MOTS-c
Milligram doses, so the barrel fills fast.
MOTS-c is dosed in whole milligrams rather than micrograms, which is unusual in this category and means a thin reconstitution overflows the syringe quickly.
- Cost
- Free
- Syringe
- U-100
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- None
- Data
- Nothing stored
The science
Why milligram doses behave differently
01
MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide, meaning it is encoded in mitochondrial rather than nuclear DNA. It is supplied as a lyophilised powder, commonly in 5, 10 or 20 mg vials.
02
What separates it from most peptides covered on this site is the scale of the dose. BPC-157 and ipamorelin are dosed in hundreds of micrograms, which is a hundredth of a vial. MOTS-c is discussed in whole milligrams, which can be half a vial at a time.
03
That changes the arithmetic in a way worth noticing before you add water. A 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 ml is 5 mg per ml, so a 5 mg dose is a full millilitre, which is the entire capacity of a U-100 barrel. Add 3 ml instead and the same dose needs 150 units, which does not fit at all.
04
The practical consequence is that MOTS-c wants a more concentrated reconstitution than the microgram peptides do, which is the opposite of the usual advice. Less water, not more. The table below shows exactly where each combination lands so the constraint is visible rather than discovered mid-draw.
Lookup
Every vial and water volume, precomputed
MOTS-c is commonly sold in 5, 10 and 20 mg vials. Because the doses are in milligrams, many of these combinations overflow a 100 unit barrel, and the table marks those with a dot.
5 mg MOTS-c vial
Units on a U-100 syringe
| Dose | 1 ml | 1.5 ml | 2 ml | 2.5 ml | 3 ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | 50 | 75 | 100 | · | · |
| 5 mg | 100 | · | · | · | · |
10 mg MOTS-c vial
Units on a U-100 syringe
| Dose | 1 ml | 1.5 ml | 2 ml | 2.5 ml | 3 ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | 25 | 37.5 | 50 | 62.5 | 75 |
| 5 mg | 50 | 75 | 100 | · | · |
| 7.5 mg | 75 | · | · | · | · |
| 10 mg | 100 | · | · | · | · |
20 mg MOTS-c vial
Units on a U-100 syringe
| Dose | 1 ml | 1.5 ml | 2 ml | 2.5 ml | 3 ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | 12.5 | 18.75 | 25 | 31.25 | 37.5 |
| 5 mg | 25 | 37.5 | 50 | 62.5 | 75 |
| 7.5 mg | 37.5 | 56.25 | 75 | 93.75 | · |
| 10 mg | 50 | 75 | 100 | · | · |
A dot marks a combination that falls under two units or overflows a 100-unit barrel. Both are hard to measure accurately, so they are worth avoiding rather than eyeballing.
Regulatory status
MOTS-c is not an approved medicine
MOTS-c has not been approved for human use by the FDA or any comparable regulator. There is no prescribing information, no approved indication, and no official dose to cite. It is sold as a research chemical.
It is covered by the World Anti-Doping Agency's S0 category, which captures any pharmacological substance with no current approval from any governmental health authority, so it is prohibited in tested sport at all times.
The vial sizes and doses in the table reflect what is commonly sold and commonly discussed, not what has been established as safe. A calculator can confirm that a number divides correctly. It cannot tell you the number is a good idea, and that question belongs with a clinician.
FAQ
Common questions
How many units is 5 mg of MOTS-c?
It depends entirely on the concentration. A 10 mg vial reconstituted with 1 ml is 10 mg per ml, so 5 mg is 0.5 ml, which is 50 units on a U-100 syringe. The same vial with 2 ml is 5 mg per ml, making that dose 100 units, the entire barrel. The water volume matters more here than with microgram-dosed peptides.
How much bacteriostatic water should I use for MOTS-c?
Less than you would for a microgram peptide, because the doses are far larger relative to the vial. For a 10 mg vial, 1 to 2 ml keeps a milligram-scale dose inside a single 100 unit barrel. Reconstituting the same vial with 3 ml or more pushes common doses past the capacity of the syringe.
Why does my MOTS-c dose not fit in the syringe?
Because the solution is too dilute for a milligram-scale dose. One hundred units is one millilitre, so any dose needing more than a millilitre at your concentration will not fit. A smaller water volume raises the concentration and brings the dose back onto the barrel.
Is MOTS-c approved for human use?
No. MOTS-c has not been approved by the FDA or any comparable regulator, so there is no label, no approved indication and no official dosing guidance. It is sold for research use. The arithmetic here operates on figures you enter and does not imply a safe or effective human dose has been established.
Is MOTS-c the same as other mitochondrial peptides?
It is one of several peptides encoded in mitochondrial DNA, a group that also includes humanin and the SHLP family. They are distinct molecules and are not interchangeable. SS-31 is frequently discussed alongside MOTS-c because both are associated with mitochondrial function, but it is a different compound with a different presentation.
Sources
Where this comes from
Regulatory status and approved dosing are quoted from the primary source rather than summarised from memory. Each link below says what it is being cited for.
- Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved DrugsU.S. Food and Drug AdministrationApproval status and approval history for any drug marketed in the United States.Link checked 1 October 2026
- The Prohibited ListWorld Anti-Doping AgencyThe current list of substances prohibited in tested sport, including peptide hormones and growth factors.Link checked 1 October 2026
- Bulk Drug Substances Used in Compounding Under Section 503A of the FD&C ActU.S. Food and Drug AdministrationThe three-category framework FDA applies to substances nominated for pharmacy compounding.Link checked 1 October 2026
VialClock
This page calculates. Your notes app forgets.
Every tool here is stateless by design. What it cannot do is remember that your vial was mixed eleven days ago, or that a step-up is due this week.
This tool performs arithmetic on figures you enter, or presents a manufacturer-published schedule. It does not know your protocol, will never suggest a dose, and is not medical advice. Dosing decisions belong with a qualified prescriber.