Peptides guide FAQ

If the peptide remained frozen (check for ice crystals in the vial or surrounding packaging), it's likely fine. Lyophilised peptides tolerate brief temperature increases as long as they don't fully thaw and reabsorb moisture. If the vial reached room temperature and stayed there for more than 12 hours, degradation may have started. Consider replacing it if the research requires high confidence in dose accuracy.

Use a validated cold chain shipping container with gel packs pre-conditioned to −20°C for lyophilised peptides or 2–8°C for reconstituted solutions. Include a temperature data logger to verify the vial stayed within range during transit. Standard styrofoam coolers lose temperature control within 6–8 hours. Purpose-built peptide shippers maintain stability for 48–72 hours.

Discard the vial immediately. At room temperature (20–25°C), peptides degrade at 10–20× the rate they do at 4°C. An eight-hour overnight exposure reduces potency by 30–50%, and there's no way to test this at home. Repeating research with degraded peptide wastes more resources than replacing one vial.

Aliquot the reconstituted solution into smaller sterile vials (0.5–1.0mL each) and freeze the extras at −20°C. Frozen reconstituted peptides remain stable for 3–6 months, though each freeze-thaw cycle degrades potency by 5–10%. Thaw only what you need for each experiment and never refreeze a thawed aliquot.

Prioritize protein sources available at any restaurant or convenience store: rotisserie chicken, canned tuna or salmon, hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, deli turkey breast, or whey protein powder mixed with water. Cagrilintide's appetite suppression means you can maintain a significant caloric deficit eating only 2–3 protein-focused meals daily without hunger. Meal frequency matters less than hitting total daily protein targets. Avoid alcohol during travel. Cagrilintide slows gastric emptying of all substances, which means alcohol absorption is delayed and blood alcohol concentration peaks later than expected, increasing intoxication risk.

Verify protein intake first. Most plateaus occur when daily protein drops below 1.0g per kg body weight as appetite suppression makes eating feel optional. Use a food scale for 3–5 days to confirm actual intake matches your target. If protein is adequate, increase NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) by 2,000–3,000 steps daily rather than adding formal cardio. Cagrilintide prevents some of the metabolic slowdown from caloric restriction, but compensatory reductions in spontaneous movement still occur. A true plateau lasting more than 3 weeks may warrant dose adjustment or combination therapy.

Reduce meal volume by 30–40% while maintaining protein content. Nausea on cagrilintide typically results from overfilling a stomach with slowed gastric emptying. A meal containing 35g protein can be delivered in 4 whole eggs (280 calories) or 6oz Greek yogurt (180 calories). The lower-volume option produces less gastric distension while providing identical satiety signaling. If nausea persists beyond the first 2–3 weeks at stable dose, contact your prescribing physician. Persistent GI symptoms may indicate dose titration is needed.