Neurogroot said:
Glad to have you here! My situation isn't far off from yours. As of right now, I've been running peptides that aren't GLP for roughly 3 months.
Like you, I want to better my life and keep shedding pounds. Non GLP peptides can definitely deliver. Quite a few of them are dubious, honestly, though a handful I genuinely rate highly. I figured I'd share just my top 3 (I actually like 7, but I don't want to bury you)
Quick context: 40 year old guy, 226 lbs (I was above 260 when this all began). Every Friday I inject 7 mg Tirzepatide, and on Mondays it's 2 mg Reta plus 0.5mg Cagrilintide. I also take 25 mg Adderall XR (extra instant release when the day is rough). Chronic fatigue has been my companion for about 15 years, and it's gradually getting better.
CJC-1295 (no DAC)/Ipamorelin, 1:1 blend - This one encourages your body's own growth hormone release in a natural pulse. Fat loss gets a small nudge from it (modest, not dramatic), and although sleep quality improves once you're out, it won't make you sleepy. There are CJC-1295 versions WITH DAC, but that variant isn't for me. It sticks around too long and doesn't replicate the body's natural GH pulses. My view: quitting it after using the DAC version could spell trouble later on.
NAD+ - Mitochondrial function depends heavily on NAD+, which is how energy gets made, and it also assists enzymes in repairing damaged DNA. As we get older, our natural supply drops (typically around 35-40 for most people). For me it's been useful, somewhat for physical energy, but my thinking seems to sharpen a bit faster. Oral NAD+ precursors, NR or NMN, are another route. Those do work. In my own case, though, subcutaneous NAD+ gave the biggest gains.
Semax - Hearing the name, some people wince, assuming it's meant for sexual health. Actually it's a cognitive peptide. Its neuroprotective profile is decent, and by raising BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) it reportedly sharpens cognition, memory, attention, and resilience to stress. It also plays a role in modulating dopamine and serotonin.
That's my top 3! Reach out anytime with questions, or anything peptide related. Expert I am not, but my interest in them is huge and I've gone through plenty of fascinating research papers on the subject.