The Nationally compounded, coming soon.
Epitalon is a peptide of 4 amino acids that providers prescribe to support restful sleep, a steady daily rhythm and healthy aging. Researchers have studied its link to the pineal gland, which makes melatonin, and it is one of six peptides in the October 2026 federal compounding policy.
What is Epitalon?
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide, four amino acids in a row: alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and glycine, often written AEDG [1]. Researchers describe it as a peptide that regulates the function of the pineal gland, the retina and the brain [4]. The pineal gland is the small gland that releases melatonin in the evening and helps set the body's daily clock.
Epitalon is prescribed in courses. The federal policy names Epitalon acetate, given as an injection under the skin or into the muscle, and asks that it be dispensed in intermittent courses rather than for continuous use [6]. Your provider plans the course and the break between courses with you.
What is Epitalon prescribed for?
A provider prescribes Epitalon to support:
- Restful sleep and a regular sleep and wake rhythm
- Your body's natural evening melatonin rhythm
- Healthy aging, as part of a plan that also covers movement, light and sleep habits
- Feeling rested through the long, dark months
What has research looked at?
Epitalon has a research record that reaches from cells to primates.
- Melatonin and daily rhythm. A 2001 study in Neuroendocrinology Letters gave Epitalon to older rhesus monkeys. It significantly stimulated evening melatonin production and brought the daily rhythm of cortisol back toward normal [2].
- Telomeres. A 2003 study in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine added Epitalon to human cells in culture. It switched on telomerase and lengthened telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten as cells age [3].
- Lifespan. A 2000 study in Mechanisms of Ageing and Development found that Epitalon increased the lifespan of fruit flies by 11 to 16 percent, at very low concentrations [1].
- Brain cells. A 2020 study in Molecules found that Epitalon increased markers of new nerve cell development in human stem cells, by 1.6 to 1.8 times at the gene level [4].
Who is Epitalon for?
- The Seattle office worker who leaves home in the dark and comes home in the dark from November to February, when the sun sets before 4:30, and wants sleep back on track.
- The night-shift nurse at a Tacoma hospital whose body clock gets turned around every rotation.
- The frequent flier out of Sea-Tac on Pacific Rim trips who wants to land and settle into local time.
- The 60-year-old on Bainbridge Island who walks the waterfront every morning and wants a healthy aging plan to go with it.
Your visit with Arora Health
BrightSide care is provided by Arora Health, the Seattle practice led by Dr. Shannon Arora and Dr. Sean Arora. Their providers know peptides well and are excited to offer them.
- Start an online visit from home. Tell us about your sleep, your schedule and your goals.
- A Seattle-based Arora Health provider reviews it and builds a plan for you, including whether an Epitalon course fits and when.
- It is nationally compounded: our national pharmacy partners fill your prescription and ship it to your door.
- Follow up with your provider in your BrightSide patient portal between courses and as your plan moves along.
Every prescription gives 50 meals a month to those in need. See how on our giving page, and see how we choose pharmacies on our pharmacy network page.
How is Epitalon supplied?
| Epitalon | |
|---|---|
| Form | Compounded Epitalon acetate, single ingredient |
| Route | Injection under the skin (subcutaneous) or into the muscle |
| How often | In intermittent courses, with breaks, on the schedule your provider sets |
| Storage | As directed on the pharmacy label that comes with your prescription |
When can you get Epitalon?
Soon. On October 30, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services published a draft policy that opens a path for state-licensed 503A compounding pharmacies to compound Epitalon and five other peptides. HHS says the policy is meant "to expand and improve patient access" [5]. It works through enforcement discretion, and BrightSide, Arora Health and our pharmacy partner are getting ready now so we can start as soon as prescribing opens.
Join the list to be first.
When prescribing opens, an Arora Health provider will reach out to you.
Common questions
Is Epitalon the same thing as melatonin?
No. Epitalon is a four-amino-acid peptide, and melatonin is a hormone the pineal gland makes. Researchers have studied Epitalon because of its link to the pineal gland and to evening melatonin production [2].
What does an intermittent course mean?
It means Epitalon is taken for a set stretch and then paused, rather than every day without a break. The federal policy calls for intermittent courses, and your provider sets the length of each course and the break with you.
Do you need a prescription for Epitalon?
Yes. Epitalon will be a compounded medication, made for you by a licensed 503A pharmacy on a prescription from a licensed provider after your visit.
Related peptides
- MOTS-c: energy and metabolic, prescribed to support energy and healthy aging.
- Semax: focus and mood, prescribed to support focus and memory.
- TB-500: recovery and repair, prescribed to support tissue repair.
- See all six on the peptide hub.
Sources
- Khavinson VK, Izmaylov DM, Obukhova LK, Malinin VV. Effect of epitalon on the lifespan increase in Drosophila melanogaster. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 2000. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11087911/ (DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/s0047-6374(00)00217-7)
- Khavinson V, Goncharova N, Lapin B. Synthetic tetrapeptide epitalon restores disturbed neuroendocrine regulation in senescent monkeys. Neuroendocrinology Letters, 2001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11524632/
- Khavinson VKh, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2003. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12937682/ (DOI https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1025493705728)
- Khavinson V, Diomede F, Mironova E, et al. AEDG peptide (Epitalon) stimulates gene expression and protein synthesis during neurogenesis: possible epigenetic mechanism. Molecules, 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32019204/ (DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030609)
- HHS, Enforcement discretion policy regarding 503A compounding using certain peptide bulk drug substances, notice of availability, 91 FR 68526, October 30, 2026. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-10-30/html/2026-22192.htm
- HHS, Enforcement discretion policy regarding 503A compounding using certain peptide bulk drug substances, Appendix A and B. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-503a-peptide-enforcement-discretion-policy-appendix-b.pdf
Compounded peptides are not FDA approved and will be available by prescription from a licensed 503A pharmacy once prescribing opens.
