Reviewed by the PeptideMind Team · Updated August 5, 2026

AOD-9604 Peptide Dosage Calculator, Benefits & Side Effects

Use our free AOD-9604 peptide dosage calculator to find your dose, plus review fat-loss benefits, IGF-1 safety data, and side effects backed by trial research.

Basic Dosage Calculator

Calculate peptide doses with our visual syringe guide.

Peptide per vial

Target research quantity

Bac water added

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AOD-9604 Dosage Schedule

A morning, empty-stomach shot on a 5-days-on, 2-days-off rhythm, using a growth hormone fragment studied specifically for fat metabolism rather than overall growth.

AOD-9604 Fat-Burning Protocol

12 weeks, focused on weight management.

5 days per week

Taken Monday through Friday in the morning, on an empty stomach.

300 mcg per injection

300 mcg per injection, given just under the skin in the abdomen or thigh.

AOD-9604 is a small fragment of growth hormone that helps promote fat burning. It's injected in the morning on an empty stomach. It won't dissolve properly in plain bacteriostatic water and will cloud, flake, or gel at the bottom of the vial instead, so a small amount of acetic acid is added first and swirled until clear, then topped up with bacteriostatic water.

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What is AOD-9604?

AOD-9604 is a small, lab-made fragment of natural human growth hormone, tweaked to keep only the fat-burning part of the molecule. It encourages the body to break down fat and stop storing more of it, without the blood sugar changes or overgrowth effects that come with full growth hormone. It has been tested in human trials for weight loss and is also studied for joint and cartilage support.

Weight

Research targets include appetite regulation, fat metabolism, and body composition.

Metabolic

Research targets include glucose regulation, insulin sensitivity, and energy metabolism.

Weight

aod

Metabolic

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What Does AOD-9604 Do?

It attaches to fat-burning receptors on fat cells, setting off an internal signal that activates the enzyme responsible for breaking stored fat down into usable fuel. It does this without touching the growth-hormone or blood-sugar systems, which is why it doesn't cause the side effects associated with full growth hormone.

Targets fat cells

Binds beta-3 adrenergic receptors found on adipocytes.

Releases stored fat

Triggers the enzyme that breaks triglycerides into usable fatty acids.

Skips the side effects

Works without touching growth hormone or blood sugar pathways.

Frequently Asked Questions About AOD-9604

Straight answers on reconstitution, dosing, and safety, everything you need to research with confidence. For research reference only.

Preclinical research suggests AOD-9604 stimulates lipolysis (breakdown of stored fat) and inhibits lipogenesis (formation of new fat), largely through interaction with beta-3 adrenergic receptors on fat cells. Studies in beta-3 receptor knockout mice showed no fat-loss response to the peptide, supporting this as the likely mechanism. Unlike full HGH, it was designed not to affect blood glucose, insulin sensitivity, or IGF-1 levels, and animal studies have not shown the growth-promoting or diabetogenic effects associated with HGH.

The evidence is mixed. An earlier 12-week human trial reported modest weight loss versus placebo (about 2.6 kg vs. 0.8 kg), but a larger, well-powered 24-week Phase IIb trial in 536 subjects failed to meet its primary weight-loss endpoint, and Metabolic Pharmaceuticals discontinued development for obesity in 2007. Some proponents argue the negative trial used an oral formulation with poor bioavailability and that injectable dosing might perform differently, but no large-scale injectable efficacy trial has been published. Overall, human efficacy data for meaningful fat loss are weak, even though the safety data from those same trials were favorable.

Clinical trials tested doses in the range of roughly 0.25-1 mg per day via subcutaneous injection, with courses running from single doses up to 24 weeks. In current research and enthusiast use, common protocols cite daily subcutaneous doses around 300-500 mcg, often taken on an empty stomach (e.g., morning or pre-workout), sometimes with cycles of several weeks. There is no FDA-approved dosing standard, and any dosing information should be understood as coming from research literature or research-supplier guidance, not clinical prescribing guidelines.

In the clinical trials that were conducted, AOD-9604 had a safety and tolerability profile similar to placebo overall, with mild-to-moderate headache being the most commonly reported adverse event at a rate comparable to placebo. Injection-site reactions (redness, swelling, itching) are the most frequently reported issue with subcutaneous use, and some users report transient mild nausea or bloating when starting. No participants in trials developed antibodies to the peptide, and no significant effects on glucose, insulin, or IGF-1 were observed. As with any unregulated research product, purity and dosing accuracy from a given supplier are not independently verified, which is itself a safety consideration.

Lyophilized (freeze-dried) AOD-9604 is typically reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, or a dilute (0.1-1%) acetic acid solution if it does not dissolve readily in plain water. The solvent is added gently against the vial wall (not directly onto the powder), and the vial is swirled or slowly rotated rather than shaken. Unreconstituted lyophilized powder should be kept refrigerated or frozen and protected from light. Once reconstituted, the solution is generally kept refrigerated at 2-8°C and used within about 2-4 weeks; for longer storage, some protocols recommend freezing single-use aliquots at -20°C.

AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved for any human use and cannot legally be compounded or sold as a drug for human administration in the United States (the FDA declined to add it to the 503A bulk substances list in December 2024). It is sold by suppliers labeled 'for research use only, not for human consumption,' which is the basis on which it is legally distributed. It is not classified as a scheduled controlled substance, but it is prohibited in professional sports under WADA anti-doping rules. Laws vary by country, and buyers are responsible for checking local regulations.

