BPC-157 Dosage Guide: Protocols, Timing & What Research Shows (2026)

BPC-157 is one of the most widely studied regenerative peptides in preclinical research — and one of the most common questions surrounding it is dosage. How much do researchers use? How often? Oral or injectable? Near the injury or systemically?

This guide distills the available animal research literature into a clear, organized reference for understanding BPC-157 dosing protocols. Because no human clinical trials have been completed, all dosage information here is derived from preclinical studies — primarily in rats — and should not be interpreted as medical advice.

BPC-157 Dosages Used in Animal Research

The vast majority of BPC-157 studies have been conducted in rats at the University of Zagreb by Dr. Predrag Sikiric's research group. While this concentration of research in one lab has drawn scrutiny, the studies are published in peer-reviewed journals and employ established methodologies.

Standard Research Dose

The most commonly studied dose across the literature is 10 μg/kg body weight. This dose has demonstrated consistent effects across tendon healing, muscle repair, gut protection, nerve regeneration, and cardiovascular studies.

Dose Range and Threshold Effects

Interestingly, BPC-157 research suggests the peptide may not follow a simple linear dose-response curve. Several studies have compared doses of 10 μg/kg against 50 μg/kg and even 100 μg/kg, finding similar efficacy across the range. This suggests a threshold effect — once the minimum effective concentration is reached, increasing the dose may not significantly amplify results.

This is consistent with how many peptides interact with biological systems: they saturate their target pathways at relatively low concentrations, and additional peptide simply circulates without additional benefit.

Translating Rat Doses to Human-Equivalent Doses

When researchers discuss translating animal doses to potential human equivalents, they use allometric scaling — a method that accounts for differences in metabolic rate between species. Rats have significantly faster metabolisms than humans, so a direct weight-based translation would overestimate the required dose.

The standard FDA conversion factor for rat-to-human dose translation is to divide the rat dose by 6.2:

This is a rough estimation framework used in pharmacology research. It does not account for species-specific differences in peptide absorption, distribution, metabolism, or receptor binding affinity. Only human clinical trials can establish truly appropriate doses.

Routes of Administration

Unlike most peptides, BPC-157 has been studied via multiple administration routes — each with distinct advantages depending on the research context. This flexibility stems from BPC-157's unusual stability in acidic environments, a property inherited from its origin in human gastric juice.

Subcutaneous Injection

Subcutaneous injection is the most commonly used route in musculoskeletal BPC-157 research. The peptide is injected into the fatty tissue beneath the skin, typically near the area of interest (for injury-related studies) or in the abdominal region for systemic administration.

For those unfamiliar with injection technique, our complete guide to peptide injections covers proper sterile technique, site selection, and needle gauge recommendations.

Intramuscular Injection

Some studies use intramuscular injection, particularly those examining muscle injury recovery. Results are generally comparable to subcutaneous injection. This route may provide slightly faster absorption due to greater blood flow in muscle tissue.

Oral Administration

This is where BPC-157 truly distinguishes itself from other peptides. Most peptides are destroyed by stomach acid and digestive enzymes within seconds. BPC-157, however, is stable in gastric juice even at pH as low as 1.0 and retains biological activity when administered orally.

Animal studies using oral (intragastric) BPC-157 demonstrate healing effects on gastrointestinal conditions and, remarkably, on distant tissues including tendons and nerves. Oral doses in studies are typically higher than injected doses — approximately 10× — to account for reduced absorption through the gut lining. For a comprehensive comparison of these delivery methods, see our guide on oral vs injectable peptides.

How to Reconstitute BPC-157

BPC-157 is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder that must be reconstituted before use. Proper reconstitution technique is critical — both for accurate dosing and for maintaining peptide integrity. For a detailed walkthrough with visual steps, see our full peptide reconstitution guide.

Storage After Reconstitution

Once reconstituted, BPC-157 should be stored refrigerated at 2–8°C (36–46°F) and used within 14–21 days. Never freeze reconstituted peptide solutions, and avoid repeated temperature fluctuations. For comprehensive storage guidelines, see our peptide storage guide.

BPC-157 Dosing Calculations

Accurate dosing requires knowing your vial size and reconstitution volume. Here's the math with common vial sizes:

5 mg Vial Reconstituted with 2 mL BAC Water

5 mg Vial Reconstituted with 1 mL BAC Water

For more detailed calculations and a broader reference, check our peptide dosage calculator guide.

