The clean number to start from: a 20 mg Cardiogen vial plus 2 mL of bacteriostatic water gives 10 mg/mL. But Cardiogen has a wrinkle most peptides don't — community doses are tiny (often under 1-2 mg), so at 10 mg/mL a low dose can be just a couple of syringe units. That makes dilution choice the real decision here.
Research-context information only. Cardiogen (the AEDR tetrapeptide) is an unapproved research compound not evaluated by the FDA. There is no Cardiogen-specific reconstitution or stability study; the math below follows standard peptide-handling convention and community sources, not validated protocols. This article reports how reconstitution is documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.
This guide covers supplies, the step-by-step mixing process, and dilution charts for Cardiogen. For dose context and why no trial dose exists, see the Cardiogen dosing guide.
New to bacteriostatic water? Start with what it is, how much to use per vial, and how long it lasts — or see the full Bacteriostatic Water Guide.
What You Need
- A vial of lyophilized (freeze-dried) Cardiogen — commonly 20 mg
- Bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol)
- Insulin syringes (100-unit / U-100, 29-31 gauge)
- Alcohol swabs
- A clean, flat surface
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Step-by-Step Reconstitution
- Allowing both vials to reach room temperature before mixing is standard documented practice. Cold peptide and cold water are documented to cause condensation.
- Standard sterile practice describes swabbing both stoppers — the Cardiogen vial and the bacteriostatic water vial — with an alcohol swab.
- Draw the bacteriostatic water. For 10 mg/mL on a 20 mg vial, protocols describe drawing 2 mL. For lower-dose accuracy, sources describe drawing 4 mL (5 mg/mL).
- Community protocols describe adding water slowly down the inside side wall — not directly onto the powder.
- Swirling gently, not shaking, is the documented approach. Documented protocols describe swirling gently until the powder fully dissolves; shaking can shear the peptide.
- A properly reconstituted solution is documented to be clear and free of particles.
Dilution Chart
20 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water = 10 mg/mL (standard, but low doses draw small):
| Dose | Volume (mL) | Units (100-unit syringe) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.2 mg (200 mcg) | 0.02 mL | 2 units |
| 0.5 mg | 0.05 mL | 5 units |
| 1 mg | 0.10 mL | 10 units |
| 2 mg | 0.20 mL | 20 units |
20 mg vial + 4 mL bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL (preferred when dosing under ~1 mg — larger, easier-to-read draws):
| Dose | Volume (mL) | Units (100-unit syringe) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.2 mg (200 mcg) | 0.04 mL | 4 units |
| 0.5 mg | 0.10 mL | 10 units |
| 1 mg | 0.20 mL | 20 units |
| 2 mg | 0.40 mL | 40 units |
Syringe Math
The conversion is deterministic. On a U-100 insulin syringe, 1 unit = 0.01 mL.
- Concentration = vial mg ÷ bacteriostatic water mL. For 20 mg + 2 mL: 10 mg/mL.
- Volume for a dose = dose mg ÷ concentration. For a 1 mg dose at 10 mg/mL: 1 ÷ 10 = 0.1 mL.
- Units = volume mL × 100. For 0.1 mL: 10 units.
Why dilution matters more for Cardiogen: community doses are small and uncertain (no trial dose exists), so a sub-milligram draw at 10 mg/mL can be just 2-5 units — easy to mis-measure. Diluting to 5 mg/mL doubles the unit count for the same dose and improves accuracy.
Storage Rules
| State | Storage | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Lyophilized (powder), sealed | Refrigerate (2-8 C); freezer for long-term | Until expiry |
| Reconstituted | Refrigerate at 2-8 C, away from light | Use within ~28 days |
The ~28-day reconstituted window follows the 0.9% benzyl-alcohol preservative in bacteriostatic water and standard peptide guidance. There is no Cardiogen-specific stability study, so this is convention, not a tested figure.
Common Mistakes
- Under-diluting. At 10 mg/mL a 200 mcg dose is only 2 units — hard to draw accurately. For low doses, sources describe diluting to 5 mg/mL.
- Spraying water onto the powder. Standard practice aims down the side wall; direct force can denature peptide.
- Shaking the vial. Gentle swirling is the documented norm — shaking shears the peptide.
- Using sterile (non-bacteriostatic) water for a multi-day course. No preservative means a much shorter usable window.
- Storing reconstituted solution at room temperature. Reconstituted vials are documented to be refrigerated and used within ~28 days.
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