DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide): Benefits, side effects, dosage details, and how it works

Around 30-50% of American adults don’t get enough sleep.1 The consequences of this insufficiency can be steep, as without a regular 7-8 hours’ rest per night, a person can find themselves at risk for depression, decreased cognitive function, and an increased risk of cardiovascular and endocrine dysfunction.2

For the many millions of people with sleep deficiency, a peptide called DSIP could be a solution, although some researchers might disagree. Even with a research history dating back to the 1970s, DSIP has somewhat fallen out of the scientific literature in the past 20-30 years, and much about its health applications is subject to debate.

In this guide, we clarify the scientific support for DSIP’s utility as not only a sleep aid but also a mood regulator and treatment for substance withdrawal symptoms, chronic pain, and other areas of health.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions about staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.

As of this writing, we’ve cumulatively amassed more than 1,200 research hours on the subject of peptides. For DSIP alone, we spent several days exploring the literature to pinpoint the peptide’s most conclusive therapeutic uses and the studies supporting its use toward those ends. Along the way, we leaned on our relationships with licensed medical providers to better comprehend the treatment protocol so that you understand what it’s like to undergo DSIP therapy.

Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this guide was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy and will continue to be monitored for updates by our editorial team.

Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP), also known as emideltide, is a naturally occurring peptide produced in the hypothalamus, where many neuroendocrine substances originate. It was originally isolated in 1977 from the cerebral venous blood of rabbits and has since been found to be present in small amounts in human brains and plasma, with higher concentrations later in the day.3 4 DSIP, or a similar substance, is also present, at higher concentrations, in human breast milk.5 Because it can cross the blood-brain barrier and is easily absorbed via the gut (unusual for a peptide), some researchers have hypothesized that it may facilitate post-feeding sleep tendencies among newborns, though it remains unclear whether DSIP truly has a hand in neonate sleep-wake cycles.4 5 6

Its mechanism of action is likewise unclear, but it may have something to do with endocrine regulation. Both sleep length and quality are influenced by endocrine factors such as somatoliberin (growth hormone-releasing hormone),7 which contributes to slow-wave sleep8 — an indicator of healthy slumber.9 Some research suggests, though not conclusively, that DSIP can stimulate somatoliberin secretion,10 thereby promoting the onset of a deep stage of sleep.

The endocrine system is similarly linked to things like mood and substance addiction,11 12 so DSIP’s actions on the body’s hormones may be at least partly responsible for its potential effects in those areas as well.

With “sleep-inducing” in its name, you probably won’t be shocked if we tell you that sleep induction is one of DSIP’s primary therapeutic uses. But it’s not the only use. Below, we discuss DSIP’s potential to aid not only with sleep but also mood, substance use recovery, and chronic pain.

In addition to the above, DSIP has demonstrated some potential as a therapy for other health concerns, at least in animal studies. These include:

• Oxidative stress: One of the more recent studies on DSIP, from 2011, concluded that the peptide has a “strong antioxidant effect” owing to an ability to activate the (rat) body’s natural mechanisms against oxidative stress.21
• Edema (swelling via fluid buildup): Again in rats, a 1992 study suggested that DSIP may have an antiedematic effect related to the activation of the GABAergic system and inhibition of serotonin, noradrenaline, and histamine systems.22
• Convulsions: Two rodent studies in the 1990s support DSIP’s use as an anticonvulsant. Both found that it could prevent convulsive onset in subjects administered GABA-A antagonists (which can induce convulsions).23 24 25

In a 2001 editorial published in the European Journal of Anesthesiology, Pollard & Pomfrett describe DSIP as “incredibly safe” because (a) no dose had ever killed an animal subject in clinical research and (b) “no significant side effects” — apart from transient headache, nausea, and vertigo in humans — have been reported.4

But the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) would disagree with DSIP’s designation as “incredibly safe,” as the peptide is included on its list of bulk drug substances with significant safety risks. Per the FDA, compounded drugs that contain DSIP may pose a risk for immunogenicity,26 a state in which the body perceives a substance as a threat and so mounts a potentially life-threatening immune response against it. The FDA also notes that no safety-related information regarding DSIP has been identified, so it’s unknown whether it could be harmful to humans.26 Given these conclusions, we shouldn’t be surprised that DSIP is not an FDA-approved peptide therapy.

