SS-31 dosage chart

30 mg Vial

SS-31 is dosed at 5 mg–10 mg daily via subcutaneous injection in educational protocols. A 30 mg vial reconstituted with bacteriostatic water yields about 10 mg/mL. This information is for research and educational use only.

Reconstitute: Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → ~10 mg/mL concentration for convenient dosing.
Typical daily range: 5–10 mg once daily (gradual titration); advanced protocols may reach 15–20 mg/day under supervision.
Easy measuring: At 10 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL = 100 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); use within 4 weeks.
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	Units (per injection) (mL)
Weeks 1–2	5 mg (5000 mcg)	50 units (0.50 mL)
Weeks 3–8	10 mg (10,000 mcg)	100 units (1.0 mL)

Reconstitution Steps

Week	Daily Dose	Units (per injection) (mL)
Weeks 1–2	5 mg (5000 mcg)	50 units (0.50 mL)
Weeks 3–4	10 mg (10,000 mcg)	100 units (1.0 mL)
Weeks 5–8	15 mg (15,000 mcg)	Split: 2 × 75 units (0.75 mL each)
Optional Weeks 9–12	20 mg (20,000 mcg)	Split: 2 × 100 units (1.0 mL each)

Reconstitution steps

1Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe.
2Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid vigorous shaking to prevent foaming.
3Gently swirl/roll until fully dissolved (clear solution).
4Label with reconstitution date and refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F), protected from light; use within 4 weeks.

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, safety, and tolerability.

Use new sterile insulin syringes for each injection; dispose in a sharps container immediately after use.
Rotate injection sites systematically (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) to reduce local irritation and prevent lipohypertrophy.
Inject slowly over several seconds; wait briefly before withdrawing the needle to prevent leakage.
Mild injection‑site reactions (redness, itching, transient discomfort) are the most common side effects reported in clinical trials; these typically resolve within hours.
Document daily dose, injection site, and any adverse reactions to maintain consistency and identify patterns.
For doses requiring split injections (≥15 mg), space injections at least 2 inches apart on different body regions.

How This Works

SS‑31 (elamipretide) is a cell‑permeable tetrapeptide with a unique mechanism of action targeting mitochondrial dysfunction. The peptide selectively accumulates in the inner mitochondrial membrane where it binds to cardiolipin, a specialized phospholipid essential for organizing electron transport chain supercomplexes and maintaining cristae structure. By stabilizing cardiolipin‑protein interactions, SS‑31 optimizes electron transport efficiency, reduces pathological reactive oxygen species generation, and enhances ATP synthesis in metabolically active tissues.

Preclinical research demonstrated that SS‑31 protects against mitochondrial dysfunction across multiple disease models including heart failure, ischemia‑reperfusion injury, neurodegeneration, chronic kidney disease, and age‑related muscle atrophy. In human clinical trials, SS‑31 showed favorable safety and tolerability profiles with no dose‑limiting toxicities. While Phase II trials in heart failure and primary mitochondrial myopathy did not meet primary efficacy endpoints, the TAZPOWER trial in Barth syndrome demonstrated significant improvements in muscle strength and six‑minute walk distance, leading to FDA accelerated approval in 2025.

Potential Benefits & Side Effects

Observations from preclinical models and human clinical trials.

Stabilizes mitochondrial membranes and optimizes electron transport chain function.
Enhances ATP production and reduces pathological reactive oxygen species in metabolically active tissues.
Demonstrated functional improvements in Barth syndrome patients (increased muscle strength, improved exercise capacity).
Shows protective effects in preclinical models of heart failure, neurodegenerative disease, and age‑related muscle atrophy.
Does not significantly alter blood pressure, heart rate, or standard laboratory parameters in clinical trials.
Injection‑site reactions (most common): Mild‑to‑moderate redness, itching, or transient discomfort at injection site; typically resolves within hours.
Approximately 80% of patients in clinical trials experienced mild injection‑site reactions.
No dose‑limiting toxicities or serious adverse events directly attributed to SS‑31 in published trials.
Long‑term safety data beyond 12 weeks remains limited; extended use requires monitoring.

Lifestyle Factors

Complementary strategies to support mitochondrial health and optimize outcomes.

Nutrition: Emphasize mitochondrial cofactors including B‑vitamins, CoQ10, magnesium, and alpha‑lipoic acid; maintain adequate protein intake to support muscle maintenance.
Exercise: Combine resistance training with aerobic activity to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and enhance oxidative capacity; tailor intensity to individual tolerance.
Sleep: Prioritize 7–9 hours of quality sleep to support cellular repair processes and optimize mitochondrial turnover through autophagy.
Stress Management: Chronic stress increases oxidative burden; incorporate stress‑reduction practices such as meditation, breathwork, or yoga.
Avoid Mitotoxins: Minimize exposure to substances that impair mitochondrial function, including excessive alcohol, certain medications (when possible), and environmental toxins.