Dosing Frequency and Timing

Once vs. Twice Daily

Most animal studies use once-daily dosing. However, BPC-157's estimated half-life of approximately 4 hours suggests that twice-daily administration would maintain more consistent tissue levels throughout the day.

Some researchers who study BPC-157 note that splitting the daily dose into two administrations (e.g., morning and evening) may optimize tissue exposure, particularly for musculoskeletal applications where sustained signaling promotes continuous repair activity. For a broader view of peptide timing strategies, see our guide on when to take peptides.

Timing Relative to Meals

For injectable BPC-157, meal timing is largely irrelevant — the peptide enters systemic circulation directly.

For oral BPC-157, some researchers suggest administration on an empty stomach (30+ minutes before food) to maximize absorption through the gut lining. However, animal studies show efficacy regardless of fed/fasted state, likely due to BPC-157's exceptional gastric stability. Our peptides and fasting guide covers this topic in depth.

Duration of Use

Animal studies typically run from 7 days to 6 weeks depending on the injury model. Tendon and ligament studies generally show 14–28 days, while gut healing protocols may be shorter (7–14 days). For information on cycling peptides on and off, see our peptide cycling guide.

BPC-157 in Combination with Other Peptides

One of the most common questions in peptide research is whether BPC-157 can be combined with other compounds. While formal interaction studies are limited, several combinations have been explored in the research community:

BPC-157 + TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4)

This is widely considered the "gold standard" healing stack. BPC-157 and TB-500 work through different mechanisms — BPC-157 primarily through growth factor modulation and nitric oxide pathways, while TB-500 works through actin regulation and cell migration. The combination may provide complementary healing signals. For a deep dive into how these peptides compare, see our BPC-157 vs TB-500 comparison.

BPC-157 + GH Secretagogues

Combining BPC-157 with growth hormone-releasing peptides like Ipamorelin or CJC-1295 is another common approach in the research community. The rationale: elevated growth hormone supports systemic tissue repair, while BPC-157 provides targeted healing signals at the injury site. For comparison details, see CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin.

BPC-157 + GHK-Cu

For skin healing and wound recovery contexts, GHK-Cu (a copper peptide with strong wound-healing properties) may complement BPC-157's systemic healing with localized tissue remodeling and collagen synthesis support.

For a comprehensive guide to peptide combination strategies, see our peptide stacking guide.

Safety Profile and Side Effects

BPC-157 has a notable safety record in animal research. Across hundreds of studies spanning three decades, no significant toxic effects have been reported. Acute toxicity studies were unable to establish an LD50 even at doses far exceeding research doses.

However, the absence of human clinical trials means the compound's safety in humans remains formally unestablished. Potential considerations include:

• Blood pressure effects: BPC-157 modulates the nitric oxide system, which could theoretically influence blood pressure in individuals with cardiovascular conditions
• Angiogenesis concerns: BPC-157 promotes new blood vessel formation — beneficial for healing, but theoretically undesirable in individuals with conditions where angiogenesis is pathological
• Drug interactions: BPC-157's modulation of dopaminergic systems and NO pathways suggests potential interactions with medications affecting these systems
• Source purity: Research-grade peptides vary in purity. Contaminants introduce their own risk profile independent of the peptide itself. See our guide on understanding peptide purity

For a broader overview of what to watch for with any peptide, our peptide side effects guide covers general considerations across the full range of research peptides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Putting It All Together

BPC-157 is one of the most extensively studied regenerative peptides in preclinical research, with a dosing profile that's unusually well-characterized for a compound without completed human trials. The consistency of the 10 μg/kg dose across diverse tissue types and injury models provides a solid reference point for researchers.

Its unique oral bioavailability, wide therapeutic window in animals, and apparent safety across three decades of research make it an attractive subject for continued study. The flexibility of administration routes — subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral, and even topical — adds further research versatility.

That said, the fundamental limitation remains: all of this data comes from animal models. Until properly controlled human clinical trials are completed, extrapolation to human use involves inherent uncertainty. Anyone considering BPC-157 should work with a qualified healthcare provider and maintain realistic expectations about both potential benefits and unknown risks.

For a deeper dive into BPC-157's mechanisms and research findings, visit our complete BPC-157 peptide profile. And if you're new to peptides entirely, our beginner's guide to peptides is the best place to start.