The short answer
BPC-157 is a peptide derived from a protective protein in human gastric juice; in animal studies it speeds the repair of tendons, ligaments, muscle and gut lining, partly by growing new blood vessels. TB-500 is the 7-amino-acid stretch of thymosin beta-4 that binds actin, the scaffolding repair cells use to move into injured tissue. Each covers a different part of repair, which is why they’re so often run together.
Side by side
| Compared | BPC-157 | TB-500 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Healing & recovery | Healing & recovery |
| Also known as | Body Protection Compound 157, BPC157 | Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment, TB4 |
| What it is | A peptide derived from a protective protein in your stomach. | A fragment of thymosin beta-4, a protein your body uses for cell repair. |
| How it works | Synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a protein in human gastric juice. In animal studies it promotes angiogenesis, speeds tendon, ligament and muscle healing, modulates dopamine and serotonin systems, and protects the gut lining. | Synthetic fragment of Thymosin Beta-4: Ac-LKKTETQ, the 7-amino-acid stretch (residues 17–23) that binds actin. The whole protein holds actin building blocks back from forming filaments, a reserve cells draw on when they move. In lab and rodent studies the fragment drew blood-vessel cells, sped wound repair in aged mice and strengthened repaired tendons in rats; the anti-inflammatory findings are for the whole protein. Loading phase 2x/week then drop to maintenance. |
| Commonly reported | Faster recovery from tendon and ligament injuries, and a calmer gut. It's one of the most widely used peptides in the community; the human studies so far are three small uncontrolled pilots. | Stubborn soft-tissue injuries loosening up, with range of motion returning over a few weeks. Its own research is a few animal studies; the human trials tested the whole protein. Often paired with BPC-157. |
| Studied range | Research range: 200–500 mcg. Studied in research — not a recommendation. | Research range: 1–2.5 mg. Studied in research — not a recommendation. |
| How often | Once or twice daily | 2x/week loading, 1–2mg/week maintenance |
| Half-life | ~4–6 hours (community estimate for SubQ; not measured in people: in rats and dogs it cleared in under 30 minutes) | ~0.5–2 hours (measured for the whole protein, thymosin beta-4, given IV to healthy volunteers; TB-500 itself has never been measured in people) |
| Route | SubQ injection, IM injection, Oral (less studied) | SubQ injection, IM injection |
| Typical run | Typically 4–12 weeks. Many run until injury resolves then stop. Some run indefinitely at lower doses. Opinions vary widely. | Loading phase 2x/week for 4–6 weeks, then maintenance 1x/week or stop. Common to cycle 6–8 weeks on, time off. |
| Evidence | Emerging: primarily preclinical / limited human data | Emerging: primarily preclinical / limited human data |
| Common side effects | Nausea (rare), injection site irritation, vivid dreams, dizziness | Injection site reaction, fatigue, nausea, headache, lethargy |
- Category
- BPC-157Healing & recovery
- TB-500Healing & recovery
- Also known as
- BPC-157Body Protection Compound 157, BPC157
- TB-500Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment, TB4
- What it is
- BPC-157A peptide derived from a protective protein in your stomach.
- TB-500A fragment of thymosin beta-4, a protein your body uses for cell repair.
- How it works
- BPC-157Synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a protein in human gastric juice. In animal studies it promotes angiogenesis, speeds tendon, ligament and muscle healing, modulates dopamine and serotonin systems, and protects the gut lining.
- TB-500Synthetic fragment of Thymosin Beta-4: Ac-LKKTETQ, the 7-amino-acid stretch (residues 17–23) that binds actin. The whole protein holds actin building blocks back from forming filaments, a reserve cells draw on when they move. In lab and rodent studies the fragment drew blood-vessel cells, sped wound repair in aged mice and strengthened repaired tendons in rats; the anti-inflammatory findings are for the whole protein. Loading phase 2x/week then drop to maintenance.
- Commonly reported
- BPC-157Faster recovery from tendon and ligament injuries, and a calmer gut. It's one of the most widely used peptides in the community; the human studies so far are three small uncontrolled pilots.
- TB-500Stubborn soft-tissue injuries loosening up, with range of motion returning over a few weeks. Its own research is a few animal studies; the human trials tested the whole protein. Often paired with BPC-157.
- Studied range
- BPC-157Research range: 200–500 mcg. Studied in research — not a recommendation.