Injection Technique

General subcutaneous injection guidance from clinical best‑practice resources.

Site Preparation: Clean the vial stopper and injection site with alcohol swabs; allow to air‑dry completely (30–60 seconds) before proceeding.
Drawing the Dose: Use a new sterile insulin syringe for each injection; draw the prescribed volume from the refrigerated vial; remove any visible air bubbles by gently tapping the syringe.
Injection Angle: Pinch a fold of skin (approximately 1–2 inches); insert the needle at 45–90° depending on subcutaneous tissue thickness (90° for most adults; 45° if very lean).
Administration: Do not aspirate for subcutaneous injections; inject slowly and steadily over 3–5 seconds; wait 5–10 seconds before withdrawing the needle to minimize leakage.
Site Rotation: Rotate systematically between injection sites (abdomen at least 2 inches from navel, outer thighs, upper arms, upper buttocks) to prevent lipohypertrophy and local irritation.
Post‑Injection: Apply gentle pressure with a clean alcohol swab or cotton ball for a few seconds; do not massage the site vigorously. A small bandage may be applied if needed.
Disposal: Immediately place used syringes in a designated sharps container; never recap needles or dispose of them in regular trash.

Important Note

This content is intended for therapeutic educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. SS‑31 is currently FDA‑approved only for Barth syndrome under the brand name Forzinity; use for other conditions remains investigational. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before beginning any peptide protocol. This information is provided for educational purposes only.

Supplies needed

Plan covers the full 12-week protocol at the lowest listed starting dose: 5 mg per dose, 5 days on / 2 days off (60 administrations in total), using 30 mg vials. After mixing with 3 mL, the concentration is 10 mg/mL and each dose requires 0.5 mL total.

SS-31 vials (30 mg each)

Vials are rounded up only after calculating the whole protocol: ceil(300 ÷ 30) = 10. Usable peptide remaining in an opened vial carries forward to the next dose.

Full protocol (12 weeks): 10 vials (300 mg needed ÷ 30 mg)

Insulin syringes (U-100, 1 mL)

One fresh syringe per administration.

Full protocol (12 weeks): 60 syringes

Bacteriostatic water (10 mL bottles)

Use 3 mL per vial for reconstitution (10 × 3 mL = 30 mL).

Full protocol (12 weeks): 3 × 10 mL bottles

Alcohol swabs

One for the vial stopper per draw + one for each injection site (5 days on / 2 days off). Recommend 2 × 100-count boxes.

Full protocol (12 weeks): 120 swabs

Supply	Full protocol (12 weeks)
SS-31 vials (30 mg each)Vials are rounded up only after calculating the whole protocol: ceil(300 ÷ 30) = 10. Usable peptide remaining in an opened vial carries forward to the next dose.	10 vials (300 mg needed ÷ 30 mg)
Insulin syringes (U-100, 1 mL)One fresh syringe per administration.	60 syringes
Bacteriostatic water (10 mL bottles)Use 3 mL per vial for reconstitution (10 × 3 mL = 30 mL).	3 × 10 mL bottles
Alcohol swabsOne for the vial stopper per draw + one for each injection site (5 days on / 2 days off). Recommend 2 × 100-count boxes.	120 swabs

SS-31 dosage FAQs

How much bacteriostatic water do you use to reconstitute SS-31?

Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → ~10 mg/mL concentration for convenient dosing. for a 30 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 SS-31 administered in research protocols?

Injection frequency: Once daily — 5 days on, 2 days off (dose Mon–Fri, rest Sat–Sun).

What does the SS-31 dosing schedule look like?

Weeks 1–2 — 5 mg (5000 mcg) — 50 units (0.50 mL); Weeks 3–8 — 10 mg (10,000 mcg) — 100 units (1.0 mL). The full table above lists every step with matching syringe units.

What are the mixing steps for SS-31?

Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe. Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid vigorous shaking to prevent foaming. Gently swirl/roll until fully dissolved (clear solution).

How should reconstituted SS-31 be stored?

Storage: Lyophilized: freeze at −20 °C (−4 °F); after reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F); use within 4 weeks..

How many insulin syringe units equal a SS-31 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 SS-31 approved for human use?

No. SS-31 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.