Dose calculation converts your prescribed dose (in micrograms) into the exact volume to draw in your syringe. The formula: Volume (mL) = Dose (mcg) ÷ Concentration (mcg/mL), then multiply by 100 for syringe units. Example: a 250 mcg dose from a 2,500 mcg/mL vial = 0.10 mL (10 units on an insulin syringe). Peptide Upside's calculator does this math for you.
The single most common beginner mistake is confusing milligrams (mg) with micrograms (mcg). These differ by a factor of 1,000 — 1 mg equals 1,000 mcg. A typical BPC-157 dose is 250 mcg, which is 0.25 mg, not 250 mg. Getting this unit conversion wrong by a factor of 1,000 is genuinely possible and genuinely dangerous. Always confirm which unit your dose is specified in before doing any math.
Insulin syringes are calibrated in units (U), where 100 units equals 1 mL. This is a historical artifact of insulin dosing conventions. When you calculate that you need 0.10 mL for your dose, you draw to the 10-unit mark on the syringe. This unit system is standardized across all insulin syringes — 100 units always equals 1 mL, regardless of syringe brand or size.
The full formula in one line: divide your dose in mcg by your vial's concentration in mcg/mL, then multiply by 100. That gives you the units to draw on your syringe. Example: 500 mcg dose from a 5,000 mcg/mL vial = (500 ÷ 5,000) × 100 = 10 units. The math does not change between compounds — only the numbers change. Verify your concentration is in the same units as your dose before dividing.
Peptide Upside's dose calculator on the main app page walks through this step by step. Enter your compound, the total amount in your vial in mg, and how much bacteriostatic water you added in mL — the calculator returns the exact concentration and the syringe units to draw for any target dose. You can save this as a named protocol for one-tap reference on every future injection.
A practical note on precision: standard insulin syringes are marked at 2-unit increments, so 7.5 units means you draw to 7 or 8. For most peptides, this level of imprecision is clinically irrelevant. GH secretagogues have enough receptor tolerance that 1-2 units difference changes nothing. GLP-1 agonists used for weight management are administered in 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg doses per week — sub-unit precision per injection is not physiologically significant.
Use the formula: Volume (mL) = Dose (mcg) divided by Concentration (mcg/mL). Then multiply by 100 to get insulin syringe units. Peptide Upside's dose calculator does this math automatically.
Most people use 29-31 gauge insulin syringes (1 mL). The small gauge minimizes discomfort and the 1 mL size is precise enough for typical peptide doses.
Concentration is how much peptide is dissolved in each mL of solution. It depends on how much bacteriostatic water you added during reconstitution. For example, 5 mg of peptide in 2 mL of water = 2,500 mcg/mL concentration.
Written by Peppa at Peptide Upside — the peptide lifestyle guide for real people. Research compounds, calculate doses, and track your journey.