GHK-Cu Dosage CalculatorGHK-Cu Reconstitution Calculator & Copper Check
GHK-Cu comes in large 50–200 mg vials and is a copper complex, so it needs more than a basic units calculator. Enter your vial, the bacteriostatic water and the amount your clinician specified to get exact syringe units — plus the copper in every injection, the solution strength, vial waste after 28 days and a GLOW-blend breakdown.
- ✔ mg → units for U-100, U-40 & mL syringes
- ✔ Copper per injection vs the NIH RDA
- ✔ GLOW blend mode
- ✔ 28-day waste check for big vials
Injectable GHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug, and no human injection dose has been established. Its copper peptide is sold legally in skincare as a cosmetic ingredient, but that does not make injecting it approved or tested. As of October 2026 injectable GHK-Cu is not on the FDA’s compounding list. This page does arithmetic on numbers you enter — it does not suggest or endorse any dose. Discuss any use with a licensed clinician.
GHK-Cu Units Calculator
Pick your vial, enter the water and the amount per injection. Units, copper content, alerts and charts all update as you type.
= 0.100 mL of a 20 mg/mL GHK-Cu solution · lands exactly on a printed mark
What each injection contains
blend breakdown| Peptide | In vial | Per injection | Concentration |
|---|
Copper check
vs adult RDA of 900 mcg/dayGHK-Cu is roughly 15–16% copper by weight (estimate; salt forms such as acetate change this). Copper from food and supplements adds to it. The adult tolerable upper intake level is 10 mg (10,000 mcg) a day.
Label-accuracy check
same draw, real contentUnregulated vials aren’t tested to pharmacy standards. If the vial holds more or less than its label, the same reading delivers a different amount.
Supply planner
for your planned lengthCounts assume each vial is discarded 28 days after mixing, even if it isn’t empty.
28-day vial timeline
each block = 1 dayBAC water optimizer
same vial & amount, different water| Water | Concentration | Your draw | Readability |
|---|
Your vial label
How Many Units Is 2 mg of GHK-Cu?
In a 50 mg GHK-Cu vial mixed with 2.5 mL of bacteriostatic water, 2 mg is 10 units on a U-100 insulin syringe (0.10 mL). With 2 mL of water it is 8 units, and in a 100 mg vial with 3 mL it is 6 units. Your reading depends on the water you added, so check your own vial in the calculator above.
The arithmetic: 50 mg in 2.5 mL gives 20 mg — 20,000 mcg — in every millilitre. A U-100 syringe divides a millilitre into 100 units, so each unit holds 200 mcg, and 2,000 mcg needs 10 units. Because GHK-Cu vials are so large, every unit carries far more peptide than with BPC-157 or TB-500. A one-unit misread is a 10% error at this strength.
GHK-Cu Reconstitution Chart (U-100 Units)
Syringe readings for common GHK-Cu vial sizes and water volumes. The amounts across the top are round numbers chosen to show the arithmetic, not dosing guidance.
| Vial + BAC water | Concentration | mcg per unit | 0.5 mg | 1 mg | 2 mg | 3 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 mg + 2 mL | 25 mg/mL | 250 | 2 u | 4 u | 8 u | 12 u |
| 50 mg + 2.5 mL | 20 mg/mL | 200 | 2.5 u | 5 u | 10 u | 15 u |
| 50 mg + 3 mL | 16.67 mg/mL | 166.7 | 3 u | 6 u | 12 u | 18 u |
| 50 mg + 5 mL | 10 mg/mL | 100 | 5 u | 10 u | 20 u | 30 u |
| 100 mg + 3 mL | 33.33 mg/mL | 333.3 | 1.5 u | 3 u | 6 u | 9 u |
| 100 mg + 5 mL | 20 mg/mL | 200 | 2.5 u | 5 u | 10 u | 15 u |
| 200 mg + 5 mL | 40 mg/mL | 400 | 1.25 u | 2.5 u | 5 u | 7.5 u |
“u” = units on a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL). Readings below about 5 units are hard to measure precisely — a 0.3 mL syringe or more water helps.
How many doses are in a GHK-Cu vial — and how many expire?
This is the table most GHK-Cu calculators skip. Large vials hold far more doses than you can use before the usual 28-day discard date, so a 100 mg or 200 mg vial often costs more in waste than it saves.
