Epithalon
Short tetrapeptide studied for telomere and pineal-axis effects in Russian longevity research.
4 residues· First described 1990
Synthetic tetrapeptide modeled on pineal-derived Epithalamin
Overview
Epithalon (also spelled Epitalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide developed by Vladimir Khavinson at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. The original research identified Epitalon as a bioregulator that stimulates pineal gland activity, including melatonin production, and Russian studies have reported telomere-length effects in cell culture and animal models.
The evidence base is smaller and more Russian-centric than most peptides tracked here. That said, it's widely used in the longevity community as part of "Glow Stack" or cycling protocols. Safety profile appears benign at typical doses.
Typically run as a short cycle (10–20 days at 5–10 mg daily) rather than continuous dosing. Advocates usually cycle 1–2× per year.
Mechanism of Action
Epithalon is proposed to stimulate telomerase activity in certain cell lines, leading to telomere elongation. It also modulates pineal gland function - melatonin production, circadian rhythm - which is why sleep quality is a common self-reported improvement.
Community Usage Patterns
5–10 mg SC once daily for 10–20 consecutive days, cycled once or twice per year. Sometimes split AM/PM. Users often pair with GHK-Cu + BPC-157 in a Glow Stack. Evaluating response subjectively (sleep, cognition) is typical; no single reliable biomarker is used.
Education only - not medical advice. Any protocol change should involve your licensed provider.
Biomarkers to Track
When running Epithalon, these are the biomarkers most commonly tracked to assess response and safety:
Reconstitution Calculator
Free calculator for Epithalon reconstitution math - vial size, BAC water volume, and exact syringe units.
Open Epithalon calculator →Side Effects & Monitoring
What Epithalon side effects are commonly reported, when they appear, the red flags worth a provider call, and the biomarkers that catch issues early.
Epithalon side effects & what to track →Results & What to Track
What Epithalon results actually look like in the data - the markers to measure, when they tend to move, and how to tell a real result from placebo.
Epithalon results & how to measure them →Related Reading
Related Peptides
Stacks That Include Epithalon
Conditions Epithalon is Commonly Researched For
Log doses, upload your lab PDFs, and let StackAI read your panel in context of what you're actually running. Free to start.
Start tracking →This page is informational and does not constitute medical advice. MyProtocolStack is a tracking and education platform. Work with a licensed provider before starting, changing, or stopping any protocol.