Compound guides
Peptides A to Z: what each one is, and whether it's legal
18 compounds, each with its US compounding status, its WADA status and every guide we publish on it. Statuses come from our peptide FDA status tracker.
The GH axis
Compounds that nudge your own pituitary to release growth hormone. This is the family the whole “raise GH, build muscle” pitch is built on — and the one where the human evidence is thinnest.
- Sermorelin A prescribed GHRH analog marketed for recovery, sleep and body composition.Has a lawful routeWADA: Prohibited (S2)9 guides
- Tesamorelin The one FDA-approved GHRH analog — approved for HIV-associated visceral fat, not sport.Has a lawful routeWADA: Prohibited (S2)4 guides
- Ipamorelin A selective GH secretagogue, almost always sold stacked with CJC-1295.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Prohibited (S2)4 guides
- CJC-1295 A long-acting GHRH analog, sold with and without the DAC modification.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Prohibited (S2)3 guides
- MK-677 (ibutamoren) An oral ghrelin mimetic — the best-studied secretagogue in the category.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Prohibited (S2)2 guides
Repair & recovery
The peptides people reach for after an injury. Almost all of the supporting data here is rodent or cell-culture — we say so on every page.
- BPC-157 The most-searched recovery peptide, sold for tendon, joint and soft-tissue healing.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Prohibited (S0)14 guides
- TB-500 Sold as a systemic repair peptide for tendon, ligament and muscle injury.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Prohibited (S0 / S2)7 guides
- GHK-Cu The copper peptide, sold topically and by injection for skin and tissue repair.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Not named on the list2 guides
- KPV An alpha-MSH fragment sold for gut and skin inflammation.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Not named on the list2 guides
Metabolic & GLP-1
The weight-loss and body-composition family — the only group here with large, well-run human trials behind it, and the only one where approved drugs exist.
- NAD+ A cellular energy coenzyme sold by injection, nasal spray and IV drip for energy, recovery and aging.Not FDA-approvedWADA: Not prohibited3 guides
- Retatrutide The triple agonist sold off-label for body recomposition — unapproved for any use.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Prohibited (S0)6 guides
- Semaglutide The GLP-1 drug behind Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight management.Has a lawful routeWADA: Monitored, not banned12 guides
- Tirzepatide The dual GIP and GLP-1 drug sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight management.Has a lawful routeWADA: Monitored, not banned12 guides
- AOD-9604 A modified GH fragment sold specifically as a fat-loss peptide.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Prohibited (S2)2 guides
- 5-Amino-1MQ An oral NNMT inhibitor sold for fat loss and NAD+ support.Not FDA-approvedWADA: Not named on the list8 guides
- MOTS-c A mitochondrial-derived peptide sold for endurance and metabolic health.Not lawful to compoundWADA: Not named on the list4 guides
Cognitive & neuro
The Russian-origin nootropic peptides, and what their evidence base actually consists of.
Looking for a specific question rather than a compound? Search all research.