The pressure of deadlines, work, and family responsibilities can often lead to anxiety and stress that keep us awake at night.
While occasional sleeplessness is normal, a persistent lack of sleep can result in chronic sleep deprivation.
According to the Institute of Medicine (U.S.) Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research, an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders.
This lack of sleep can lead to negative health outcomes such as weight gain, erratic blood sugar levels, depression, and brain fog.
Additionally, sleep deprivation can increase the risk of automobile accidents.
While good sleep hygiene habits like sleeping in a cool room and taking melatonin can be helpful, some people seek out additional relief from sleep disorders when said habits aren’t inducing the desired state of sleep.
For those individuals who continualy struggle to get a restful night’s sleep, peptides can help address more severe sleep issues.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits of peptides for sleep and how they can help treat insomnia and other sleep disorders, allowing you to finally enjoy the rejuvenating sleep your body needs.
How Peptides Improve Sleep Quality
Peptides for sleep can help you get your 7-8 hours of nightly rest through several modes of action.
First, they can support the regulation of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that “tells” your brain and body when it’s time to rest.
Serotonin also plays a crucial role in the production of melatonin, a sleep hormone essential for initiating and maintaining deep sleep.
By promoting a healthy and consistent circadian rhythm, melatonin can help address issues such as delayed sleep phase and other sleep disorders.
Second, peptides can enhance stage 3 sleep, also known as deep sleep, which helps in tissue recovery and memory consolidation.
Third, peptides improve various physiological processes that contribute to more restful and improved sleep.
All of the above helps to regulate your body’s internal clock, induce relaxation, and modulate neurotransmitter activity.
If you’re looking to get a good night’s sleep after years of tossing and turning, check out our most recommended peptides for sleep below.
The 6 Best Peptides for Sleep
Here are our top six picks for the best peptides to improve your sleep.
DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide)
DSIP, short for “delta sleep-inducing peptide,” is a neuromodulating peptide found in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland that promotes healthy sleep and overall physiological function.
It enhances your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, reducing the frequency of waking up in the middle of the night.
And unlike many sleep aids that change the duration of different sleep stages, DSIP works by improving the effectiveness of your regular sleep cycles without changing their structure.
It targets various brain sites, including the brainstem, to promote sleep.
Lastly, DSIP also interacts with serotonin and melatonin to help you sleep faster and longer.
Many biohackers consider DSIP as one of the most effective peptides for improving sleep based on the outcomes described above.
In a study published in the Journal of Springer, people who took DSIP achieved longer sleep duration and higher quality sleep:
“The effects of acute intravenous administration of synthetic DSIP, 25 nmoles/kg b. wt, on disturbed human sleep were tested in 6 middle-aged chronic insomniacs.
The results were: longer sleep duration and a higher quality of sleep with fewer interruptions; slightly more REM-sleep, but no day-time sedation or other side effects though the sleep enhancing capacity was seen for up to 6 h of night sleep.
Sleep-promoting effects occurred only in the second hour after injection, in the first hour a slight arousing effect was indicated.
The study corroborates the findings of previous investigations in healthy subjects and shows that DSIP has a normalizing influence on human sleep regulation.”
Similarly, a study on 16 patients with chronic insomnia showed that DSIP helped them achieve longer sleep duration with reduced interruptions compared to the placebo group:
“The influence of delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) on sleep was studied in 16 chronic insomniac patients according to a double-blind matched-pairs parallel-groups design.
Subjects slept for 5 consecutive nights in the laboratory.
Night 1 was used for adaptation, night 2 for baseline measurements. In the afternoon before the 3rd, 4th and 5th night, half of the patients received intravenously 25 nmol/kg body weight DSIP, and half of the patients a glucose solution (placebo).
Measures for sleep structure, objective (polysomnography) and subjective sleep quality and for subjective tiredness were assessed.
The results for objective sleep quality indicated higher sleep efficiency and shorter sleep latency with DSIP as compared to placebo.
One measure of subjectively estimated tiredness decreased within the DSIP group.”
Therefore, if you want to achieve a good night’s sleep, DSIP is a great choice.
Sermorelin
Sermorelin is a growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) prescribed for growth hormone deficiency in children.
However, sermorelin can also be used to help improve the quality of your sleep.
While you are sleeping, the body naturally secretes HGH (human growth hormone) and researchers have found elevated HGH levels are linked to decreased wakefulness).
This is because sermorelin encourages HGH production, which stimulates sleep-regulatory neurons in the brain and boosts slow-wave sleep:
“We examined whether growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) may promote non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep via activation of GABAergic neurons in the preoptic area.
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with EEG, EMG electrodes and a unilateral intracerebroventricular cannula.
Groups of rats received injections (3 μl icv) with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GHRH) (0.1 nmol/100 g body wt) or equal volume of physiological saline at the onset of the dark period and were permitted spontaneous sleep for 90 min.
