000 mcg/mL).

Ipamorelin Reconstitution

Ipamorelin (growth hormone secretagogue) is typically dosed at 200-300 mcg once or twice daily. Standard vials are 2mg or 5mg. Like sermorelin, lower injection volumes are preferable.

Common Peptide Dosing Calculations

Beyond reconstitution, you\'ll need to calculate individual doses based on body weight, goals, and protocol. Most research and experience-based protocols recommend doses between 2-10 mcg per kilogram of body weight, though this varies significantly by peptide type.

Step-by-Step Dosing Calculation

1. Convert weight to kilograms: Divide your body weight in pounds by 2.2. A 200-pound person weighs 90.9kg.
2. Identify the dose per kilogram: Different peptides have different standard doses. BPC-157 is often 2-5 mcg/kg, TB-500 is 2-2.5 mcg/kg.
3. Multiply: Weight (kg) × Dose per kg = Total daily dose in mcg
4. Convert to syringe units: Divide by your concentration. At 100 mcg/unit, 2000 mcg ÷ 100 = 20 units.

Real Example: 200-Pound Person Taking BPC-157

• Body weight: 200 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 90.9kg
• Standard dose: 2 mcg/kg
• Total dose: 90.9kg × 2 mcg/kg = 181.8 mcg
• At 100 mcg/unit: 181.8 ÷ 100 = 1.82 units (round to 1.8 or 2 units)
• Practical injection: ~2 units (approximately 200 mcg) once daily

Titration Protocol

Most users start with lower doses and gradually increase over 1-2 weeks to assess tolerance and track effects more clearly. A typical titration looks like:

• Days 1-3: 50% of target dose
• Days 4-7: 75% of target dose
• Day 8+: Full target dose

This approach helps identify any adverse reactions early while establishing a baseline for comparing results at full dosing.

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Even experienced peptide users make calculation errors. Here are the most common mistakes and how to prevent them.

Mistake #1: Forgetting the 1000 Multiplication

When converting milligrams to micrograms, you must multiply by 1000. A common error is forgetting this step, leading to a concentration 1000 times too low. If you have 10mg of peptide and add 10mL of water without multiplying by 1000, your mental math might conclude you have 10 mcg/mL instead of 10,000 mcg/mL. Always write out: (10mg × 1000) = 10,000 mcg.

Mistake #2: Confusing Total Concentration with Per-Unit Concentration

After you calculate your final concentration in mcg/mL, you still need to convert this to mcg/unit based on your syringe type. A concentration of 1000 mcg/mL is only 100 mcg/unit on a standard 1mL = 100-unit insulin syringe. Mixing these up leads to thinking you\'re giving much larger doses than you actually are.

Mistake #3: Using Incorrect Water Volumes

Always measure BAC water carefully using a tuberculin (TB) syringe or medication measuring device. "Approximately 5mL" is not accurate enough—it should be exactly 5mL. Incorrect water volumes throw off all downstream calculations. If you add 6mL instead of 5mL, your concentration is 20% lower than expected.

Mistake #4: Not Accounting for Vial Dead Space

Vials contain a small amount of "dead space" (residual liquid that clings to the vial walls). After adding water, some of it stays in the vial even after drawing up your dose. This is usually negligible (less than 0.1mL), but when reconstituting with very small water volumes, it can slightly reduce your usable solution.

Mistake #5: Recalculating Mid-Use

Once you\'ve reconstituted a vial, commit to that concentration for the entire vial\'s lifespan. Don\'t try to recalculate mid-use or adjust on the fly. If you set up 100 mcg/unit at the beginning, stick with that calculation for all doses from that vial.

Mistake #6: Ignoring Expiration Dates

Reconstituted peptides have a shelf life. Using expired reconstituted peptide—especially one stored improperly—risks injecting degraded or contaminated material. If a vial has been open more than 4 weeks, discard it even if it "looks fine."

Prevention Checklist

• ☐ Write down all calculations on paper before starting
• ☐ Double-check the milligram-to-microgram conversion (×1000)
• ☐ Verify your syringe type (insulin syringes are 100 units = 1mL)
• ☐ Measure water volume with a syringe, not by eye
• ☐ Label your vials with peptide name, concentration, and reconstitution date
• ☐ Keep a dosing log to track actual volumes injected
• ☐ Use the same concentration for the entire vial

Safety Tips for Peptide Use

Accurate calculations are only part of safe peptide use. Proper storage, sterile technique, and quality assurance are equally important.

Sterile Technique During Reconstitution

• Use sterile needles: Never reuse needles. Open a fresh sterile needle for drawing BAC water and another for drawing from the BAC water vial.
• Swab the rubber septum: Before inserting the needle into either the peptide vial or the BAC water vial, wipe the rubber top with an alcohol swab and let it air-dry for 10 seconds.
• Maintain positive pressure: When adding water to the peptide vial, first inject an equal volume of air to prevent a vacuum from building up (which can make withdrawal difficult).
• Gentle mixing: After reconstitution, don\'t shake the vial vigorously. Instead, gently roll it in your hands for 30-60 seconds to dissolve the peptide powder.

Storage Best Practices

• Temperature: Store in a refrigerator at 2-8°C (35-46°F). Never freeze reconstituted peptides.
• Light protection: Keep vials in a dark container away from direct sunlight and UV light.
• Container choice: Use a dedicated refrigerator space away from food. Some users keep peptides in a small box or dark bag.
• Labeling: Clearly label all vials with the peptide name, reconstitution date, concentration, and expiration date.

Quality Inspection Before Use

Before every injection, visually inspect your peptide solution:

• Color: Should be clear and colorless. Any discoloration indicates degradation or contamination.
• Clarity: Should be transparent without cloudiness, particles, or floaters.
• Odor: BAC water has a mild alcohol smell, but unusual odors suggest contamination.
• Age: Discard after 4 weeks even if it looks perfect.

Injection Safety

• Rotate injection sites: Alternate between subcutaneous sites on abdomen, thighs, and arms to prevent lipohypertrophy (fatty deposits).
• Fresh needle for injection: Use a new, sterile needle for every injection. Never inject with the same needle used for drawing.
• Alcohol swab injection site: Clean the injection area with an alcohol wipe and allow it to air-dry completely before injecting.
• Proper syringe depth: For subcutaneous injection, pinch the skin and inject at a 45-90 degree angle, with the needle reaching the fatty layer beneath skin but not into muscle.

Hydration and Monitoring

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day—peptides can increase water retention and dehydration risks.
• Monitor for signs of allergic reaction: itching, rash, swelling, difficulty breathing.
• Track your injections in a log including date, time, site, and volume.
• Note any side effects or unusual sensations.
• If using peptides long-term, consider periodic blood work to monitor overall health.