Research-grade vs. pharmaceutical-grade DSIP

Because it isn’t FDA-approved, practically all commercially available DSIP is research-grade material. That means it’s available without a prescription, including through (less-than-reputable) online vendors, but is suitable for laboratory use only because of relatively low purity levels.27 If you were to take research-grade DSIP, you run a higher risk of experiencing an anaphylaxis-like immunogenetic reaction.

Does that mean pharmaceutical-grade DSIP doesn’t exist? Not necessarily. It might be possible to get a proper DSIP prescription through a licensed clinician and have it fulfilled by an accredited compounding pharmacy, but it isn’t likely. We discuss the matter further at the end of this guide, under “Where to find DSIP.”

With DSIP being largely relegated to laboratory use, there’s currently no standard protocol for its use among humans. What we know about the use experience comes by deduction of the scientific literature on DSIP and other peptides:

• Preparation: If used as an injectable, DSIP ought to come as a dry powder that needs to be reconstituted into a solution. Reconstitution requires gently mixing the peptide powder with bacteriostatic water.
• Dosage: In human sleep studies, researchers have used intravenous doses of 25nmol per kilogram.13 14 Intravenous administration boasts higher bioavailability than, say, the subcutaneous route,28 which is the more common mode of administration for peptides, so a home-use case would likely involve a higher dose.
• Dose frequency: Injectable therapeutic peptides are generally administered either daily or near-daily (five days a week is typical), though less frequent administration isn’t uncommon. Pollard & Pomfrett claim that “a dose of DSIP given during the course of the day will promote improved sleep on the next night and for several nights thereafter,”4 so the dose frequency here could be an example of less frequent administration. It also implies that a user can take their dose at any time of day, regardless of their desired health outcome.
• Cycling: Cycling refers to the practice of regularly using a peptide for a certain period (“on” time) before taking a break (“off” time), the idea being to prevent building a tolerance that diminishes drug efficacy. Pollard & Pomfrett suggest that DSIP administration doesn’t induce tolerance,4 but theirs isn’t the consensus conclusion. Therefore, it’s unknown whether it’s necessary to cycle DSIP.
• Timeline of benefits: DSIP’s sleep benefits become apparent in a matter of hours, as in a 1981 study in which subjects reported sleep pressure (the feeling of needing sleep) within 130 minutes of intravenous administration.13 According to some, users experience deeper, more restorative sleep in the first few weeks, if not days, of use.
• Storage: As a reconstituted injectable, DSIP should be stored in a cold, dry place. The U.K.’s National Institute for Biological Standards and Control recommends a storage temperature of 4°C, or 39°F,29 so a refrigerator would be the ideal storage environment.

The ideal candidate for DSIP would be someone with a sleep disorder, a mood disorder, a substance use disorder, or chronic head pain, as the most compelling scientific support relates to these four concerns. With that being said, the support isn’t overwhelming, and more research is needed to determine both efficacy and safety.

Although DSIP has demonstrated some promise as an antioxidant, antiedemic, and anticonvulsant agent, the research to date has been limited to animal studies, so it’s uncertain whether desired health outcomes are attainable in humans.

Some research indicates that DSIP may interact with certain drugs. Because it degrades in blood in a pathway involving amino-peptidases, it may not be suitable for people who take medications that inhibit or are metabolized by peptidases (e.g., captopril, a treatment for hypertension).4

Also, based on what we know about other therapeutic peptides, we would say DSIP is contraindicated for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding as well as people with a personal history of cancer.

Search online and you’ll undoubtedly find vendors claiming to sell “pharmaceutical-grade” DSIP, but we urge you to be skeptical. Likely, the products they’re pushing are low-purity research-grade materials that are not suitable for human consumption. And we say “likely” only to account for the very slim chance that a safe, prescription-free version of DSIP is out there, somewhere on the internet.

The truth is that, currently, DSIP is still on the FDA’s Category 2 list of restricted drugs as of September 2024.30 So the only way to get a proper pharmaceutical-grade version is to qualify for an exemption from the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which requires that you:31

• Have a prescription from a licensed clinician
• Need the specified medication (i.e., no other treatment on the market can safely or effectively treat your health condition)

The only other thing you can do, maybe, is wait. The rules on peptides are frequently in flux, and they might eventually change to the point that DSIP, and other peptides on the restricted list, becomes more readily available. Should that happen, we’ll update this guide accordingly and direct you toward the best routes for prescription access.