Separate groups of rats were sleep deprived by gentle handling for 90 min, beginning at the time of GHRH or saline injection, at the onset of the dark period.
Other groups of rats received intracerebroventricular octreotide (somatostatin analog OCT) injections, intracerebroventricular injection of one of two doses of competitive GHRH antagonist, or intracerebroventricular saline injection at light onset and were then permitted 90 min spontaneous sleep-waking.
Rats were killed immediately after the 90-min sleep/wake monitoring period. Brain tissue was processed for immunohistochemistry for c-Fos protein and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD).
Single c-Fos and dual Fos-GAD cell counts were determined in the median preoptic nucleus (MnPN), and in the core and the extended parts of the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (cVLPO and exVLPO).
Intracerebroventricular GHRH elicited a significant increase in NREM sleep amount.
Double-labeled Fos+GAD cell counts were significantly elevated after GHRH injection in the MnPN and VLPO in both undisturbed and sleep-deprived groups. OCT and GHRH antagonist significantly decreased NREM sleep amount compared with control rats.
OCT injection increased single c-Fos-labeled cell counts in the MnPN, but not in the VLPO. Double-labeled cell counts were significantly reduced after OCT and the high dose of GHRH antagonist injection in all areas examined.”
Moreover, sermorelin reduces stress hormone production, thereby improving sleep-related circadian rhythm as evidenced in the European Journal of Endocrinology:
“Healthy men (20-33 years old) had an infusion of GHRH antagonist ((N-Ac-Tyr(1), D-Arg(2)) GHRH-29 (NH(2))) or saline for a 12-h period, between 2100 and 0900 h. An i.v. bolus of GHRH was given at 0700 h and GH samples were drawn from 0700 to 0900 h to document the efficacy of GH suppression by the GHRH antagonist.
A limited montage sleep study was recorded from 2300 to 0700 h during each admission. Plasma GH concentrations were analyzed by the use of a sensitive chemiluminometric assay.
Effectiveness of the GHRH antagonist was validated in all subjects by demonstrating 93+/-1.8% (P=0.012) suppression of GH response to a GHRH bolus.
Polysomnography demonstrated that the percentage of SWS was not different when saline and GHRH antagonist nights were compared (P=0.607); other quantifiable sleep parameters were also unchanged.”
In other words, sermorelin is a promising peptide for people suffering from chronic sleep disorders.
Orexin A
Orexin A is a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus that regulates appetite and wakefulness.
Once secreted, this peptide boosts the brain’s activity in the reward center and this allows us to remain alert.
According to the Journal of Nature and Science of Sleep, a deficiency in orexin can lead to insomnia and narcolepsy.
While supplementing with orexin A won’t make you fall asleep, it can help optimize your sleep-wake cycle to ensure you stay awake during the day while being tired enough to fall asleep at night:
“Two selective HCRT/OX2R antagonists have been tested in humans, MK-1064 and JNJ-42847922. Both agents demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in alertness/increased sleepiness.
On polysomnogram, MK-1064 increased sleep efficiency and reduced sleep latency without affecting NREM/REM balance.
Other than somnolence, headache and dizziness were the most commonly reported side effects of JNJ-42847922.
Interestingly, one subject who received 80 mg of JNJ-42847922 experienced a single brief episode of sleep paralysis following administration.
The pharmaceutical company Actelion initially introduced almorexant (ACT-078573), a nonselective HCRT/OX receptor antagonist.
In Phase I, the medication proved effective, showing a threshold dose-dependent increase in sleepiness. It was also well tolerated with doses up to 1,000 mg failing to induce narcolepsy or cataplexy type symptoms.
Doses over 200 mg saw an increase in somnolence, dizziness, inattention, and fatigue. In Phase II, doses of 200–400 mg were administered.
Polysomnographic data showed increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time with shorter sleep latency and wake time after sleep onset. Given the promising Phase II results, almorexant underwent Phase III clinical testing. In Phase III (RESTORA1), the trial was discontinued due to transient liver function test abnormalities.
Similar polysomnographic data were obtained in Phase II clinical trials of another dual HCRT/OX receptor antagonist, SB-649868. This compound showed similar effect to benzodiazepine receptor agonists and was well tolerated.
However, it was a potent cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor and further clinical study was discontinued. Filorexant (MK-6096) is a dual HCRT/OX receptor antagonist that has been investigated for a number of conditions including insomnia, neuropathic pain, adjunctive treatment for depression, and migraine prophylaxis.
The only published human clinical data on the medication was a randomized control trial of its use in migraine prophylaxis. It failed to demonstrate efficacy in migraine prophylaxis, but not unexpectedly, patients reported increased somnolence (13%) compared to control (4%).”
CJC-1295
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that can help increase blood levels of human growth hormone tenfold.
