Cortagen dosage chart
20 mg Vial
Cortagen is dosed at 1 mg–2 mg daily via subcutaneous injection in educational protocols. A 20 mg vial reconstituted with bacteriostatic water yields about 6.67 mg/mL. This information is for research and educational use only.
- Reconstitute
- Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → 6.67 mg/mL (6670 mcg/mL) concentration.
- Typical daily range
- 1000–2000 mcg once daily (morning administration preferred).
- Easy measuring
- At 6.67 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL ≈ 66.7 mcg on a U-100 insulin syringe.
- Storage
- Lyophilized: freeze at −20 °C (−4 °F); after reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F); avoid freeze–thaw cycles.
- Injection frequency
- Once daily — 5 days on, 2 days off (dose Mon–Fri, rest Sat–Sun).
- Dosing schedule
- 5 days on / 2 days off: dose Monday through Friday, then take Saturday and Sunday off. That is 5 dosing days per week.
Dosing schedule
| Week | Daily Dose (mcg) | Units (per injection) (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | 1000 mcg | 15 units (0.15 mL) |
| Weeks 3–4 | 2000 mcg | 30 units (0.30 mL) |
Reconstitution steps
- 1Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe.
- 2Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid foaming.
- 3Gently swirl/roll until dissolved (do not shake).
- 4Label and refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F), protected from light.
Dosing Cycle & Timing
This protocol runs on a 5 days on / 2 days off cycle.
- Cycle: 5 days on, 2 days off — dose Monday through Friday and rest on the weekend.
- 5 dosing days per week; the 2 off days help limit receptor desensitisation and give injection sites time to recover.
- Keep the dose time consistent on dosing days.
- If a weekday dose is missed, take it the same day if possible — do not dose on an off day to catch up.
- Weekly totals in the supplies and shopping lists are calculated on 5 dosing days, not 7.
Important Notes
Practical considerations for consistency and safety.
- Use new sterile insulin syringes; dispose in a sharps container.
- Rotate injection sites (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) to reduce local irritation.
- Inject slowly; wait a few seconds before withdrawing the needle.
- Document daily dose and site rotation to maintain consistency.
How This Works
Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) is a synthetic tetrapeptide derived from amino acid analysis of the natural brain cortex preparation Cortexin. It acts as a gene expression modulator and epigenetic regulator, influencing the synthesis of proteins involved in neuronal growth, differentiation, and stress resistance. Preclinical studies demonstrate that Cortagen can upregulate neurotrophic factors, reduce oxidative stress markers, and accelerate peripheral nerve regeneration—increasing nerve fiber growth rate and conduction velocity by 27–40% in injury models. In chronic cerebral ischemia models, Cortagen improved behavioral recovery and protected against oxidative damage.
Potential Benefits & Side Effects
Observations from preclinical and limited clinical literature.
- Supports peripheral nerve regeneration with improved growth rate and conduction velocity in injury models.
- Demonstrates neuroprotective effects in ischemia models by reducing lipid peroxidation and preserving antioxidant enzyme activity.
- May enhance cognitive function and memory through promotion of synaptic plasticity and neurite outgrowth.
- Shows gene expression modulation in cardiac and neural tissues with broad regulatory effects.
- Generally well tolerated with no significant adverse effects observed at therapeutic doses in animal studies.
- Occasional mild injection-site reactions (redness/itch) may occur with subcutaneous administration.
Lifestyle Factors
Complementary strategies for optimal outcomes.
- Maintain a nutrient-rich diet with adequate protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants to support neural health.
- Engage in regular physical activity and cognitive exercises to reinforce neuroplasticity.
- Prioritize quality sleep and stress management to support cellular repair and recovery.
Injection Technique
General subcutaneous guidance from clinical best-practice resources.
- Clean the vial stopper and skin with alcohol; allow to dry.
- Pinch a skinfold; insert the needle at 45–90° into subcutaneous tissue.
- Do not aspirate for subcutaneous injections; inject slowly and steadily.
- Rotate sites systematically (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) to avoid lipohypertrophy.
Important Note
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.
Supplies needed
Plan covers the full 4-week protocol at the lowest listed starting dose: 1 mg per dose, 5 days on / 2 days off (20 administrations in total), using 20 mg vials. After mixing with 3 mL, the concentration is 6.67 mg/mL and each dose requires 0.15 mL total.
Cortagen vials (20 mg each)
Vials are rounded up only after calculating the whole protocol: ceil(20 ÷ 20) = 1. Usable peptide remaining in an opened vial carries forward to the next dose.
- Full protocol (4 weeks)
- 1 vial (20 mg needed ÷ 20 mg)
Insulin syringes (U-100, 1 mL)
One fresh syringe per administration.
- Full protocol (4 weeks)
- 20 syringes
Bacteriostatic water (10 mL bottles)
Use 3 mL per vial for reconstitution (1 × 3 mL = 3 mL).
- Full protocol (4 weeks)
- 1 × 10 mL bottle
Alcohol swabs
One for the vial stopper per draw + one for each injection site (5 days on / 2 days off).
- Full protocol (4 weeks)
- 40 swabs
| Supply | Full protocol (4 weeks) |
|---|---|
| Cortagen vials (20 mg each)Vials are rounded up only after calculating the whole protocol: ceil(20 ÷ 20) = 1. Usable peptide remaining in an opened vial carries forward to the next dose. | 1 vial (20 mg needed ÷ 20 mg) |
| Insulin syringes (U-100, 1 mL)One fresh syringe per administration. | 20 syringes |
| Bacteriostatic water (10 mL bottles)Use 3 mL per vial for reconstitution (1 × 3 mL = 3 mL). | 1 × 10 mL bottle |
| Alcohol swabsOne for the vial stopper per draw + one for each injection site (5 days on / 2 days off). | 40 swabs |
Cortagen dosage FAQs
How much bacteriostatic water do you use to reconstitute Cortagen?
Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → 6.67 mg/mL (6670 mcg/mL) concentration. for a 20 mg Vial vial. Add the water slowly against the inside wall of the vial and swirl — never shake — until the powder fully dissolves.
How often is Cortagen administered in research protocols?
Injection frequency: Once daily — 5 days on, 2 days off (dose Mon–Fri, rest Sat–Sun).
What does the Cortagen dosing schedule look like?
Weeks 1–2 — 1000 mcg — 15 units (0.15 mL); Weeks 3–4 — 2000 mcg — 30 units (0.30 mL). The full table above lists every step with matching syringe units.
What are the mixing steps for Cortagen?
Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe. Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid foaming. Gently swirl/roll until dissolved (do not shake).
How should reconstituted Cortagen be stored?
Storage: Lyophilized: freeze at −20 °C (−4 °F); after reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F); avoid freeze–thaw cycles..
How many insulin syringe units equal a Cortagen dose?
Units depend on the water volume you used. Divide your target dose by the vial concentration to get millilitres, then multiply by 100 — 1 unit on a U-100 insulin syringe is 0.01 mL. The Spartan Peptides reconstitution calculator does this conversion for you.
Is Cortagen approved for human use?
No. Cortagen is sold and referenced strictly as a research chemical. Nothing on this page is medical advice and the material is not for human consumption.
Educational and research information only. Not medical advice, not for human consumption. Values are reference figures — always verify your own math with the reconstitution calculator.
On any insulin syringe, 1 unit = 0.01 mL, so unit counts above hold across brands.