Glossary
Every dotted-underline word on the site, in one place.
Terms
Peptide
A short chain of amino acids. Proteins are long chains; peptides are short ones, usually under 50 amino acids.
Reconstitute
Mixing the dry powder in a vial with bacteriostatic water so it can be measured and drawn into a syringe.
Bacteriostatic water (BAC water)
Sterile water with a little benzyl alcohol that stops bacteria growing, so a mixed vial lasts days or weeks. Often called BAC water.
Titration
Stepping a dose up (or down) gradually over time, every few weeks (every four weeks in the GLP-1 drug trials), instead of starting at the full amount.
Subcutaneous
Under the skin, into the fat layer. The usual route for peptide injections. Often shortened to sub-Q.
U-100 syringe and units
An insulin syringe marked in 100 units per mL. Each unit is 0.01 mL.
Microgram (mcg)
Microgram, one thousandth of a milligram. 1 mg = 1,000 mcg.
Cycle
A planned period of use followed by a break, written as weeks on / weeks off.
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Certificate of Analysis: a lab report showing what a vial contains and how pure it is. Third-party COAs come from a lab independent of the seller.
Purity
How much of the vial's contents is the named compound, shown as a percentage on a COA.
GLP-1
A gut hormone that affects appetite and blood sugar. Several weight-management compounds act on its receptor.
Receptor agonist
A compound that activates a specific receptor in the body, mimicking the natural signal.
Half-life
How long it takes for half of a compound to leave the body. A longer half-life usually means less frequent dosing.
Research peptide
A peptide sold for laboratory research, not as a medicine. This is how most suppliers label their products.
Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials
A mid-stage human trial that tests dose and early effect in hundreds of people. Phase 3 confirms results in thousands.
IGF-1
A growth factor the liver makes in response to growth hormone. Blood tests use it to track growth-hormone activity.
Visceral fat
Fat stored deep around the organs, as opposed to the fat under the skin.
Side effect
An unwanted effect that happens alongside the intended one.
Investigational
Still in clinical trials and not approved by any regulator.