It works by signaling the pituitary gland to secrete growth hormone and other anabolic hormones such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).
CJC-1295 is one of our top choices for peptides for sleep alongside DSIP as it can help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, which improves overall sleep quality.
It also promotes deeper and more restorative rest by improving slow-wave sleep.
A study in the European Journal of Endocrinology found that CJC-1295’s ability to increase GH levels helped improve the deep sleep stage in test subjects:
“Fourteen patients with untreated GHD of confirmed or likely pituitary origin, aged 22–74 yr, participated in the study.
Patients with associated hormonal deficiencies were on appropriate replacement therapy. Polygraphic sleep recordings, with bedtimes individually tailored to habitual sleep times, were performed after 4 months on rhGH or placebo.
Valid data were obtained in 13 patients. At the end of rhGH treatment period, patients had a shorter sleep period time than at the end of the placebo period (479±11 vs 431±19 min respectively; p=0.005), primarily due to an earlier wake up time, and a decrease in the intensity of SWS (delta activity) (559±125 vs 794±219 μV2, respectively; p=0.048).
Four months of rhGH replacement therapy partly reversed sleep disturbances previously observed in untreated patients.
The decrease in delta activity associated with rhGH treatment adds further evidence to the hypothesis that the excess of high intensity SWS observed in untreated pituitary GHD patients is likely to result from overactivity of the hypothalamic GHRH system due to the lack of negative feedback inhibition by GH.”
Therefore, if you want to achieve longer and deeper sleep, you can use CJC-1295 and see if it works for you.
Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin is a growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) that stimulates the pituitary gland to release human growth hormone (HGH) and boost levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the body.
Aside from helping with hormonal imbalance in women, Ipamorelin can also promote rest and sleep in people experiencing disrupted sleep.
As stated earlier, insufficient levels of HGH can lead to sleep disturbances and insomnia.
By using ipamorelin to boost HGH levels, individuals may notice an improvement in sleep quality and they will feel more energetic upon waking up.
And by activating activates ghrelin in the pituitary gland, Ipamorelin has another pathway through which it exerts its sleep-promoting effects.
Studies have shown that repeated intravenous infusions of ghrelin before bedtime can increase growth hormone levels and slow-wave sleep, ultimately improving sleep quality and depth:
“Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue (GHS) receptor, stimulates GH release, appetite, and weight gain in humans and rodents. Synthetic GHSs modulate sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) and nocturnal hormone secretion.
We studied the effect of 4 x 50 microg of ghrelin administered hourly as intravenous boluses between 2200 and 0100 on sleep EEG and the secretion of plasma GH, ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, and leptin in humans (n = 7).
After ghrelin administration, slow-wave sleep was increased during the total night and accumulated delta-wave activity was enhanced during the second half of the night.
Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep was reduced during the second third of the night, whereas all other sleep EEG variables remained unchanged.
Furthermore, GH and prolactin plasma levels were enhanced throughout the night, and cortisol levels increased during the first part of the night (2200-0300).
The response of GH to ghrelin was most distinct after the first injection and lowest after the fourth injection. In contrast, cortisol showed an inverse pattern of response.
Leptin levels did not differ between groups. Our data show a distinct action of exogenous ghrelin on sleep EEG and nocturnal hormone secretion.
We suggest that ghrelin is an endogenous sleep-promoting factor. This role appears to be complementary to the already described effects of the peptide in the regulation of energy balance.
Furthermore, ghrelin appears to be a common stimulus of the somatotropic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical systems. It appears that ghrelin is a sleep-promoting factor in humans.”
Moreover, Ipamorelin can improve sleep processes through increasing GH and IGF-1 levels, and this also leads to more high-quality sleep.
Men who took growth hormone-releasing peptides such as Ipamorelin had boosted slow-wave sleep (SWS), also known as deep sleep, as shown in the Journal of Neuroendocrinology:
“The synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP-6) stimulates growth hormone (GH) release in animals and man. GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) has the same effect.
In addition, pulsatile administration of GHRH in normal men results in increased slow-wave sleep (SWS) and blunted cortisol levels.
The effect of GHRP on nocturnal hormone secretion and on the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) is still unknown.
We compared the effect of repetitive i.v. boluses (4 × 50 µg) of GHRP and placebo (PL) on the sleep EEG (23.00 to 07.00 h) and on the secretion profiles of GH, ACTH and cortisol (20.00 to 07.00 h) in normal male controls.
After GHRP, the GH concentration (22.00 to 03.00 h) increased (15.4 ± 9.6 ng/ml after GHRP vs. 5.5 ± 4.0 ng/ml after PL, p < 0.02), as did the ACTH level (22.00 to 02.00 h: 21.0 ± 5.3 pg/ml after GHRP vs. 16.6 ± 3.1 pg/ml after PL, p < 0.02).
