MOTS-c dosage

Protocol

1. 1

   Reconstitute the vial

   A typical 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL bacteriostatic water gives 5 mg/mL. A 5 mg dose equals 100 units on a U100 insulin syringe.

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2. 2

   Measure the dose

   Typical MOTS-c dose is 5 mg (5 to 10 mg per injection in anecdotal protocols. Rodent dosing typically 0.5 to 5 mg/kg.). Use a weight-based calculator for individual adjustments.

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3. 3

   Set the frequency

   Administer 2-3x weekly. Half-life of 0.5 hours anchors the dosing interval.

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4. 4

   Cycle if needed

   Anecdotal protocols vary widely: 4 weeks on 4 off, 8 on 4 off, or continuous. No controlled cycling data.

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5. 5

   Monitor for side effects

   Watch for: injection-site irritation; transient fatigue; headache (anecdotal). Stop or reduce dose if tolerability breaks down.

Why this dose

Mitochondrial-derived peptide that activates AMPK in skeletal muscle and liver, improves insulin sensitivity, and translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress to modulate nuclear gene expression in retrograde mitochondrial signaling.

The typical dose (5 mg) reflects 5 to 10 mg per injection in anecdotal protocols. Rodent dosing typically 0.5 to 5 mg/kg.. Individual response varies with body weight, baseline status, concurrent training, and concurrent medications, so the labeled range is the starting point rather than the prescription.

How to administer

MOTS-c is administered via the subcutaneous route. Subcutaneous injection into rotated abdominal sites is the standard self-administration approach for peptide protocols; rotate sites to limit local irritation. Use a fresh insulin syringe per dose.

Onset of action runs around 1 hour after administration. Peak effect lands near 4 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 is short (minutes) but downstream metabolic effects persist for hours to days, consistent with signaling cascade activation rather than direct receptor occupancy.

Cycling and tolerance

Anecdotal protocols vary widely: 4 weeks on 4 off, 8 on 4 off, or continuous. No controlled cycling data.

The cycling rationale for receptor-active compounds is partly empirical and partly mechanistic: continuous high-dose stimulation can downregulate target receptors or accelerate negative-feedback loops on endogenous production. Built-in off-periods give the system time to resensitize before the next phase, which preserves the effective dose-response over a longer arc.

Effects to expect at typical dose

• 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA (12S rRNA region); discovered 2015
• Activates AMPK in skeletal muscle and liver; improves insulin sensitivity in rodent models
• Circulating endogenous levels decline with age, motivating the longevity-restoration hypothesis
• CohBar's MOTS-c analog CB4211 discontinued after phase 1b NASH readout did not meet endpoints
• Anecdotal protocols use 5 to 10 mg subcutaneously 2 to 3 times weekly
• Not on the WADA Prohibited List as of 2026; future scrutiny likely given exercise-mimetic mechanism

Side effects and interactions

Common side effects

• injection-site irritation
• transient fatigue
• headache (anecdotal)

Notable interactions

• insulin (moderate): additive insulin sensitization may increase hypoglycemia risk
• sulfonylureas (moderate): increased hypoglycemia risk via additive insulin sensitization
• metformin (minor): both activate AMPK; theoretical additive metabolic effect, no controlled data

Lists above cover commonly reported and well-characterized items. They are not exhaustive: review the full MOTS-c 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

unknown

DEA / Rx

Not scheduled (research chemical)

Pregnancy

Insufficient data; not recommended

Legal status

Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; not currently on WADA Prohibited List

Do not use if

• pregnancy
• lactation
• active malignancy (theoretical)
• severe hypoglycemia risk on concurrent insulin or sulfonylurea

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