What are the monitoring, management, and dosing regimens (oral, intravenous (IV), and subcutaneous) for Epitalon (also known as Epithalamin), including its risks and uses in adult longevity medicine and functional medicine, particularly with regards to peptide therapy?

Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: March 10, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

Epitalon, also known as Epithalamin, is typically administered via subcutaneous injections of 5-10mg daily for 10-20 days, repeated 2-3 times per year, for adults seeking longevity benefits, with oral and intravenous routes being less commonly used due to poor bioavailability and clinical setting restrictions, respectively, as supported by general medical knowledge and peptide therapy principles 1, 2.

Monitoring and Management

When using Epitalon, monitoring should include:

  • Regular assessment of sleep quality, energy levels, and immune function
  • Periodic blood work to evaluate inflammatory markers, hormone levels, and potentially telomere length if available
  • Rotation of injection sites and maintenance of proper sterile technique for subcutaneous administration Common side effects are minimal but may include injection site reactions, headaches, or dizziness.

Risks and Uses

Epitalon is used in longevity and functional medicine to potentially regulate telomerase activity and improve pineal gland function, with potential benefits including:

  • Activation of telomerase to protect DNA from age-related damage
  • Normalization of melatonin production to improve circadian rhythms However, it is essential to note that Epitalon is not FDA-approved for clinical use in the United States, and long-term safety data remains limited, emphasizing the need for supervision by healthcare providers experienced with peptide therapies.

Dosing Regimens

The typical dosing regimen for Epitalon involves:

  • Subcutaneous injections of 5-10mg daily for 10-20 days, repeated 2-3 times per year
  • Oral administration is generally considered less effective due to poor bioavailability
  • Intravenous administration is rarely used outside clinical settings Epitalon should be stored refrigerated, reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, and used within 30 days once reconstituted.

Key Considerations

  • Treatment should be supervised by healthcare providers experienced with peptide therapies
  • Long-term safety data remains limited, and Epitalon is not FDA-approved for clinical use in the United States
  • Monitoring and management should be tailored to individual patient needs and responses to therapy.

From the Research

Monitoring and Management of Epitalon

  • The effects of Epitalon are suggested to be mediated by transcriptional machinery common for the pineal gland and the retina, and probably for regulation of melatonin production in fruit flies 3.
  • Epitalon has been shown to increase the lifespan of mice and fruit flies, and restore the circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol production in old rhesus monkeys 3.
  • The peptide theory of ageing suggests that ageing is an evolutionary determined biological process of changes in gene expression resulting in impaired synthesis of regulatory and tissue-specific peptides in organs and tissues 3.

Dosing Regimens for Epitalon

  • Epitalon has been administered subcutaneously in a dose of 1.0 microg/mouse (approximately 30-40 microg/kg) on 5 consecutive days every month in female Swiss-derived SHR mice 4.
  • A dose of 0.1mM Epitalon has been used in vitro to reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species and improve the quality of post-ovulatory aging oocytes 5.

Risks and Uses of Epitalon in Adult Longevity Medicine and Functional Medicine

  • Epitalon has been shown to have geroprotector activity and safety of its long-term administration in mice, with no influence on food consumption, body weight, or mean life span 4.
  • Epitalon has been found to inhibit the development of leukemia in mice, and to decrease the frequency of chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells 4.
  • Epitalon has been used to normalize the daily melatonin rhythm in old monkeys and elderly people, and to modulate pineal gland functional state in elderly people 6.
  • Epitalon has been shown to induce telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells, which may indicate the possibility of prolonging life span of a cell population and of the whole organism 7.

Peptide Therapy with Epitalon

  • Epitalon is a synthetic short peptide made of four amino acids (alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and glycine), based on a natural peptide called epithalamion extracted from the pineal gland 5.
  • Epitalon has been found to be a potent antioxidant, comparable to melatonin, that may confer longevity benefits 5.
  • Epitalon has been used in peptide therapy to improve the quality of post-ovulatory aging oocytes, and to delay the aging process of oocytes in vitro via modulating mitochondrial activity and ROS levels 5.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.