VIP: Vasodilation, Immune Modulation, and Cleared Indications
A 28-amino-acid neuropeptide with broad vasodilator, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects, cleared from plasma within about a minute.
What is VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)?
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) is a 28-amino-acid neuropeptide that acts as a vasodilator, bronchodilator, and smooth-muscle relaxant, with additional anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties mediated through the VPAC1/VPAC2 receptors. It disappears from plasma extremely quickly after IV administration — a first-order half-time of about one minute — which is why intranasal and subcutaneous research routes are used to achieve more sustained local exposure. It's sold only as a research compound; no FDA approval exists for VIP itself.
Quick facts
- Molecular Formula
- C147H238N44O42S
- Molecular Weight
- 3325.80 g/mol
- CAS Number
- 40077-57-4
- Half-Life
- ~1 minute (IV plasma disappearance)
- Class
- 28-amino-acid neuropeptide, VPAC1/VPAC2 receptor agonist
- Brand Names
- No trademarked brand — sold as a research compound
- Legal Status
- Not FDA-approved for human use — research use only (RUO)
- Category
- Neuroimmune / Inflammation
- Storage
- Store the lyophilized vial refrigerated (2-8°C) or at -20°C, away from light. Once reconstituted, keep refrigerated at 2-8°C and use promptly.
Dosing at a glance
5mg vial + 2mL bacteriostatic water = 2500mcg/mL for injectable use; intranasal kits are typically pre-formulated by the vendor. Run the numbers in the reconstitution calculator.
Doses shown are those reported in published research, not a recommendation.
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) Mechanism of Action
Broad Vasodilator and Immune Signal
VIP binds VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors distributed widely across the body — smooth muscle, immune cells, and the nervous system — producing vasodilation, bronchodilation, and smooth-muscle relaxation, alongside anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. This broad receptor distribution is why VIP research spans cardiovascular, respiratory, and immune contexts rather than a single narrow application.
Neuroimmune Signaling
Beyond its vasoactive effects, VIP is studied for neuroimmune signaling — regulating cytokine production and immune cell activity in ways relevant to chronic inflammatory conditions. This has driven research interest in VIP for mold/biotoxin-illness and chronic inflammatory-response research protocols, though robust controlled human trial support for those specific applications is limited.
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) Dosage and Protocols
Route-Dependent Research Protocols
Research protocols commonly cite intranasal dosing of 50-100mcg once or twice daily, and subcutaneous doses in the 50-300mcg range. These are informal research/vendor-protocol figures, not clinically validated doses — no formal human dose-finding trial has established a standard protocol for general research use.
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) Side Effects and Safety
Vasodilation-Related Effects
Given its potent vasodilator mechanism, the main theoretical concern is transient hypotension or flushing, particularly with systemic (subcutaneous) administration. Formal adverse-event data at research-community dosing levels is limited. Pregnancy and active malignancy are treated as precautionary contraindications given the broad immunomodulatory mechanism.
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) Research Evidence
Well-Characterized Physiology, Limited Modern Trials
VIP's core physiology — vasodilation, bronchodilation, immune modulation — is well established from decades of basic-science and pharmacology research. However, its use as a therapeutic research compound for specific conditions (chronic inflammatory response, mold-illness protocols) rests on a much thinner and less rigorously controlled human evidence base.
Regulatory and Legal Status
VIP itself has no FDA-approved indication and is not approved for human consumption in the peptide-vendor research-chemical form sold to consumers. (Note: a related but chemically distinct VIP-based drug, aviptadil, has been separately studied for other indications — that is not the same product as research-grade VIP peptide.) It is sold exclusively as a research-grade compound (RUO). Researchers and users should verify the legal status of VIP in their jurisdiction prior to purchase or use.
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) Stacking and Combinations
Standalone Neuroimmune Research
VIP is typically used as a standalone compound in neuroimmune/inflammatory research protocols rather than combined with other peptides in an established stacking pattern.
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) Pharmacokinetics
Extremely Rapid Systemic Clearance
After IV administration, plasma VIP levels fall by first-order kinetics with an average disappearance half-time of about one minute — one of the shortest half-lives of any peptide in this catalog. This extremely rapid systemic clearance is why intranasal and subcutaneous routes, which create more sustained local/regional exposure, are preferred in research use over IV.
More on VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) pharmacokinetics
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- hypotension
- active malignancy
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) dose?
Published research protocols report 50–300 mcg, 1–2x daily. This is the range described in the literature, not a recommendation.
What is the half-life of VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)?
~1 minute (IV plasma disappearance half-time).
Is VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) backed by strong evidence?
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) carries a REGEN research grade of C. REGEN Research Tier C — human trials exist, but the lead programme did not carry through and there is no approval.
How is VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) administered?
Routes reported in the literature: intranasal, subcutaneous.
Who should avoid VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)?
Contraindications noted in the literature include pregnancy, hypotension, active malignancy.