| Vial size | Doses at 1 mg | Doses at 2 mg | Doses at 3 mg | Once daily at 2 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | 10 | 5 | 3 | Used in 5 days |
| 50 mg | 50 | 25 | 16 | Used in 25 days |
| 100 mg | 100 | 50 | 33 | 22 doses past day 28 |
| 200 mg | 200 | 100 | 66 | 72 doses past day 28 |
How the GHK-Cu Reconstitution Math Works
Concentration (mg/mL) = vial mg ÷ water mL
Volume (mL) = amount mg ÷ concentration
Units = volume × 100 (U-100) or × 40 (U-40)
Strength (% w/v) = concentration (mg/mL) ÷ 10
Copper (mcg) ≈ amount mcg × 0.157
Worked example (the calculator’s default)
- 50 mg vial + 2.5 mL water → 20 mg/mL, a 2% w/v solution
- 2 mg ÷ 20 = 0.10 mL → × 100 = 10 units
- 50 ÷ 2 = 25 doses — 25 days once daily, inside the 28-day window
- Copper: 2,000 mcg × 0.157 ≈ 314 mcg, about a third of the adult RDA
Where the copper estimate comes from
GHK is a tripeptide (glycine–histidine–lysine) with a molecular weight of about 340. Bound to one copper atom (atomic weight 63.5), the complex weighs about 404, so copper is roughly 15.7% of its mass. Vials labelled as an acetate or other salt contain slightly less copper per milligram, so treat the figure as an estimate.
Pharmacist’s note: % w/v isn’t the same as a skincare percentage
The calculator shows strength as % weight/volume so you can compare mixes. Don’t use it to make a homemade topical serum from an injectable vial. Cosmetic products are formulated with stabilizers, a suitable pH and preservatives that a reconstituted vial doesn’t have.
Topical vs Injectable GHK-Cu
Most of GHK-Cu’s reputation comes from skincare, where it appears on ingredient lists as copper tripeptide-1. Injectable GHK-Cu is a very different situation, legally and scientifically.
| Topical (serums, creams) | Injectable (reconstituted vials) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient name | Copper tripeptide-1 (INCI) | GHK-Cu, copper peptide |
| Regulated as | Cosmetic, as long as no drug claims are made | Unapproved drug substance |
| Human data | Small cosmetic studies on skin appearance | No published human clinical trials |
| Sterility | Not required | Essential — and unverified for research vials |
| Dose unit | % of the formula | mg per injection |
Why This Page Has No “GHK-Cu Protocol” or Body-Weight Dose
Skin studies don’t transfer to injections
The human data on GHK-Cu come mainly from creams applied to the skin. How much reaches the bloodstream from an injection, and what it does there, hasn’t been studied in published trials.
Online “protocols” are convention
The 1–2 mg daily figures repeated across peptide sites aren’t based on human dose-finding. Building them into a calculator would present guesswork as protocol.
Copper adds a second variable
Every milligram of GHK-Cu also delivers copper. A body-weight formula that ignores your diet, supplements and liver health would give false precision about the part that matters most.
What Research on GHK-Cu Actually Shows
GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) is a naturally occurring tripeptide that binds copper tightly. It was isolated from human plasma by Loren Pickart in 1973, and its plasma level falls with age — from about 200 ng/mL in men aged 20–25 to about 80 ng/mL by age 60–80.
| Research | Type | What it can and can’t tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery in human plasma (1973) | Laboratory | Established GHK as a natural copper-binding peptide; says nothing about dosing. |
| Topical cosmetic studies | Small human studies on skin appearance | Suggest effects on skin firmness and fine lines; many are small or industry-linked, and none tested injection. |
| Wound-healing studies | Rats, rabbits, dogs | Faster wound repair in animals; not human evidence. |
| Gene-expression analyses (Pickart & Margolina, 2018) | Computational (Connectivity Map) | Hypothesis-generating data on genes GHK may influence; not clinical outcomes. |
| Human injection trials | — | None published |
Is GHK-Cu Legal? FDA Status in 2026
Topical GHK-Cu skincare is sold legally as a cosmetic. Injectable GHK-Cu is not FDA-approved, and its eligibility for pharmacy compounding has been in limbo since April 2026.
- 2023
FDA places injectable GHK-Cu in Category 2 — bulk substances that raise significant safety concerns — restricting compounding. Non-injectable (topical) GHK-Cu sits in Category 1, under evaluation.
- April 2026
FDA removes injectable GHK-Cu from Category 2 and removes topical GHK-Cu from Category 1 after its nominations were withdrawn. Neither route is on the 503A bulks list, so neither has a clear basis for compounding.
- July 2026
GHK-Cu is not among the peptides reviewed at the FDA advisory committee meeting that voted on BPC-157, TB-500 and others. Reports indicate a later review is expected before February 2027.
- As of October 17, 2026
We found no committee vote or final FDA decision on GHK-Cu.
Athletes
GHK-Cu isn’t named on WADA’s Prohibited List, but class S0 covers any substance with no current approval for human therapeutic use. Athletes who are tested should check with their anti-doping organization before using it in any form.
“Research use only” vials
Vials labelled for research aren’t made, tested or sterilized to pharmaceutical standards. Their content, copper ratio and sterility are unverified — the reason for the label-accuracy check in the calculator.
GHK-Cu Safety, Storage and Mixing Basics
What is known about safety
- There are no published human safety studies of injected GHK-Cu.
- People commonly report stinging or redness at the injection site; these reports are anecdotal.
- Each injection adds copper. People with Wilson disease, other copper-storage disorders or liver disease should not use copper-containing products without medical advice.