AOD-9604 and 'HGH Fragment 176-191' both refer to the same core amino acid sequence (residues 176-191 of human growth hormone) and are frequently used interchangeably in the peptide research community. AOD-9604 is technically a modified/stabilized version developed by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals with an added amino acid substitution for stability, but many vendors and users treat the two names as synonyms for the same fat-fragment peptide.

AOD-9604 Reconstitution Guide

AOD-9604 is supplied as a freeze-dried powder that must be mixed into a injectable solution before use. Available in 2mg, 5mg, 10mg sizes.

10 mg lyophilized vial

AOD-9604 is supplied as a freeze-dried powder that must be mixed into a injectable solution before use. Available in 2mg, 5mg, 10mg sizes.

0.3 mL 0.6% acetic acid

AOD-9604 requires 0.6% acetic acid rather than bacteriostatic water — it doesn't dissolve reliably in water alone. Add 0.3 mL to the vial for the standard concentration.

Storage after mixing

The dry powder lasts up to two years in the freezer. Once mixed with liquid, keep it in the fridge and use within 30 days, and avoid leaving it out at room temperature for more than a few days. After reconstitution, keep the vial refrigerated and use within 30 days.

Reconstitution steps

Remove caps & sanitize stoppers

Attach needle to syringe

Draw 0.3 mL acetic acid

Insert needle into AOD-9604 vial

Release acetic acid gently down the side

Swirl to dissolve — don't shake

Check for full dissolution

Refrigerate AOD-9604 — good for 30 days

Chemical Makeup

Amino Acids

AOD-9604

Tyr

Position 1

Leu

Position 2

Arg

Position 3

Ile

Position 4

Val

Position 5

Gln

Position 6

Cys

Position 7

Arg

Position 8

Ser

Position 9

Val

Position 10

Glu

Position 11

Gly

Position 12

Ser

Position 13

Cys

Position 14

Gly

Position 15

Phe

Position 16

Amino acid sequence

TyrosinePosition 1

LeucinePosition 2

ArgininePosition 3

IsoleucinePosition 4

ValinePosition 5

GlutaminePosition 6

CysteinePosition 7

ArgininePosition 8

SerinePosition 9

ValinePosition 10

Glutamic acidPosition 11

GlycinePosition 12

SerinePosition 13

CysteinePosition 14

GlycinePosition 15

PhenylalaninePosition 16

What Are the Benefits of AOD-9604?

What research says it may help with, and how it works in the body.

fat loss

: Reduces the creation and storage of fat in fat tissue.
: Does not raise blood sugar, reduce insulin release, or make the body more resistant to insulin.
: In obesity studies, it increased fat burning and blood glycerol levels (a marker of fat breakdown) and reduced body weight, without affecting blood sugar control.

joint health

: In osteoarthritis studies, combining it with hyaluronic acid improved cartilage regrowth.
: Works better for joint health when combined with hyaluronic acid than either does alone.

What Are the Side Effects of AOD-9604?

Who should avoid it, warning signs to watch for, and what to know before combining it with other compounds.

Who Should Avoid It

: Pregnancy or breastfeeding
: WADA prohibited - athletes subject to testing must avoid

Stop Right Away If You Notice

: Severe injection site reactions or infection signs
: Unusual swelling or persistent redness
: Allergic reactions (rare)
: Any concerning or unexpected symptoms

Milder Signs to Watch For

Discolored or clumped powder (yellow indicates degradation)Cloudy solution after reconstitutionCollapsed or moisture-damaged appearance

Was it helpful?Yes

Is AOD-9604 FDA approved?

AOD-9604 is not an FDA-approved drug. It is intended for research purposes only and is not approved for human consumption, diagnostic, or therapeutic use.

Research Use Only

AOD-9604 has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety or efficacy in humans.

No Clinical Oversight

Not manufactured under FDA-regulated quality or clinical standards.

Unregulated Sourcing

Purity, dosing, and sourcing are not verified through FDA testing or oversight.

A smartphone screen displaying FDA status for a drug, indicating "FDA approved drug: No" and "Classification: Research use only." A banner notes "Research Only" with the disclaimer "not for human use," emphasizing its intended use for laboratory and analytical purposes.

AOD-9604 Cycle Length: How Long Should It Last?

This breaks down how long a typical AOD-9604 cycle runs and what research suggests happens at each stage. Research shows that staying on a peptide continuously, without a break, may make it less effective over time.

That's why most research protocols build in a break between cycles, often called a washout period, to let the body reset before starting again.

Week 1-2: Minimal noticeable effects; compound accumulating
Week 3-4: Subtle body composition changes may begin
Week 5-8: More noticeable fat loss, especially with diet and exercise
Week 8-12: Continued fat reduction and improved body composition

AOD-9604 Research References

It is an experimental compound

4Research references

AOD-9604

AOD-9604 is an experimental compound

Beta-3 Adrenergic Receptor Mechanism - Heffernan et al.

Increased beta-3 adrenergic receptor expression comparable to lean mice.

n.d.

Oral Lipid Metabolism Effects - Heffernan et al.

Significantly reduced lipogenic activity and increased lipolytic activity.

n.d.

Cartilage Regeneration with Hyaluronic Acid - Kwon & Park

Combination accelerated cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis models.

n.d.

Fat Oxidation and Weight Loss in Obese Mice - Heffernan et al.

AOD-9604 reduced body weight without hyperglycemia through enhanced fat oxidation.

n.d.

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AOD-9604 Peptide Dosage Calculator, Benefits & Side Effects

AOD-9604 Dosage Schedule