Reviewed by the PeptideMind Team ยท Updated August 5, 2026
Cartalax Peptide (AC-4) Dosage Guide, Benefits & Side Effects
Cartalax Peptide (AC-4/T-31) dosage guide: how this Khavinson cartilage bioregulator peptide supports collagen and aggrecan synthesis for joint and cartilage health.
As seen on
Cartalax Dosage Schedule
A four week daily course aimed at supporting joint health and helping cartilage repair and regenerate itself. Best used as a defined course rather than an ongoing routine.
Cartalax Cartilage Support Course
4 weeks, focused on healing and recovery.
Daily dosing
Taken daily.
200 mcg per injection
200 mcg per injection, given just under the skin in the abdomen or thigh.
Cartalax is a bioregulator peptide used to support joint health and help repair and regenerate cartilage tissue over a short, defined course.
What is Cartalax?
Cartalax is a very short, lab-made peptide developed in Russia specifically to support cartilage and joint tissue. It works by switching on genes that help joint cells produce healthy connective tissue while calming down processes that break cartilage down. It's used mostly in longevity and joint-health research, primarily based on Russian studies.
Healing
cart
Longevity
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What Does Cartalax Do?
It works inside cartilage cells to switch on the genes responsible for producing the building blocks of healthy cartilage while switching off the enzymes that break cartilage down. It also appears to calm a cell-death signal and activate a protein linked to slower cellular aging.
Switches on cartilage genes
Activates genes for the building blocks of healthy cartilage.
Slows cartilage breakdown
Switches off the enzymes responsible for degrading cartilage.
Eases cellular aging
Calms a cell-death signal and activates a protein linked to slower aging.
Cartalax Targeted areas
Frequently Asked Questions About Cartalax
Straight answers on reconstitution, dosing, and safety, everything you need to research with confidence. For research reference only.
Cartalax Reconstitution Guide
Cartalax is supplied as a freeze-dried powder that must be mixed into a injectable solution before use. Available in 10mg, 20mg sizes.
20 mg lyophilized vial
Cartalax is supplied as a freeze-dried powder that must be mixed into a injectable solution before use. Available in 10mg, 20mg sizes.
3 mL bacteriostatic water
Adding 3 mL of bac water to a 20 mg vial gives a workable concentration for syringe dosing. More water makes microdosing easier; less concentrates each draw.
Storage after mixing
Freeze the dry powder for the best long-term shelf life, keeping it away from light and moisture. Once mixed with liquid, refrigerate and use within about a month, avoiding repeated freezing and thawing. After reconstitution, keep the vial refrigerated and use within 30 days.
Reconstitution steps
Remove caps & sanitize stoppers
Attach needle to syringe
Draw 3 mL bacteriostatic water
Insert needle into Cartalax vial
Release water gently down the side
Swirl to dissolve โ don't shake
Check for full dissolution
Refrigerate Cartalax โ good for 30 days
Chemical Makeup
3
Amino Acids
Cartalax
Ala
APosition 1
Glu
EPosition 2
Asp
DPosition 3
What Are the Benefits of Cartalax?
What research says it may help with, and how it works in the body.
joint health
Clinical studies show it's effective in treating osteochondrosis, a joint cartilage disorder, as well as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, or bone thinning.
Helps bones and connective tissue heal.
Helps maintain cartilage and supports how well joints function.
skin health
Increases a marker of cell growth and reduces programmed cell death in both young and older cells.
Boosts the production of collagen in connective tissue.
Blocks production of an enzyme called MMP-9 that breaks down tissue, helping keep the structural framework around cells intact.
What Are the Side Effects of Cartalax?
Who should avoid it, warning signs to watch for, and what to know before combining it with other compounds.
Who Should Avoid It
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Active cancer (theoretical proliferation risk)
Stop Right Away If You Notice
Allergic reactions
Digestive upset (rare with proper administration)
No improvement after 3 months
Unexpected symptoms
Milder Signs to Watch For
Is Cartalax FDA approved?
Cartalax 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
Cartalax 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.
Cartalax Cycle Length: How Long Should It Last?
This breaks down how long a typical Cartalax 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
- Establishing baseline; minimal noticeable changes
- Week 3-4
- Gradual improvement in joint comfort
- Week 0-0
- Noticeable mobility improvements
- Week 0-0
- Maximum therapeutic effect achieved
Cartalax Research References
It is a preclinical compound
Cartalax
Cartalax is a preclinical compound
Renal epithelial cells; 7 days. Reduced pro-apoptotic p53 expression in aging kidney cells.
2020
Fibroblast cultures; 5 days at 20 nM. Inhibited MMP-9 synthesis; maintained extracellular matrix integrity.
2020
Human skin fibroblasts; 72 hours at 20 nM. Increased Ki-67 expression with suppressed apoptosis in young and aged cells.
2019