Epitalon
aka Epithalon, Epithalamin
A 4-amino-acid chain claimed to switch on the enzyme that maintains chromosome lifespans.
Technically · Tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly)
In one sentence
A tiny Russian peptide claimed to lengthen telomeres — the chromosome caps that shorten as you age.
— Like a reset button for the timer your cells use to count their birthdays — strong in mice, thin in humans.
Half-life
Short (minutes plasma)
Out of the bloodstream in minutes — taken daily during short cycles.
Dosing
Daily for 10–20 days, repeat 2–4×/year
How often you take a dose
Route
SubQ · IM
How it goes into the body
Status
Research
Sold for lab research — not approved for humans
What it is
A short synthetic peptide developed in Russia. The big claim: it activates telomerase, the enzyme that keeps the protective caps on your chromosomes from shrinking — which is part of why cells age. Russian animal studies look promising. Western human trials? Pretty much don't exist.
The full technical answer
Synthetic tetrapeptide derived from epithalamin. Studied for telomerase activation and pineal gland regulation. Limited Russian clinical data; minimal Western trials.
How it works
Every time your cells divide, the protective caps on your DNA (telomeres) get a tiny bit shorter. When they get too short, cells stop dividing — that's a piece of aging. Epitalon is thought to flip on telomerase, the enzyme that maintains those caps.
The full technical answer
Hypothesized to activate telomerase, lengthening telomeres. Animal data suggests effects on melatonin secretion and circadian regulation.
What the research says
Russian studies (Khavinson et al.) show longevity effects in animals. Western validation is limited.
Sources: PubMed: Epitalon
Common dosing ranges
- Range
- 5–10 mg per dose typical
- Frequency
- Daily for 10–20 days, repeat 2–4×/year
- Duration
- 10–20 day cycles
Sources: PubMed
How to take it
Practical guidance synthesized from clinical protocols, FDA labels, and clinician interviews. Always cross-check with a prescribing physician.
Best time of day
AM, daily during the cycle. Most protocols use a 10–20 day cycle, then break.
With food or fasted
Doesn't matter — SubQ injection.
How long to cycle
10–20 day cycles, repeated 2–4 times per year (e.g. once per quarter).
When to get off
End each cycle as planned. Russian protocols specifically discourage continuous use.
Administration
Side effects
Common
- Generally reported well-tolerated
Serious / theoretical
- Unknown long-term effects in humans
Sources: PubMed
Further reading & listening
Where the experts go deeper.
Curated from the PeptideFacts expert directory — vetted YouTube channels, podcasts, books, and communities. No anecdote-only or supplier-affiliated picks.
Videos
Podcasts
Communities
Often compared
NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)
The fuel your cells burn to make energy and fix DNA — levels crash as you age, and supplements try to top it back up.
Klotho
A protein your kidneys make that strongly tracks with how long you'll live. New recombinant version dosed every 2 weeks.