AICAR

Metabolic & weight Research compound (not approved for human use)

AMPK-activating adenosine analogue (nucleoside) · also known as Acadesine, AICA riboside, 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside

For reference only — not medical advice. Figures are commonly reported values compiled from published sources and may be wrong or out of date. Many compounds listed are not approved for human use. Talk to a licensed clinician before using any compound.

AICAR is a small-molecule nucleoside rather than a true peptide, but it circulates in peptide-research communities. Inside cells it is converted to ZMP, which mimics AMP and switches on the AMPK energy-sensing pathway. It was studied clinically as acadesine for protecting the heart during surgery, and in animals it is best known as an experimental exercise mimetic.

Commonly reported dosing (50 mg vial)

Reconstituted with 3 mL → 16.667 mg/mL.

Phase	Dose	Volume	U-100 units
Starting	1 mg	0.06 mL	6
Standard	2 mg	0.12 mL	12
Higher	3 mg	0.18 mL	18
Advanced chart Upper step of a separate higher-dose community chart (2 mg, then 3 mg, then 5 mg over 12 weeks).	5 mg	0.3 mL	30

Frequency: Once daily, subcutaneous · Half-life: Short; rapidly cleared (limited published pharmacokinetic data)

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Commonly reported dose escalation

Weeks	Dose	Volume	U-100 units
Weeks 1-2	1 mg	0.06 mL	6
Weeks 3-4	2 mg	0.12 mL	12
Week 5+	3 mg	0.18 mL	18

Higher steps may need a larger vial or more than one draw. Escalation schedules vary; dosing decisions belong to a licensed clinician.

Commonly reported reconstitution steps

Vials are usually brought to room temperature (about 15-20 minutes) first.
3 mL of bacteriostatic water is added slowly down the inside wall of the 50 mg vial.
The vial is swirled gently until clear, not shaken.
This gives 16.67 mg/mL. Mixed vials are typically labeled with the date and refrigerated.

Storage

Before mixing: Lyophilized vials are commonly stored frozen (around -20 °C) and protected from light.

After mixing: Reconstituted solution is commonly kept refrigerated (2-8 °C), protected from light, and not frozen.

How it works

AICAR is phosphorylated to ZMP, which activates AMPK; downstream effects reported in preclinical work include increased muscle glucose uptake, more fat oxidation and altered mitochondrial gene expression.

Researched for

Studied in mice as an exercise mimetic that raised running endurance in sedentary animals.
Investigated for glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity in muscle and metabolic disease models.
Evaluated under the name acadesine in cardiac surgery research, with a different route and setting.

Notes

Published research is dominated by animal and cell work; the injectable figures here come from community charts, not from a completed human protocol for this use.
AICAR is on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list for athletes.