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DSIP

Evidence grade: Early human data

A nonapeptide isolated from rabbit brain during slow-wave sleep, studied for sleep architecture and, unexpectedly, for withdrawal symptoms.

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Epitalon

Evidence grade: Early human data

A pineal-derived tetrapeptide studied in long-running Russian cohorts for melatonin rhythm and telomerase activity.

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2 cited sourcesNo human data on fileReviewed 1 Jun 2026
1 cited source1 human studyReviewed 1 Jun 2026

At a glance

At a glance compared across DSIP, Epitalon
AttributeDSIPEpitalon
Primary useSleepSleep
Evidence gradeEarly human dataEarly human data
Human datadiffersNo human citations on fileYes — see citations
Cited sourcesdiffers2 sources · 0 human1 source · 1 human
In one sentenceA nonapeptide isolated from rabbit brain during slow-wave sleep, studied for sleep architecture and, unexpectedly, for withdrawal symptoms.A pineal-derived tetrapeptide studied in long-running Russian cohorts for melatonin rhythm and telomerase activity.

Mechanism

Mechanism compared across DSIP, Epitalon
AttributeDSIPEpitalon
How it is thought to workDSIP was identified in the cerebral venous blood of rabbits in delta-wave sleep. Its mechanism remains poorly resolved — it appears to modulate rather than sedate, with effects on corticotropin release, on the HPA axis, and on stress responses. Some of the most interesting human work is in opiate and alcohol withdrawal rather than in insomnia.Epitalon is a synthetic version of a peptide extracted from the pineal gland. Russian research reports that it restores age-related decline in melatonin secretion rhythm and activates telomerase in human somatic cell culture. Long-term cohort studies from the same research group report mortality differences, which is a striking claim that has not been replicated elsewhere.
What the research reports
  • Improved sleep onset and reduced night waking in small human studies of chronic insomnia
  • Reduced withdrawal symptoms in opiate and alcohol withdrawal studies
  • Effects on stress-hormone regulation
  • Analgesic effects in some reports
  • Restoration of circadian melatonin rhythm in older adults
  • Telomerase activation in human fibroblast culture
  • Long-term Russian cohort data reporting reduced mortality
What it is NOT shown to do
  • Results across sleep studies are inconsistent
  • Not established as a treatment for any sleep disorder
  • Mechanism remains genuinely unclear after decades
  • No independent replication outside the originating research group
  • Telomerase activation has an unresolved relationship to cancer risk
  • No Western trials

Dosing & pharmacology

Dosing & pharmacology compared across DSIP, Epitalon
AttributeDSIPEpitalon
Routes studiedSubcutaneous, IntranasalSubcutaneous, Intranasal
Half-lifediffersVery short in plasma — around 7–15 minutesVery short in plasma; effects described as outlasting exposure
Dose referenceStudy amounts vary widely; community protocols commonly cite 100–300 mcg before bed.Russian protocols describe 5–10 mg/day in courses of 10–20 days, repeated a few times per year.
Typical study cyclediffersShort courses; continuous nightly use is not studied10–20 day courses, 2–3 times per year

Chemistry & handling

Chemistry & handling compared across DSIP, Epitalon
AttributeDSIPEpitalon
SequenceTrp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu (WAGGDASGE)Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG)
Molecular formuladiffersC35H48N10O15C14H22N4O9
Molecular weightdiffers848.8 g/mol390.3 g/mol
CAS numberdiffers62568-57-4307297-39-8
Storage (reconstituted)2–8 °C, typically used within 2–4 weeks2–8 °C, typically used within 2–4 weeks

Risk

Risk compared across DSIP, Epitalon
AttributeDSIPEpitalon
Reported side effects
  • Headache
  • Grogginess
  • Paradoxical alertness in some users
  • Injection-site reaction
  • Otherwise sparse data
Contraindications
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Do not combine with sedatives or alcohol
  • Withdrawal management requires clinical supervision, not a research peptide
  • Active or historic cancer — telomerase activation is a serious theoretical concern
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding

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