MOTS-c 20 mg vial
How much bacteriostatic water to add to a 20 mg vial of MOTS-c, the syringe units for each common dose, and how many doses the vial holds.
- Water
- 2 mL
- Strength
- 10 mg/mL
- Common dose
- 5 mg
- Draw
- 50 units0.50 mL
- Doses per vial
- 4
The short answer
Mixed with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, a 20 mg vial of MOTS-c holds 10 mg/mL. A 5 mg dose is then 50 units (0.50 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe, and the vial holds about 4 doses of that size. Taken 2× per week, it lasts about 2 weeks.
How much water
The water only sets the strength; the dose and the number of doses in the vial stay the same. Draws are on a U-100 insulin syringe, where 1 unit is 0.01 mL.
| Water added | Strength | Per syringe unit | Draw for 5 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 20 mg/mL | 200 mcg | 25 units (0.25 mL) |
| 2 mL | 10 mg/mL | 100 mcg | 50 units (0.50 mL) |
| 3 mL | 6.667 mg/mL | 66.7 mcg | 75 units (0.75 mL) |
Dose chart
Syringe units for each common dose at each water volume. Select a cell to open it in the calculator.
| Dose | Water added | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 2 mL | 3 mL | |
| 1 mg | |||
| 2 mg | |||
| 2.5 mg | |||
| 4 mg | |||
| 5 mg | |||
| 7.5 mg | |||
| 10 mg | |||
Draws over 100 units show in mL. Faded values are under 2 units, which is hard to measure. Check that your vial holds the larger volumes.
Where the doses come from
- Community 5 mg 1–3× per week is most common, up to 10 mg per injection.
- Community Alternative: about 1 mg daily, 5 days on and 2 off.
Doses are what labels, trials or community reports reference, not recommendations. MOTS-c’s page has the cycle, side effects, cautions and sources.
Mixing and storage
- PrepareLet a refrigerated vial come to room temperature, and wipe both stoppers with an alcohol swab.
- Add 2 mLDraw 2 mL of bacteriostatic water and let it run slowly down the inside wall of the vial.
- Swirl, don’t shakeSwirl gently until the powder dissolves and the liquid is clear.
- Label itWrite the date and the strength, 10 mg/mL, on the vial.
Storage: Powder: −20 °C. Mixed: 2–8 °C, about 2–4 weeks.
The reconstitution guide covers each step, and the units page explains syringe markings.
Questions
How much water do I add to a 20 mg vial of MOTS-c?
There’s no single right amount: the water only sets the strength. With 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, a 20 mg vial holds 10 mg/mL. With 1 mL it’s 20 mg/mL; with 3 mL it’s 6.667 mg/mL. Less liquid makes each dose a smaller draw; more makes small doses easier to measure.
How many units is 5 mg of MOTS-c?
With 2 mL in a 20 mg vial, 5 mg is 50 units (0.50 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe. With 1 mL, 25 units (0.25 mL); with 3 mL, 75 units (0.75 mL).
How many doses are in a 20 mg vial of MOTS-c?
About 4 doses of 5 mg, or 2 of 7.5 mg or 2 of 10 mg. Taken 2× per week at 5 mg, it lasts about 2 weeks.
How long does a mixed vial of MOTS-c keep?
Powder: −20 °C. Mixed: 2–8 °C, about 2–4 weeks.
Other vial sizes
Sources
- Lee et al., MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis (Cell Metab 2015)
- FDA advisory committee backs 6 peptides for compounding (AJMC, July 2026)
The math on this page uses the doses and storage on MOTS-c’s page.