Epitalon (Epithalon)

Mechanism of action: Proposed regulation of pineal gland function and melatonin secretion; Proposed activation of telomerase activity (preclinical); Proposed influence on circadian rhythm regulation

Proposed indications: Healthy aging; Sleep/circadian regulation; Longevity (preclinical)

Reported dosing range*: 5-10 mg/day for 10-20 days (unconfirmed convention; exact trial dose not published)

Russian human trials exist outside the FDA/EMA regulatory pipeline, including a published study reporting a positive clinical effect in 90% of patients with degenerative retinal disease (Khavinson V et al. (2002). Pineal-Regulating Tetrapeptide Epitalon Improves Eye Retina Condition in Retinitis Pigmentosa. Neuro Endocrinology Letters) -- the exact dosing regimen used is not detailed in the available English-language abstract. Commonly cited (but not independently confirmed here) course-based convention is 5-10 mg/day for 10-20 days, repeated periodically rather than used continuously. This evidence base comes from a different regulatory/publication tradition than the rest of this guide -- treat with more caution than the trial-sourced entries elsewhere.

*General range reported in available research or other sources -- not an individualized recommendation. Actual use should be supervised by a qualified provider.

Typical clinical dosing schedule: No established clinical dosing. Most available human data comes from older, non-Western-standard research literature.

Administration: Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection (research settings) — No established clinical dosing

Compare with: PinealonVilonMOTS-cSS-31 (Elamipretide)

An "emerging / limited evidence" rating means rigorous research hasn't caught up yet -- not that this peptide doesn't work. Many peptides in this category are newer or simply understudied rather than proven ineffective.

Evidence rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ — Animal and preclinical studies suggest effects on pineal function and telomerase activity; evidence is concentrated in a relatively small research literature originating largely from Russian peptide-bioregulation/gerontology groups (Khavinson and closely associated researchers), which has not been independently replicated at clinical scale.

Common side effects: Human safety profile remains incompletely characterized.

Serious risks: Unknown long-term safety; limited modern clinical trial data.

Legal status: Not FDA-approved for human use. This is a research compound, not a medication — any use should only occur under the direction of a licensed healthcare provider, and its legal availability varies and changes frequently. Verify current status independently before considering use.

Regulatory status: Research peptide • Not FDA approved

Contraindications: Not established. Avoid in:; Pregnancy; Active malignancy; Uncontrolled illness outside research settings

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Avoid.

Anisimov VN, Khavinson VK. (2010). Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects. Biogerontology, 11, 139–149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-009-9249-8