VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
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Route(s): Subcutaneous
Typical vial sizes: 5, 10 mg
Dosing window: Morning or early afternoon
Receptor / target: VIP Receptors
Properties: Not stated
Pre-mixed: No
Protocol examples
Standard Protocol
| Timeframe | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-4 | 50mcg - 100mcg daily | Administered very slowly; monitor blood pressure closely. |
Protocol example from the source dataset; verify against the evidence status and listed sources.
Alternative Titration 1: 8-Week Protocol
| Timeframe | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 100mcg 1x/day, 5 days/week | Dose in the morning or early afternoon to align with VIP's natural role in regulating circadian rhythms, energy levels, and cellular function. |
| Week 2-3 | 150mcg 1x/day, 5 days/week | |
| Weeks 4-8 | 200mcg 1x/day, 5 days/week |
Alternative example from the source dataset; not an approved-label regimen unless marked above.
Alternative Titration 2: 3-Month Protocol
| Timeframe | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-12 | 200mcg 1x/day, 5 days/week | Dose in the morning or early afternoon to align with VIP's natural role in regulating circadian rhythms, energy levels, and cellular function. |
Alternative example from the source dataset; not an approved-label regimen unless marked above.
Protocol logic check
Independent evidence
Regulatory status: no approved label identified
Storage
No approved-label storage guidance was identified for this entry. Use conservative sterile handling and see the general storage guidance in the FAQ.
Contraindications & cautions
Evidence varies by item. Some points come from labels, published literature, or regulatory context; others are mechanism-based cautions from the source dataset. Use the sources below to verify details.
- Hypotension (low blood pressure): VIP is one of the most potent endogenous vasodilators; administering it in a subject with baseline low blood pressure risks dangerous acute hypotension, syncope, and cardiovascular instability.
- Use before upstream CIRS inflammatory markers are normalized: per the Shoemaker Protocol, VIP is the final intervention step; using VIP in subjects with unresolved elevated MMP-9, TGF-β1, or C4a will produce insufficient therapeutic benefit and may worsen symptoms.
- Active ongoing mold or biotoxin exposure: VIP will not maintain therapeutic effect if the biotoxin source has not been eliminated (e.g., still living in a water-damaged building).
- Hypersensitivity to VIP or peptide excipients.
- Concurrent use of other vasodilatory agents (e.g., PDE5 inhibitors, nitrates, alpha-blockers): additive vasodilation and hypotension risk.
- Subjects on antihypertensive medications: the combined vasodilatory effect may reduce blood pressure below safe thresholds.
- VIPoma (VIP-secreting tumor): endogenous VIP is already pathologically elevated; exogenous administration is absolutely contraindicated.
- Severe cardiovascular disease with labile blood pressure or recent myocardial infarction.
- Pregnancy: VIP plays a role in uterine tone regulation; exogenous VIP administration during pregnancy is not established as safe.
- Pediatric use: safety not established.
Possible side effects
Evidence varies by item. Some points come from labels, published literature, or regulatory context; others are mechanism-based cautions from the source dataset. Use the sources below to verify details.
- Rapid blood pressure drop (hypotension): the primary and most serious adverse effect; VIP-mediated smooth muscle relaxation in systemic and pulmonary vasculature can produce a sudden, significant blood pressure decrease within minutes of injection, particularly if administered quickly; the protocol instruction to inject "very slowly" is the critical mitigating intervention.
- Dizziness and lightheadedness: secondary to acute vasodilation and blood pressure drop; patients should be seated or supine during administration.
- Flushing and sensation of warmth: vasodilation-mediated; particularly facial flushing; onset within minutes; typically transient.
- Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia): reflex compensatory heart rate increase in response to vasodilation-induced blood pressure drop; transient.
- Headache: vasodilation-related; common in subjects sensitive to vasodilatory peptides.
- Nausea: gastrointestinal smooth muscle relaxation; VIP is an intestinal secretagogue; dose-related.
- Diarrhea and watery stools: VIP stimulates intestinal chloride secretion and fluid secretion in the gut; at higher doses, this is a pharmacological consequence of the mechanism (VIPoma syndrome, characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, is the extreme pathological version of this effect).
- Transient nasal congestion: more commonly associated with intranasal route; mild.
- Increased susceptibility to intracellular pathogens (theoretical): VIP's immunomodulatory tolerance programming that promotes T-regulatory cells and suppresses Th1 responses could, at sustained high doses, impair cell-mediated immunity against intracellular pathogens (mycobacteria, Listeria, viruses).
- Syncope: in subjects with baseline hypotension or cardiovascular instability; the most serious acute risk; requires lying down, fluid intake, and monitoring.
Compatibility
The relationships below come from the source site's internal engine and were not verified independently. Treat them as a starting point for a conversation with a clinician. They carry no safety guarantee.
Reported synergistic:
Reported contraindicated combinations:
None listed.