AHK-Cu (100 mg vial)
Once daily subcutaneous, 5 days on / 2 off protocol for sexual and cosmetic research.
AHK-Cu is a copper-binding tripeptide studied mostly for hair follicle support, working the same copper-delivery logic as GHK-Cu with different tissue targeting. The protocol below is five days on, two off.
Quick answer: at the standard 100 mg + 5 mL reconstitution, a 2 mg dose of AHK-Cu draws 10 units (0.1 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe, once daily subcutaneous, 5 days on / 2 off.
Get AHK-Cu → code PEPDOSE
Protocol overview
Dosing & reconstitution
Frequency: Once daily subcutaneous, 5 days on / 2 off
Typical duration: 8-12 weeks
Reconstitution: 100 mg vial + 5 mL bacteriostatic water = 20 mg/mL. Units below are for a U-100 insulin syringe at this concentration.
| Phase | Dose | Units per injection |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-4 | 1 mg | 5 units (0.05 mL) |
| Weeks 5-8 | 1.5 mg | 7.5 units (0.075 mL) |
| Weeks 9-12 | 2 mg | 10 units (0.1 mL) |
Units = (dose ÷ concentration) × 100 on a U-100 syringe. Change the vial size or water volume and the calculator redoes all of this for you.
Track this protocol → Free account · log doses, rotate sites, never lose your history
AHK-Cu dosing — what the literature actually supports
We publish a schedule when there is a citable human source and we say so when there is not. Filling this space with a number nobody measured would make the page look more complete and be worth less than nothing to you.
Reconstitution and measurement
This part is arithmetic and does not depend on the evidence level. Concentration is vial size divided by the bacteriostatic water you add. Draw volume is your target amount divided by that concentration. Units are draw volume times 100, because a U-100 syringe reads 100 units per millilitre. Common vials for AHK-Cu: 100 mg.
- Wipe the stoppers of both vials with an alcohol swab and let them dry.
- Draw the bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe and inject it slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial — never straight onto the powder.
- Swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake; foaming and agitation damage peptides.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, and refrigerate at 2–8 °C protected from light.
Worked example at the calculator defaults: 100 mg + 5 mL of bacteriostatic water = 20 mg/mL, so on a U-100 insulin syringe 1 unit = 200 mcg of AHK-Cu. Change either input and the calculator redoes this for you.
Storage and stability
Supplies math
Whatever amounts your research uses, the planning arithmetic is the same. The calculator runs all of this per compound.
Supplies by protocol length
Based on the maintenance dose above (2 mg, once daily subcutaneous, 5 days on / 2 off) and a 100 mg vial reconstituted with 5 mL.
| Duration | Injections | Vials | Syringes | Bac water | Swabs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 40 | 1 x 100 mg | 44 | 1 x 10 mL | 80 |
| 12 weeks | 60 | 2 x 100 mg | 66 | 1 x 10 mL | 120 |
| 16 weeks | 80 | 2 x 100 mg | 88 | 1 x 10 mL | 160 |
Syringe count includes ~10% spares. Swabs = 2 per injection (stopper + site). Vial count assumes the full maintenance dose for the entire duration.
Important notes
Practical considerations for consistency and safety.
- Use a new sterile insulin syringe for each injection and dispose in a proper sharps container.
- Inject slowly and steadily; wait a few seconds before withdrawing the needle to ensure complete delivery.
- Administer at the same time each day for consistent levels. Setting a daily reminder helps maintain the schedule.
- This compound lacks controlled human safety data. Start with the lowest reported amount and increase gradually while monitoring for any adverse reactions.
- The 100 mg vial size is standard for this compound. Reconstitute with 5 mL bacteriostatic water for a convenient concentration.
How AHK-Cu works
The same copper-binding tripeptide as GHK-Cu with one substitution — alanine in place of glycine at the first position. Unlike GHK, it is not described in the literature as a naturally occurring plasma peptide; it first appears as a claimed compound in 1990s hair-growth patents. In the single peer-reviewed study, concentrations between 10^-12 and 10^-9 M in culture medium lengthened human hair follicles grown ex vivo and increased dermal papilla cell proliferation, with marker changes pointing to reduced apoptosis. No receptor or molecular target has been identified for it, and no peer-reviewed structure of the copper complex itself exists.
