Huberman LabPeptide & Hormone Therapies for Health, Performance & Longevity | Dr. Craig Koniver
At a glance
WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT
Peptides, NAD, and Mindset: Precision Tools For Modern Health Optimization
- Andrew Huberman interviews physician Dr. Craig Koniver about the emerging but rapidly expanding world of peptide and hormone-adjacent therapies for health, performance, and longevity. They explain what peptides are, how they differ from classic hormone replacement, and why many sit mechanistically between supplements and full-blown drugs. The discussion covers GLP‑1 agonists, BPC‑157 and its successor PDA, growth hormone secretagogues, pinealon for REM sleep, and NAD in both infusion and injectable forms, including real-world protocols and safety considerations.
- They also address serious sourcing issues—why compounding pharmacies and physician supervision are crucial compared to gray‑market “research chemical” vendors—and how recent FDA actions have sharply restricted many popular peptides. Beyond molecules, Koniver emphasizes that tools like peptides and NAD work best when layered on a foundation of sleep, exercise, nutrition, and especially a deliberately positive mindset, which he views as the most powerful long-term health lever.
IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING
5 ideasUse GLP‑1 agonists slowly and strategically to avoid muscle loss and rebound weight gain.
Koniver sees semaglutide and especially tirzepatide as powerful tools when used via microdosing from compounding pharmacies, starting very low and titrating slowly. He aims for ≤2 pounds of weight loss per week, combines them with resistance training and adequate protein, and often stacks with growth hormone secretagogues (e.g., tirzepatide + sermorelin) to preserve lean mass. Conventional high-dose protocols drive rapid loss, “Ozempic face,” and quick weight regain once stopped.
Avoid gray‑market peptides; work only with physicians using reputable compounding pharmacies.
Many online vendors label products “not for human consumption” and skip rigorous endotoxin and sterility testing. Koniver has seen anaphylaxis and serious inflammatory reactions from such products, largely driven by contaminants like LPS. FDA‑regulated compounding pharmacies must meet strict purity and sterility standards and allow customized dosing and stacking; his protocol always includes a physician consult, contraindication review, and careful dosing rather than self‑experimentation from the internet.
BPC‑157 is off the table, but PDA (Penta‑DCA arginate) is an emerging substitute for systemic repair.
BPC‑157 was one of Koniver’s most broadly useful peptides for systemic anti‑inflammatory effects and tendon/ligament repair, often injected subcutaneously away from the injury site with strong whole‑body benefits. After FDA removal, he now uses PDA—a single amino acid variant—with similar clinical outcomes so far. His starting dose: 250–500 mcg subcutaneously once daily, Monday–Friday, to support joint recovery, post‑viral inflammation, and general tissue healing.
Choose growth hormone secretagogues based on your specific goals: sleep and leanness vs. appetite and mass.
Ipamorelin (≈100 mcg at bedtime, 5 days on/2 off) is his “clean,” sleep‑supportive, fat‑loss‑favoring GH secretagogue with minimal side effects when dosed properly. Tesamorelin (≈2 mg) targets visceral fat and often works especially well in women. Hexarelin (≈100 mcg in the morning) is more of an energy/endurance enhancer. By contrast, GHRP‑6 and MK‑677 strongly stimulate appetite and may raise prolactin and cortisol; he reserves them for hard‑gainers who specifically want rapid muscle and strength gains.
Pinealon plus glycine can dramatically increase REM sleep and improve sleep architecture.
Pinealon is a very small pineal‑targeted peptide that, in Koniver’s practice and Huberman’s personal experience, can substantially increase REM sleep time and improve overall sleep quality without sedation or observed side effects. Koniver compounds pinealon with injectable glycine (for inhibitory neurotransmission and liver support) and typically doses it subcutaneously at bedtime. Huberman reports roughly doubling his REM sleep on nights he uses it and seeing better sleep even on off nights, consistent with pineal support rather than simple sedation.
WORDS WORTH SAVING
5 quotesMost of the medicines prescribed, particularly in America, are prescribed off label, meaning they've never ever been approved for what they're used.
— Dr. Craig Koniver
If I can help people lose weight first, literally by using something like tirzepatide, then they're going to be motivated. The light bulb turns on, and that's the aha moment that I love helping people with.
— Dr. Craig Koniver
Anything you expose yourself to continually doesn't work as well.
— Dr. Craig Koniver
If I had to pick one thing for people, engaging in NAD would be it.
— Dr. Craig Koniver
No good has ever come from a negative thought.
— Dr. Craig Koniver
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