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№ 039

IGF-1 DES

A muscle-growth compound that works more on the local muscle than the whole body. A truncated IGF-1 variant (missing the first 3 amino acids) that acts more locally than IGF-1 LR3, with shorter duration and (in theory) less systemic exposure.

GH-axis
Evidence: Limited

IGF-1 DES: A muscle-growth compound that works more on the local muscle than the whole body. A truncated IGF-1 variant (missing the first 3 amino acids) that acts more locally than IGF-1 LR3, with shorter duration and (in theory) less systemic exposure. IGF-1 DES is a shorter version of IGF-1 LR3.

FDA ⓘ
Not approved
WADA
Banned
Typical dose
30-150 mcg sub-q post-workout
Half-life ⓘ
~30 minutes
Route ⓘ
Subcutaneous, often site-specific
Schedule
Daily, post-workout
In plain English

IGF-1 DES is a shorter version of IGF-1 LR3. It works more locally (near the injection site) and clears faster, which (in theory) means less systemic side effect exposure than LR3. Used by lifters for site-specific muscle anabolism.

Status & legalityWhat do these mean? →
Natty? ⓘ
Not natty
FDA ⓘ
Not approved

Not FDA approved. Mecasermin (Increlex) covers IGF-1 generally; DES variant specifically is not approved.

Compounding ⓘ
Category 2

FDA flagged as significant safety risk; restricted from compounding pharmacies.

WADA ⓘ
Banned (S2)
Prescribed ⓘ

Not prescribed in conventional medicine.

Who it's for

  • →Users wanting localized muscle anabolism without LR3-level systemic exposure
  • →Site-specific injection users
  • →Short anabolism windows

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    Pumps and fullness in trained muscle.

  2. Week 4

    Site-specific tightness near worked muscle. Cycle endpoint, stop.

  3. Week 8

    Off-cycle. Reassess.

Looking at IGF-1 DES? Your next 3 steps

  1. 1Work out your exact dose

    Vial size + BAC water turns into the exact units to draw for IGF-1 DES.

    Open calculator →
  2. 2See what to stack & monitor

    The companion supplements and the bloodwork worth tracking on this kind of protocol.

    Bloodwork guide →
  3. 3Save it & ask the Coach

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How it works (mechanism)

Truncated IGF-1 missing the first 3 amino acids. Binds the IGF-1 receptor with normal affinity but has reduced binding to IGFBPs in some tissues. Shorter duration than LR3, often used for site-specific muscle effects.

Dosing protocol

Members only

Stacks well with

Members only

Side effects

01Hypoglycemia risk (less than LR3 but real)
02Localized growth at injection site
03Headache

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Active malignancy
  • ⚠Diabetic retinopathy
  • ⚠Pregnancy / nursing

Bloodwork to monitor

  • • Fasting glucose every 2 weeks
  • • IGF-1 baseline

Common mistakes

  • • Treating it as IGF-1 LR3 equivalent (different kinetics)
  • • Running longer than 4 weeks
  • • Dosing fasted (hypoglycemia)

Drug & supplement interactions

  • ⚠Insulin: hypoglycemia risk (less than LR3 but real)
  • ⚠Eat near dose; avoid fasting protocols
Free, no account needed

New to IGF-1 DES? Grab the starter checklist.

Drop your email and we'll send the one-page first-cycle starter checklist, plus a heads-up if IGF-1 DES changes legal status. No account needed.

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AI Coach, live sample
Members only
is 250mcg of bpc enough for a knee injury?
For a knee, 250 mcg sub-q daily is the standard working dose and a solid place to start. The trick with BPC is consistency, give it weeks, not days. Inject close to the joint, run it 4-6 weeks, and don't drop below 200 mcg, it tends to stop cracking the threshold reliably down there. If it hasn't moved at all by week 3, that's when adding TB-500 earns its place.
how much bac water for a 10mg reta vial?
3 mL is the standard play for a 10 mg reta vial. That's 3,333 mcg/mL, clean unit math across the titration: 2 mg = 60 units, 4 mg = 120 units, 6 mg = 180 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe. Run 2 mL instead if you want fewer, more concentrated shots (5,000 mcg/mL, so 2 mg = 40 units). Since most people titrate up over ~12 weeks, 3 mL keeps the numbers cleanest.
what should i track on bloodwork for tirzepatide?
Lipid panel, ALT/AST (liver enzymes), and an A1C, baseline before you start then every 3 months. If you've got metabolic-syndrome history, add fasting glucose and insulin so you can actually watch insulin sensitivity improve. You don't need a big hormone panel for a GLP-1.

Ask the Coach anything about IGF-1 DES or your own stack. This is it working.

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Frequently asked

What is IGF-1 DES?+
IGF-1 DES is a shorter version of IGF-1 LR3. It works more locally (near the injection site) and clears faster, which (in theory) means less systemic side effect exposure than LR3. Used by lifters for site-specific muscle anabolism.
Is IGF-1 DES FDA approved?+
Not FDA approved. Mecasermin (Increlex) covers IGF-1 generally; DES variant specifically is not approved.
Is IGF-1 DES legal?+
IGF-1 DES is not FDA-approved. It is sold by compounding pharmacies (with a prescription) and as "research only" by peptide vendors. Possession is generally not criminalized but distribution without authorization may be. Verify local laws.
Is IGF-1 DES banned by WADA?+
IGF-1 DES is on the WADA prohibited list under Banned (S2).
Are you still natty after taking IGF-1 DES?+
No. IGF-1 DES is a performance-enhancing peptide and would disqualify a strict natty claim.
Do doctors prescribe IGF-1 DES?+
Not prescribed in conventional medicine.
What's the typical dose of IGF-1 DES?+
30-150 mcg sub-q post-workout. Often injected near the trained muscle.
What are the side effects of IGF-1 DES?+
Common side effects include: Hypoglycemia risk (less than LR3 but real); Localized growth at injection site; Headache. Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until IGF-1 DES starts working?+
Pumps and fullness in trained muscle.
What can you stack with IGF-1 DES?+
Common pairings: Standalone is preferred over multi-IGF stacking. Full stacking protocol and timing on the entry page.
Where do people get IGF-1 DES?+
IGF-1 DES is most commonly sold by research-only peptide vendors and by compounding pharmacies (the latter requires a prescription). Pepdex is not a vendor, see /coa for how to verify a Certificate of Analysis before buying from any source, and /guides/scam-vendor-spotting for vendor red flags.
IGF-1 DES vs IGF-1 LR3, which is better?+
IGF-1 LR3 vs IGF-1 DES: long-acting systemic vs short-acting local IGF-1 variants. Side effect profiles differ. Full head-to-head comparison: https://pepdex.co/compare/igf-1-lr3-vs-igf-1-des

Head-to-head with IGF-1 DES

Compare
IGF-1 DES vs IGF-1 LR3 →

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