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What is a peptide, exactly?
The 5-minute primer. Short chains of amino acids, what they do in the body, why they're not steroids, why they're not supplements either.
Read the primer →Where the category stands in May 2026 — what's available, who to trust, what costs what. 22-min read, reviewed by Dr. Marchetti.
Read the guideWe're publishing in-depth reviews of each major compounded GLP-1 and peptide telehealth provider. Live as we publish.
See provider rankings on the GLP-1 guide →Primers for newcomers, deep dives for the curious, and our editorial methodology. Publishing rolls out across summer 2026.
Browse the library while you wait →Browse by goal, scan the full A–Z library, or take the quiz if you're not sure where to start. Every entry reviewed by a licensed physician.
The 5-minute primer. Short chains of amino acids, what they do in the body, why they're not steroids, why they're not supplements either.
Read the primer →The honest, slightly complicated answer. Some are. Most aren't. Compounded vs branded, what the FDA shortage list actually means, what to ask your provider.
Read the breakdown →The telehealth pathway, the brick-and-mortar pathway, the gray-market pathway. What's legitimate, what's risky, what your insurance actually covers.
Read the guide →The category that changed everything. Compounded sema, tirzepatide, and the post-shortage-list market.
Tissue repair, lean muscle, growth hormone secretagogues. The category sports-medicine doctors actually use.
Mechanisms different from PDE5 inhibitors. PT-141 is FDA-approved (Vyleesi) for HSDD; the rest are off-label.
Russian-origin nootropic peptides, mostly. Evidence base is thinner than the marketing suggests.
Mitochondrial peptides, telomere protocols, NAD+. The science is exciting and the commercial pitch is much further ahead than the data.
Topical and systemic. GHK-Cu does have meaningful evidence for skin; the hair-growth peptide claims are mostly preclinical.
| Compound | Category | Best for | Onset | Starting price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | |||||
AOD-9604 ›Modified GH fragment |
GLP-1 / Metabolic | Targeted fat loss adjunct | 6–8 weeks | $179 / mo | |
Argireline ›Acetyl hexapeptide-8 |
Skin & Hair | Topical wrinkle reduction | 4–6 weeks | $49 / mo | |
| B | |||||
BPC-157 ›Pentadecapeptide |
Recovery | Tissue repair, gut health | 1–2 weeks | $129 / mo | |
| C | |||||
Cerebrolysin ›Brain peptide complex |
Cognitive | Neuroprotection (research-stage) | 3–4 weeks | $299 / mo | |
CJC-1295 ›GHRH analog (long-acting) |
Recovery / GH | Sustained GH release | 3–5 weeks | $199 / mo | |
| D | |||||
Dihexa ›Angiotensin IV analog |
Cognitive | Synaptogenesis (preclinical) | Unknown | $249 / mo | |
| E | |||||
Epitalon ›Tetrapeptide, pineal |
Longevity | Telomere / circadian | Cycle-based | $199 / mo | |
| G | |||||
GHK-Cu ›Copper tripeptide-1 |
Skin / Longevity | Skin repair, collagen | 4–8 weeks | $89 / mo | |
| I | |||||
Ipamorelin ›GH secretagogue |
Recovery / GH | Lean mass, recovery | 2–4 weeks | $169 / mo | |
| K | |||||
Kisspeptin ›KISS1-derived |
Sexual Health | Reproductive hormone signaling | 1–4 weeks | $229 / mo | |
| L | |||||
Liraglutide ›GLP-1 agonist |
GLP-1 | Weight loss (older generation) | 4–8 weeks | $149 / mo | |
| M | |||||
Matrixyl ›Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 |
Skin & Hair | Collagen production (topical) | 6–12 weeks | $59 / mo | |
Melanotan II ›α-MSH analog |
Sexual Health | Libido, pigmentation | 1–3 weeks | $129 / mo | |
MOTS-c ›Mitochondrial-derived |
Longevity | Metabolic, mitochondrial | 4–6 weeks | $249 / mo | |
| N | |||||
NAD+ ›Coenzyme (not a peptide) |
Longevity | Cellular energy, anti-aging | 2–4 weeks | $299 / mo | |
| O | |||||
Oxytocin ›Nonapeptide |
Sexual Health | Bonding, intimacy | Acute | $99 / mo | |
| P | |||||
PT-141 ›Bremelanotide |
Sexual Health | Desire (FDA-approved as Vyleesi) | 30–60 min | $99 / dose | |
PTD-DBM ›Wnt pathway peptide |
Skin & Hair | Hair regrowth (preclinical) | Unknown | $179 / mo | |
| S | |||||
Selank ›Heptapeptide |
Cognitive | Anxiolytic, focus | Days | $99 / mo | |
Semaglutide ›GLP-1 agonist (compounded) |
GLP-1 | Weight loss, blood sugar | 4–8 weeks | $99 / mo | |
Semax ›ACTH(4-10) analog |
Cognitive | Focus, neuroprotection | Days | $129 / mo | |
Sermorelin ›GHRH analog |
Recovery / GH | Sleep, recovery, body comp | 4–6 weeks | $149 / mo | |
| T | |||||
TB-500 ›Thymosin Beta-4 fragment |
Recovery | Tissue repair, inflammation | 2–3 weeks | $189 / mo | |
Tesamorelin ›GHRH analog (FDA-approved) |
GLP-1 / Metabolic | Visceral fat reduction | 8–12 weeks | $349 / mo | |
Thymalin ›Thymus polypeptides |
Longevity | Immune restoration (research) | Cycle-based | $229 / mo | |
Tirzepatide ›GLP-1/GIP dual agonist |
GLP-1 | Weight loss (gold standard) | 4–6 weeks | $199 / mo | |
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