Glutathione dosage

Protocol

1. 1

   Measure the dose

   Typical Glutathione dose is 500 mg. Use a weight-based calculator for individual adjustments.

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2. 2

   Set the frequency

   Administer daily, often divided. Half-life of 0.5 hours anchors the dosing interval.

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3. 3

   Cycle if needed

   No cycling; continuous use standard

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4. 4

   Monitor for side effects

   Watch for: mild GI upset. Stop or reduce dose if tolerability breaks down.

Why this dose

Tripeptide antioxidant; substrate for glutathione peroxidase (H2O2 reduction), GST (xenobiotic conjugation), glutaredoxin (redox signaling). GSH:GSSG ratio is the central cellular redox indicator.

The typical 500 mg dose is the figure most commonly used in published protocols for Glutathione. Treat the label as a starting point: body weight, training status, sleep, diet, and concurrent medications all shift the effective dose-response curve in real users.

How to administer

Glutathione is administered via the oral, sublingual, intravenous routes. Oral dosing is straightforward: take with water, with or without food unless specifically noted. Sublingual dosing requires holding the dose under the tongue for 60 to 90 seconds before swallowing to maximize mucosal absorption.

Onset of action runs around 1 hour after administration. Peak effect lands near 2 hours post-dose. Plan the administration window so that peak effect lines up with whatever outcome you are dosing for, whether that is training, sleep, or symptom coverage.

Half-life note: Plasma half-life ~30 min; tissue half-life longer due to continuous synthesis

Cycling and tolerance

No cycling; continuous use standard

Effects to expect at typical dose

• Body's primary intracellular antioxidant; tripeptide of glutamate, cysteine, glycine
• Oral bioavailability poor; sublingual, liposomal, IV more reliable
• Richie 2014 trial showed body GSH store increases at 250-1000 mg/day for 6 months
• NAC supplementation often more cost-effective indirect strategy
• Modest signals in NAFLD, skin aging, immune support; weak in cardiovascular

Side effects and interactions

Common side effects

• mild GI upset

Notable interactions

• chemotherapy agents (moderate): theoretical interference with GSH-depletion-dependent agents

Lists above cover commonly reported and well-characterized items. They are not exhaustive: review the full Glutathione profile and discuss with a clinician familiar with your medication list before starting, particularly if you are on prescription therapy or have a chronic condition.

Regulatory snapshot

WADA status

allowed

DEA / Rx

OTC supplement

Pregnancy

Insufficient data at supplemental doses; endogenous compound is safe

Legal status

OTC dietary supplement

Do not use if

• asthma (IV / inhaled forms specifically)
• active chemotherapy without oncologist guidance

Related research