SS-31

Reconstitution

Vial sizes up to 30 mg are mixed to 10 mg/mL. Larger vials hold at most 3 mL of water, so they are mixed more concentrated and need fewer units per dose.

^* This size is conventionally mixed more concentrated rather than diluted further — fewer units per dose than smaller vials of this peptide.

Dose to syringe units

On a standard 100-unit (1 mL) insulin syringe, for vials mixed to 10 mg/mL (sizes marked * are more concentrated and need fewer units):

Amounts listed in the Dosify Me data: 1000–5000 mcg. Frequency: daily, 12 weeks on, 4 weeks off. Timing: any consistent time.

FDA-approved only for Barth syndrome under the brand name Forzinity; other uses are investigational. Published clinical trials (Barth syndrome, mitochondrial myopathy) used continuous daily dosing, in some cases for 3+ years without a break — the FDA-approved protocol is not cycled. Separately, community wellness protocols commonly describe a cycled pattern instead: 12 weeks on, then 4 weeks off. Both patterns exist in real use; the daily frequency listed here matches the clinical evidence. The 10mg vial mixes to 10mg/mL. The 30mg and 50mg options are capped at ~3mL BAC water instead of diluted further, so they come out more concentrated (fewer units per dose) than the 10mg vial.

Reading units for SS-31

• Syringe units measure volume, not the amount of SS-31: on a U-100 insulin syringe 100 units is 1 mL.
• The vial is labelled in mg while quantities are often written in mcg: 1 mg is 1000 mcg, so a 10 mg vial holds 10000 mcg.
• Vials of 50 mg and larger hold at most 3 mL of water, so they are mixed stronger than the smaller sizes and the same quantity reads fewer units.

Check one row of the table above: 2500 mcg is 2.5 mg; 2.5 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 0.25 mL; 0.25 mL × 100 = 25 units.

What it does

• Also known as Elamipretide — targets mitochondria and stabilizes cardiolipin, a key membrane lipid.
• Stabilizing that membrane lets existing mitochondria make more energy (ATP) per unit of oxygen and leak fewer free radicals, which lowers ongoing damage — it supports the mitochondria you already have rather than rebuilding damaged cells.
• FDA-approved (as Forzinity) specifically for Barth syndrome, a rare genetic mitochondrial disease.
• Studied more broadly for mitochondrial dysfunction linked to aging, heart failure, and eye disease.
• Uses beyond Barth syndrome remain investigational and are not FDA-approved.

Why it is listed under Longevity & Mitochondrial, Energy & Vitality, Heart Health

• Longevity & Mitochondrial: Targets mitochondria, stabilizes cardiolipin, FDA-approved for Barth syndrome.
• Energy & Vitality: Targets mitochondria and stabilizes cardiolipin — FDA-approved for a rare mitochondrial energy-production disorder.
• Heart Health: Studied for mitochondrial dysfunction linked to heart failure and cardiac defects in Barth syndrome.

What users report

Anecdotal and early-research reports, kept apart from the evidence above. Not clinically established.

• Users report more sustained energy and less fatigue, usually described as building over weeks rather than felt on the day.
• Faster recovery from exercise and less muscle soreness are commonly reported.
• Some report improved exercise tolerance and heart-rate recovery, in line with the heart-failure research that is still unproven for healthy people.
• It is widely marketed as 'mitochondrial repair' that rebuilds broken cells; the trial evidence shows improved function of existing mitochondria, not repair of damaged cells or structures.
• Reports of sharper thinking and better sleep appear in forums without supporting data.

Side effects

• Injection site redness, hardening, itching, pain, or bruising — most common in trials.
• Dose changes for reactions were uncommon (under 5%).
• No serious events clearly attributed to the drug.
• No cardiovascular signal in trials up to 24 weeks.

SS-31 calculator

Different vial or dose? Open the SS-31 reconstitution calculator, pre-filled with these numbers.

Frequently asked

How many units is 1 mg of SS-31?

At 10 mg/mL (the standard mix for vials up to 30 mg), 1 mg of SS-31 is 10.0 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe (0.100 mL).

How many units is 2.5 mg of SS-31?

At 10 mg/mL (the standard mix for vials up to 30 mg), 2.5 mg of SS-31 is 25.0 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe (0.250 mL).

How many units is 5 mg of SS-31?

At 10 mg/mL (the standard mix for vials up to 30 mg), 5 mg of SS-31 is 50.0 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe (0.500 mL).

How much bacteriostatic water do I add to a 10 mg vial of SS-31?

1.00 mL, which gives 10 mg/mL. Larger vials hold at most 3 mL of water, so they are mixed more concentrated and need fewer units per dose.

How much bacteriostatic water do I add to a 30 mg vial of SS-31?

3.00 mL, which gives 10 mg/mL. Larger vials hold at most 3 mL of water, so they are mixed more concentrated and need fewer units per dose.

How much bacteriostatic water do I add to a 50 mg vial of SS-31?

3.00 mL, which gives 16.67 mg/mL. This size holds at most 3 mL of water, so it is mixed more concentrated and the same dose is fewer units than from a smaller vial.

How often is SS-31 taken?

Daily, 12 weeks on, 4 weeks off. Any consistent time Typical cycle: 12 weeks on, 4 weeks off.

Sources

• Phase 2/3 Trial of Elamipretide in Barth Syndrome (PMC)
• Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Elamipretide in Barth Syndrome — TAZPOWER 168-Week Extension (ScienceDirect)
• Mitochondrial protein interaction landscape of SS-31 (PNAS)
• SS-31 ameliorates cardiac mitochondrial defects in Barth syndrome (Scientific Reports, Nature)
• SS-31 (Elamipretide): Cognitive Vitality research review (Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation)

Related pages and guides

• SS-31 calculator
• How many units is 250 mcg?
• How much bacteriostatic water for a 5 mg vial?
• U-100 vs U-50 insulin syringe for peptides
• Peptide injection site rotation
• All peptide guides