IGF-1 LR3 protocol

Standard

10u

50 mcg · Daily post-workout

Systemic dose.

Site IM

5–8u

25–40 mcg/site · Post-workout

Local muscle.

Off

Equal to on-time

Mandatory.

Phase	How often	Dose	Units	Notes
Standard	Daily post-workout	50 mcg	10u	Systemic dose.
Site IM	Post-workout	25–40 mcg/site	5–8u	Local muscle.
Off	Equal to on-time	–	–	Mandatory.

Cycle & timing

Cycle: 4–6 weeks on, equal time off. Off periods critical, receptor desensitises permanently if skipped.

Timing: With food, post-workout; long half-life means hypoglycemia risk all day.

Where: IM into recently trained muscle (site enhancement) or SubQ abdomen (systemic).

What to expect

Muscle fullness within days, recovery by 2–4 wks. Hypoglycaemia risk, keep fast carbs handy; off-cycles mandatory.

How much to buy

For 4-wk @ 50 mcg × 7/wk:

14

× 0.1mg vials

2

× 1mg vials

Men & women

Men: Same growth-signal caution, prostate; watch PSA in men over ~40.

Women: Direct IGF-1 bypasses GH, so estrogen doesn’t soften it; same growth-signal caution: breast, ovarian, or uterine history.

Dilution calculator

Set to the guide's typical mix for IGF-1 LR3. Change anything to see where to draw.

Vial size

BAC water added

Dose you want

Draw to

10u

Volume

0.10 mL

Strength

0.5 mg/mL

Doses per vial

20

Assumes a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL). Double-check against the compound's page before you draw.

Recommended mixes

Vial	Water	Strength
0.1 mg	0.2 mL acetic acid	0.5 mg/mL
1 mg	2 mL acetic acid	0.5 mg/mL

0.1 mg: 1 unit = 0.005 mg

Storage

PowderFreeze-dried: -4°F.
MixedReconstituted in acetic acid: 36–46°F, use within 4 weeks.

Don't use if: Active malignancy · Acute critical illness (post-surgical, ICU): increased mortality reported in trials · Severe / proliferative diabetic retinopathy · Pregnancy and lactation

Stop if you notice

Severe headache with vision changes (rule out intracranial hypertension)
New onset hyperglycemia
Persistent edema
New-onset hip pain in pediatrics

Side effects

Hypoglycaemia (keep carbs available). Jaw/finger growth at high doses. Headache, nausea.

Drug interactions

Glucocorticoids: blunt GH/IGF-1 response, reassess steroid dose after starting GH; Insulin / antidiabetics: GH raises insulin needs; IGF-1 and IGF-1 LR3 cause hypoglycemia, adjust accordingly; Levothyroxine: GH lowers free T4, recheck TSH/fT4 quarterly; Oral estrogens: blunt GH-stimulated IGF-1, consider transdermal if response is blunted; CYP3A4 narrow-TI substrates (cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus): recheck troughs after starting; Anticonvulsants (phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital): GH may shift seizure threshold; monitor levels

Labs

IGF-1 (baseline / Wk 8 / end + quarterly), Fasting glucose (Wk 0/4/8), Lipid panel (Wk 0/12); TSH and free T4 quarterly (GH affects thyroid axis); Cortisol baseline (GH can mask central adrenal insufficiency); Lipid panel; Hip/scoliosis exam in pediatrics; Out of range? IGF-1 above your age range = too much growth signal → drop the dose.

What these labs mean →

Warnings

Intracranial hypertension with somatropin (papilledema, vision changes, headache, nausea, vomiting); Insulin resistance and new-onset T2DM; Fluid retention, edema, carpal tunnel; Pancreatitis (rare); IGF-1 elevation above age range carries theoretical malignancy risk; 20–30 hour half-life means hypoglycemia risk extends throughout the day.; Long-term IGF-1 elevation theoretical malignancy concern.

Patient education

Vials must be refrigerated never frozen (somatropin); Rotate injection sites; Report new joint pain; Children: report any limp or hip/knee pain immediately; Eat carbs after injection, not fasted

These apply on top of the universal safety rules.

Pairs well with

CJC-1295 No DAC + Ipamorelin

GH-axis support

CJC-1295 (No DAC) + Ipamorelin

Tesamorelin

visceral fat reduction

Tesamorelin

BPC-157 / TB-500

joint and soft-tissue repair

BPC-157 TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4)

Tirzepatide

offsets glucose shifts

Tirzepatide

Avoid with

Active malignancy

promotes growth

Diabetic retinopathy

Take with food

NOT fasted/bedtime, blunts effect

Can IGF-1 LR3 + CJC-1295 (No DAC) + Ipamorelin share a syringe?

Compatible, but check the timing. IGF-1 / MGF / HGH are water-based and compatible. They're often timed post-workout, so you may separate them for timing, not safety.

What it does

LR3 is not FDA-approved in any form (mecasermin ≠ LR3); no human dosing data.

Long-acting IGF-1 analog (20–30 hr half-life), drives muscle protein synthesis and cellular repair directly. Binds IGF-1R with high affinity. Activates PI3K/Akt/mTOR for protein synthesis.

References

researchdosing peptidedosages PubMed thepeptidereport peptides.id Span 2000 Weissberger 1991

From the guide, page 46.