- TB-500Research range: 1–2.5 mg. Studied in research — not a recommendation.
- How often
- BPC-157Once or twice daily
- TB-5002x/week loading, 1–2mg/week maintenance
- Half-life
- BPC-157~4–6 hours (community estimate for SubQ; not measured in people: in rats and dogs it cleared in under 30 minutes)
- TB-500~0.5–2 hours (measured for the whole protein, thymosin beta-4, given IV to healthy volunteers; TB-500 itself has never been measured in people)
- Route
- BPC-157SubQ injection, IM injection, Oral (less studied)
- TB-500SubQ injection, IM injection
- Typical run
- BPC-157Typically 4–12 weeks. Many run until injury resolves then stop. Some run indefinitely at lower doses. Opinions vary widely.
- TB-500Loading phase 2x/week for 4–6 weeks, then maintenance 1x/week or stop. Common to cycle 6–8 weeks on, time off.
- Evidence
- BPC-157Emerging: primarily preclinical / limited human data
- TB-500Emerging: primarily preclinical / limited human data
- Common side effects
- BPC-157Nausea (rare), injection site irritation, vivid dreams, dizziness
- TB-500Injection site reaction, fatigue, nausea, headache, lethargy
Typical run: Community practice — opinions vary. Not a clinical recommendation.
Week by week
Each entry’s cards by day window, as the compound pages show them. Day 1 is the day you start it.
BPC-157
- Day 1–7 Week one: early hints, for some
- Day 7–14 Pain often starts to ease
- Day 14–21 Pain often eases by week three
- Day 21–28 Many report a calmer gut
- Day 28–42 The slower part of repair
- Day 42–56 Six weeks in: taking stock
- Day 84+ Past week 12, the data runs thin
TB-500
- Day 1–7 Week one: set your baseline
- Day 7–14 Stiffness often starts to ease
- Day 14–28 Load tolerance often picks up
- Day 28–42 Gains slow, repair keeps going
- Day 42–56 Weeks 6 to 8: how far it's come
Together or one or the other
BPC-157 and TB-500 are a common stack: each lists the other among its common stacks, and they’re together in the GLOW, KLOW and Wolverine stacks.
- GLOW: Skin & soft-tissue repair stack (BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu).
- KLOW: GLOW plus KPV — four repair peptides in one vial (KPV, BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu).
- Wolverine: The classic injury repair & recovery stack (BPC-157 and TB-500).
Community · BPC-157
The classic healing combo
A community favorite built on a simple split: BPC-157 works on local repair, new blood supply and tendon healing, while TB-500 helps repair cells move in. Two different jobs toward the same repair. Commonly reported: faster recovery from tendon and ligament injuries.
Questions people ask
How long do BPC-157 and TB-500 last?
The half-life of BPC-157 is ~4–6 hours (community estimate for SubQ; not measured in people: in rats and dogs it cleared in under 30 minutes). The half-life of TB-500 is ~0.5–2 hours (measured for the whole protein, thymosin beta-4, given IV to healthy volunteers; TB-500 itself has never been measured in people).
How often are BPC-157 and TB-500 taken?
BPC-157: once or twice daily. Routes: SubQ injection, IM injection, oral (less studied). TB-500: 2x/week loading, 1–2mg/week maintenance. Routes: SubQ injection, IM injection.
How are BPC-157 and TB-500 dosed in research?
The research range for BPC-157 is 200–500 mcg. The research range for TB-500 is 1–2.5 mg. Studied in research — not a recommendation.
What are the common side effects of BPC-157 and TB-500?
For BPC-157, the library lists: nausea (rare), injection site irritation, vivid dreams, dizziness. For TB-500: injection site reaction, fatigue, nausea, headache, lethargy.
Are BPC-157 and TB-500 taken together?
BPC-157 and TB-500 are a common stack: each lists the other among its common stacks, and they’re together in the GLOW, KLOW and Wolverine stacks. A community favorite built on a simple split: BPC-157 works on local repair, new blood supply and tendon healing, while TB-500 helps repair cells move in. Two different jobs toward the same repair. Commonly reported: faster recovery from tendon and ligament injuries.
Each one in full
PepVault for iPhone
Track either one in PepVault
Log every dose of BPC-157 or TB-500, with reminders on your schedule. 7 days free on the yearly plan for new subscribers.