- No data exist for pregnancy, breastfeeding or drug interactions.
- A non-sterile product can cause infection regardless of the peptide.
Reconstitution and storage
- A blue color is normal for a copper peptide solution. Cloudiness, particles or a change in color are reasons not to use it.
- Bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol) allows repeat entry; sterile water is single-use.
- Large vials may need 3–5 mL of water to dissolve fully — check the vial’s capacity before mixing.
- Refrigerate at 2–8 °C, away from light; don’t freeze. A preserved multiple-dose vial generally has a 28-day beyond-use date under USP <797>.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor or Pharmacist
- Would a topical copper peptide product meet my goal without an injection?
- Do I have a liver condition, Wilson disease or a high copper intake from supplements?
- Is there an independent lab certificate confirming this vial’s identity, content and sterility?
- Is a 50 mg vial enough, or will a larger vial expire before I use it?
- Which syringe should I use, and can you check my first syringe reading with me?
- Am I subject to sports or workplace drug testing?
Related Peptide Calculators
This GHK-Cu tool is part of the DexoCalc peptide cluster. Use the universal calculator for any other compound, or a dedicated tool when your peptide has its own vial sizes or schedule.
ALLPeptide Calculator — Reconstitution & Dosage
The universal tool for any peptide, vial or syringe, including 3 mL syringes and three-peptide blends.
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Open calculator →GHK-Cu Dosage Calculator FAQs
In a 50 mg vial with 2.5 mL of bacteriostatic water, 2 mg is 10 units on a U-100 syringe. With 2 mL of water it is 8 units, and in a 100 mg vial with 3 mL it is 6 units.
2.5 mL gives 20 mg/mL (200 mcg per U-100 unit) and 5 mL gives 10 mg/mL (100 mcg per unit). More water makes small amounts easier to measure, as long as it fits in the vial.
With 5 mL of water a 100 mg vial is 20 mg/mL; with 3 mL it is about 33 mg/mL. Add the water slowly down the vial wall, swirl gently and refrigerate. At small daily amounts much of a 100 mg vial may still be left at day 28.
There isn’t one. Injectable GHK-Cu has no published human trials, and the figures online come from community convention. This calculator converts an amount your clinician specifies; it does not recommend one.
Roughly 15–16% of GHK-Cu’s weight is copper, so 2 mg contains about 314 mcg — around a third of the 900 mcg adult RDA. Salt forms contain slightly less. The calculator shows this for your own numbers.
Topical GHK-Cu is sold legally in cosmetics. Injectable GHK-Cu is not FDA-approved; it was removed from the FDA’s Category 2 list in April 2026 but is not on the compounding list, and as of October 2026 no advisory vote had taken place.
Topical GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1) is a cosmetic ingredient with small human skin studies. Injectable GHK-Cu is an unapproved drug substance with no published human trials and requires sterility that research vials don’t guarantee.
Copper complexes are blue, so a clear blue solution is expected. Cloudiness, particles or an unexpected color change are reasons not to use the vial.
Use GLOW Blend mode. Enter the mg of each peptide in the vial — for example 50 mg GHK-Cu with 10 mg each of BPC-157 and TB-500. The units follow your GHK-Cu amount, and the table shows how much of the other two comes with it.
Stability data for unregulated vials are limited. A preserved multiple-dose vial is generally given a 28-day beyond-use date after first puncture under USP <797>. Keep it refrigerated and protected from light.
GHK is the tripeptide on its own; GHK-Cu is GHK bound to copper. GHK binds copper so strongly that most products and studies involve the copper complex.
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Manzoor Ahmad, Pharm-D
Licensed Pharmacist · Founder, DexoCalc
Manzoor is a licensed pharmacist with more than nine years of experience writing about supplements and medication safety, and 13+ years building web tools. He runs a community pharmacy, where checking dilution arithmetic is routine work. He built this calculator, verified every chart value against the same formulas, and reviews the regulatory section whenever the FDA’s position changes. He does not sell peptides and has no affiliate relationships with peptide vendors.
Sources
- Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018. PMC6073405.
- Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK-Cu may prevent oxidative stress in skin by regulating copper and modifying expression of numerous antioxidant genes. Cosmetics. 2015;2(3):236–247. MDPI.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Copper — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (RDA and upper limit).
- U.S. FDA. Bulk Drug Substances Used in Compounding.
- U.S. FDA. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks.
- DJ Holt Law. Regulatory alert: FDA’s April 2026 update on BPC-157 and GHK-Cu.
- World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited List (class S0).
- U.S. Pharmacopeia. General Chapter <797>.
Disclaimer: This GHK-Cu calculator is an educational arithmetic tool. Injectable GHK-Cu is not approved by the FDA or any major regulator, and nothing on this page recommends, endorses or provides a dose, product, source or protocol. Copper estimates are approximate. DexoCalc does not sell peptides and has no affiliate relationships with peptide vendors. Consult a licensed clinician and pharmacist before using any unapproved substance.