Benefits & side effects
Potential benefits
- Copper tripeptide for hair and skin
- Supports hair follicle health and skin repair
- Similar mechanism to GHK-Cu with different targeting
- 5 days on / 2 off schedule
Possible side effects
- Injection site reactions
- Skin discolouration possible (copper peptide)
- Limited safety data
- 5/2 schedule reduces exposure
This list reflects published literature and community reports. Individual responses vary. Not medical advice.
Bloodwork worth tracking
The community-standard practice is a baseline panel before starting, a recheck 8 to 12 weeks in, and another after time off. For AHK-Cu, the markers most worth watching:
CMPCBC
Typical time off: 4-8 wks
Lab panels are how a research protocol stays honest: numbers move before symptoms do. Interpretation belongs with a clinician. Not medical advice.
Lifestyle factors
None of the literature above was run on a background of poor sleep and no protein. These variables move outcomes more reliably than any compound on this site.
- Protein in the 1.6 to 2.2 g/kg range preserves lean mass through any body-composition phase.
- Resistance training 2 to 4 days per week plus 150+ minutes of weekly aerobic work reinforces whatever the protocol is doing.
- Sleep is the recovery window: 7 to 9 hours at consistent times.
- Hydration matters more than usual on compounds with GI or flushing effects: 2 to 3 liters daily.
- Track the variables that matter: weigh-ins, measurements, photos, and labs at sensible intervals.
Subcutaneous technique and practical notes
General best practice from clinical injection guidance — the same fundamentals nurses are taught, none of it specific to any compound.
References
- Pyo HK et al. 2007 — the one peer-reviewed study: human follicles ex vivo and dermal papilla cells
- US Patent 5,538,945 — ProCyte hair-growth patent carrying the mouse and rat-pup examples (not peer-reviewed)
- US Patent 5,550,183 — ProCyte patent claiming the AHK-Cu compound (not peer-reviewed)
- Pollard JD et al. 2005 — the copper-tripeptide VEGF fibroblast work, which used GHK-Cu
- PubMed — alanyl-histidyl-lysine copper literature
Quick answers
How many syringe units is a 2 mg dose of AHK-Cu?
At the standard reconstitution of 100 mg with 5 mL bacteriostatic water (20 mg/mL), a 2 mg dose draws 10 units (0.1 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe.
How do you reconstitute AHK-Cu?
Add 5 mL of bacteriostatic water to the 100 mg vial for 20 mg/mL. Inject the water slowly down the inside wall of the vial, swirl gently without shaking, and refrigerate at 2 to 8 °C after mixing.
How long does a 100 mg vial of AHK-Cu last?
About 50 maintenance doses of 2 mg, roughly 10 weeks at once daily subcutaneous, 5 days on / 2 off.
Does AHK-Cu have human trial data?
No. The evidence base is animal and cell studies; the practical dosing shown is community convention, and the page labels it that way.
How does AHK-Cu work?
The same copper-binding tripeptide as GHK-Cu with one substitution — alanine in place of glycine at the first position. Unlike GHK, it is not described in the literature as a naturally occurring plasma peptide; it first appears as a claimed compound in 1990s hair-growth patents. In the single peer-reviewed study, concentrations between 10^-12 and 10^-9 M in culture medium lengthened human hair follicles grown ex vivo and increased dermal papilla cell proliferation, with marker changes pointing to reduced apoptosis. No receptor or molecular target has been identified for it, and no peer-reviewed structure of the copper complex itself exists.
Sourcing AHK-Cu
Whatever you are working with, the documentation matters more than the price. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis whose lot number matches the vial you actually receive — a COA for a different batch tells you nothing about yours.
AHK-Cu at Summit Research Supply → Grade a COA first
Summit is the supplier we feature and an affiliate link. Our COA checklist applies the same way to any vendor.