During the total night, and particularly during the first half of the night, cortisol secretion was enhanced (22.00 to 03.00 h: 56.0 ± 31.0 ng/ml after GHRP vs. 25.2 ± 9.0 ng/ml after PL, p < 0.02).
Stage 2 sleep increased (270.1 ± 25.3 min after GHRP vs. 245.4 ± 25.8 min after PL, p < 0.02), whereas other sleep-EEG variables including SWS remained unchanged.
Our data demonstrate that GHRP stimulates not only GH release but also hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical hormone secretion. The latter effect is opposite to the blunting of cortisol after GHRH.
Both GHRP and GHRH promote sleep. However, GHRP enhances stage 2 sleep and does not affect SWS. The different actions of GHRP and GHRH are a further indication that they act at different receptors.”
Epitalon
Epitalon is a synthetic peptide that acts like a natural compound in the pineal gland called epithalamin.
It helps increase the production of telomeres, which are essential for cell growth and regeneration.
Recent studies suggest that epithalon can also regulate the production of melatonin, thereby improving sleep quality.
In older people, epithalon helps promote melatonin production and release, resulting in deeper sleep.
“It investigated the influence of polypeptide complex Pineamin on the 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6S) excretion in urine by ELISA test of 55 elderly patients with diminished melatoninsynthesis pineal gland function.
Pineamin in course dose 100 mg has increased the night level of aMT6S urine excretion 1,9 times in comparison with the relevant value untreated.
A similar effect was obtained early for the medical drug Epithalamin.
Epithalamin also restored melatonin levels in humans and animals during aging. Thus, Pineamin and Epithalamin have similar stimulative effects on melatonin synthesis in elderly people’s pineal glands.”
Sample Peptide Sleep Stack
CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin offer impressive health benefits on their own, but when used together, they can provide even greater benefits for sleep.
These peptides can improve sleep quality by regulating sleep patterns and promoting deeper sleep, helping you feel more refreshed upon waking.
Due to their primary effect of increasing growth hormone levels, they play a vital role in improving sleep regulation and overall health.
Additionally, they may increase REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is important for cognitive function and memory consolidation.
The end result is reduced symptoms of insomnia and improved overall sleep efficiency.
Moreover, these peptides can help regulate the body’s internal clock, promoting more consistent sleep-wake cycles.
Safety and Side Effects of Sleep Peptides
Peptides for sleep are generally safe to use, with few and temporary side effects often stemming from incorrect dosage.
Common side effects of sleep peptides may include headaches, water retention, edema, joint discomfort, increased heart rate, and lower blood pressure.
If you experience any of these, it’s important to consult your doctor to rule out allergies and adjust your peptide dosage accordingly.
For the best results, you should first optimize your lifestyle by eating an insulin-controlled diet, exercising while also practicing proper sleep hygiene before using any peptides for sleep.
Jay’s Closing Thoughts
Read the last sentence from the previous section again.
I AM someone who does not suffer from sleeping issues because my lifestyle is dialed in and fully optimized.
In combination with intelligent training and proper nutrition, I also follow a regimented schedule where my wake times and sleep times remain consistent throughout the entire week.
For this reason alone, I have never had to rely on peptides for sleep.
HOWEVER… that’s not to say pharma-grade HGH doesn’t have profound effects on sleep quality and quantity that may outrival any growth hormone peptide in isolation or combined with another growth hormone peptide.
Additionally, my experience with coaching female clients has found Ipamorelin before bed acts as an excellent sleeping agent.
While I don’t have any direct N-of-1 observations from using peptides for the sole purpose of sleep, you can’t go wrong with fixing your lifestyle in addition to using HGH (or Ipamorelin if you can’t get your hands on it)
Key Takeaways and the Best Peptide Source
Peptides for sleep have been shown in growing scientific studies to help address sleep problems.
They can help regulate your circadian rhythm, manage stress, promote relaxation, and influence neurotransmitter secretion, all of which contribute to you falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.
Peptides, along with practicing good sleep hygiene and making healthy lifestyle changes, can significantly increase the time you spend in a state of deep sleep awhile reducing any tossing and turning late at night.
However, before you use any peptide, it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.
Make sure you are procuring your peptides from trusted sources like Limitless Life Nootropics because they are the biohacking industry’s only reliable vendor for 3rd-party tested research products.
They have the best research formulation of peptides for sleep available and no other vendor comes close to offering them at ultra-high levels of purity for reasonable prices.
Use code JAY15 to get 15% off your order
But before you start injecting these peptides into your body recklessly, make sure you first read the Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Starting Therapeutic Peptides FREE PDF!
Seriously, this short e-book will save you a lot of wasted money and poorly spent time (not to mention preventing you from potential self-inflicted missteps).
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PS — Are you looking to achieve a good night’s sleep through the smart use of therapeutic peptides and other Golden Age agents?
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