All compounds
Research chemical Published: animal data only Established use

MOTS-c: dosing, reconstitution and evidence

A 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide that acts on AMPK, improving insulin sensitivity and exercise capacity in animal models. Levels decline with age.

Also known as Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c

Educational research reference Longevity & Cellular
Quick reference. Everything you need to run MOTS-c — dosing, frequency, reconstitution math for the vial sizes people actually buy, and what it stacks with. For anything specific to your situation, ask the Guru.

MOTS-c quick start

Route
SubQ
Typical dose
5–10 mg
Frequency
2–3× weekly
Half-life
Short — on the order of 1–3 hours.
Cycle
4–8 weeks.
Vial sizes sold
10mg or 5mg
These are the numbers people actually run, drawn from the published record and from what the community has settled on over time. Educational reference, not medical advice — a starting point to work from, and one you can adjust as you learn how you respond.

How to run it

How often
2–3× weekly
Cycle length
4–8 weeks.
Half-life
Short — on the order of 1–3 hours.
Route
SubQ
Consistency matters more than perfect timing. Pick a slot in your day you will actually keep, and let DoseIQ handle the rest.

What people actually run

Solid uptake in the longevity and performance space. Injection site irritation is a known quirk.

This is accumulated community practice — years of real-world use across a large number of people, converging on numbers that work. It is not a controlled trial, and for most compounds here no such trial exists or is ever likely to. That makes this the most reliable dosing signal available, and it is a good deal better than guessing.

What to expect

Most people tolerate MOTS-c well. Here is what is worth knowing going in, so nothing catches you by surprise.

No human trials. Injection site irritation is commonly reported. Banned by WADA.

Reconstitution guide

MOTS-c ships as a lyophilised powder and gets mixed with bacteriostatic water before use. How much water you add sets the concentration, which sets how many syringe units make up each dose. One unit on a U-100 syringe is 0.01 mL — the tables below do the arithmetic for the vial sizes you are most likely to be holding.

10mg vial most common

Water addedConcentration 5mg10mg
2mL (common) 5 mg/mL1.00 mL
100 units		2.00 mL
200 units *
3mL 3.33 mg/mL1.50 mL
150 units *		3.00 mL
300 units *

5mg vial

Water addedConcentration 5mg10mg
2mL (common) 2.5 mg/mL2.00 mL
200 units *		4.00 mL
400 units *
3mL 1.67 mg/mL3.00 mL
300 units *		6.00 mL
600 units *

* More than 100 units — that is more than a single U-100 insulin syringe holds. Either use a larger syringe, split it across two draws, or mix with less water to concentrate it. Adding less water is usually the easier fix.

10 mg vial + 1 mL BAC water = 10 mg/mL — a 5 mg dose = 50 units on a U-100 syringe. 5 mg vial + 1 mL = 5 mg/mL — 5 mg = 100 units.

Standard steps

  1. Inspect the vialConfirm the label and that the powder cake is intact. Do not use a cracked or compromised vial.
  2. Let it reach room temperatureSitting out for a few minutes reduces condensation inside the vial when the seal is broken.
  3. Disinfect both stoppersWipe the compound vial and the bacteriostatic water vial with a fresh alcohol swab and let them air-dry.
  4. Draw the bacteriostatic waterUse a sterile syringe to draw the volume you have chosen from the reconstitution table.
  5. Add the water down the vial wallInject slowly so it runs down the inside wall rather than spraying directly onto the powder. This limits foaming.
  6. Dissolve gentlySwirl or roll the vial between your hands until the cake dissolves. Never shake — agitation damages peptide bonds. The solution should end up clear.
  7. Label and refrigerateWrite the reconstitution date and concentration on the vial. Store at 2–8°C. Do not freeze.
Running a different vial size or water volume? The DoseIQ calculator works it out for any combination — mcg, mg or IU, on any syringe size.
Track this in DoseIQ Browse all compounds

This page is an educational research reference and is not medical advice. MOTS-c is not approved for human use in any jurisdiction. Dose figures reflect the published record and what the community has converged on — starting points to weigh, not instructions. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any protocol.