Two different groups
- Approved peptide medicines: semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Rybelsus®), tirzepatide (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®), liraglutide (Victoza®, Saxenda®), dulaglutide (Trulicity®). Each has a label and a patient guide based on clinical-trial tables [4].
- Unapproved research peptides: for example BPC-157 and TB-500. They have no approved label, very little or no human data, and the content of products is not verified [1].
Risks FDA has pointed out
FDA’s page on bulk substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding lists similar concerns for several peptides, including AOD-9604, BPC-157, thymosin alpha-1 and TB-500: a risk of immunogenicity for certain routes, peptide-related impurities and difficulty characterising the active ingredient, and no or limited safety information. For AOD-9604, FDA also notes serious adverse events that may be associated with it, though causality is not clear [1].
Reading a claim about side effects
- Is the source a label or a peer-reviewed study, or a personal account?
- Was it done in humans, with how many people, and for how long?
- Was there a placebo group? In label tables, the placebo column shows how often a symptom occurred without the medicine [4].
- “No side effects reported” in a very small study does not mean there are none [3].
PepLabo does not recommend, sell or endorse any peptide. It is a tracking app: it records what you tell it and does not tell you what to take.
When to get help
| Sign | Who to contact | How fast | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat, struggling to breathe or swallow, or fainting | Emergency services: anaphylaxis needs medical attention right away. | Emergency | MedlinePlus [5] |
| Painful, red, tender or swollen skin at an injection site, especially with fever or chills | A doctor, the same day (signs MedlinePlus lists for a skin infection). | Today | MedlinePlus [6] |
| Any new symptom that worries you after using a research peptide | A doctor. Bring the product and anything written on it: there is no label that lists expected side effects. | Today | FDA: no or limited safety information [1] |
| Mild symptoms you are keeping track of | Your doctor at your next appointment; a dated log helps. | At your next appointment | FDA: no or limited safety information [1] |
