Neither GHK-Cu nor injectable NAD+ is FDA-approved as a medication. The protocols described below are summarized from peer-reviewed research and the dosing patterns commonly reported in the literature — they are not prescribing guidance. Stacks combine compounds; the side-effect profile is the union of both, not the average.
"Glow stack" became a breakout search term over the past twelve months — search interest is up roughly 5×. What the term actually refers to is a specific pairing: GHK-Cu (copper peptide) for skin remodeling, combined with NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) for mitochondrial support.
This post explains the rationale, the typical weekly schedule, and the math for each compound. It is not an endorsement — these are research peptides, not approved medications.
The two compounds, very briefly
If you want the full single-peptide guides, see GHK-Cu and the NAD+ reference page. The 30-second version:
- GHK-Cu — a small naturally-occurring copper-binding tripeptide. Studied for collagen synthesis, wound healing, and hair-follicle signaling. Published since the 1970s.
- NAD+ — a coenzyme central to mitochondrial energy metabolism. Levels decline with age. Studied for cellular energy, sirtuin activation, and DNA-repair pathways.
The "stack" hypothesis: GHK-Cu addresses the structural layer of skin (collagen, elastin, copper-dependent enzymes), and NAD+ addresses the energetic layer (mitochondrial function in dermal fibroblasts). The intuition is that healthy fibroblasts produce better collagen, and collagen-supportive signaling is more effective in cells with intact energy metabolism.
This is a hypothesis from the broader research literature, not a clinically-validated combination protocol. There are no head-to-head trials of the stack vs either compound alone.
The standard weekly schedule
The iOS app's "Glow — GHK-Cu + NAD+" template:
| Phase | Weeks | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| GHK-Cu (3× weekly)Mon / Wed / Fri at 8 PM is the typical schedule | 1–8 | 2 mg subcutaneous |
| NAD+ (1× weekly)Weekend morning is common | 1–8 | 100 mg subcutaneous or IM |
An 8-week cycle is the most-cited duration in the patterns reported in practitioner literature, after which many users take a 2–4 week break before assessing results and deciding whether to continue.
The math — GHK-Cu side
GHK-Cu vials commonly ship as 100 mg lyophilized powder, reconstituted with 5 ml of bacteriostatic water → 20 mg/ml.
2 mg ÷ 20 mg/ml = 0.10 ml
0.10 ml × 100 (U-100) = 10 units
Inputs
GHK-Cu common vial sizes: 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg. Typical dose range: 1–3 mg. Research publications. Not medical advice.
for a 1 mg dose
- Concentration
- 25.0 mg/ml
- Volume
- 0.040 ml
- Per ml
- 100 u
Not medical advice. Always verify against your vial label and your provider's instructions. Re-check before drawing.
The math — NAD+ side
NAD+ is bulkier — the molecule is heavier and the dose is much larger than most peptides. 500 mg vials reconstituted with 5 ml of bacteriostatic water yield 100 mg/ml, putting a 100 mg weekly dose at:
100 mg ÷ 100 mg/ml = 1.0 ml
1.0 ml × 100 (U-100) = 100 units (a full U-100 syringe)
That's a meaningful volume to inject subcutaneously — many providers prefer intramuscular delivery for NAD+ for this reason. Some practitioners also slow-administer the NAD+ portion to mitigate the flushing reaction that's commonly reported with rapid administration.
Inputs
NAD+ common vial sizes: 100 mg, 200 mg, 500 mg. Typical dose range: 100–500 mg. Clinical literature. Not medical advice.
- That dose needs 200.0 units — more than fits in one U-100 syringe (100). Consider a higher concentration or split the dose.
for a 100 mg dose
- Concentration
- 50.0 mg/ml
- Volume
- 2.000 ml
- Per ml
- 100 u
Not medical advice. Always verify against your vial label and your provider's instructions. Re-check before drawing.
What to watch for — the union of both side-effect profiles
Because you're stacking, your tolerability check covers both compounds. The signals reported for each in the literature:
GHK-Cu side:
- Mild redness at injection site
- Slow visible change over weeks (track with photos)
- Possible darkening of existing moles or freckles in a minority of users
- Copper sensitivity is a contraindication
NAD+ side:
- Flushing, chest pressure, nausea — particularly with rapid administration
- Slow administration mitigates these
- Effects of NAD+ supplementation are typically subtle and emerge over weeks
If symptoms are dose-dependent, providers often adjust by lowering the NAD+ dose first (since it's the more reactive compound), keeping the GHK-Cu cadence.
Stacks are harder to debug than single compounds. If you experience a side effect, you can't always tell which compound caused it without isolating one. If something feels off, talk to your provider before the next dose — they may have you pause one compound to identify the source.
Why people choose a stack over single peptides
The honest answer: published evidence is stronger for each compound individually than for the specific pairing. People stack because:
- The mechanisms are non-overlapping (structural + energetic), so side effects don't necessarily compound
- Both protocols are weekly-cadence, which is logistically simple
- The cost increment of adding NAD+ to a GHK-Cu protocol is modest
Whether that translates into better outcomes than single-compound GHK-Cu is an open question. Track baseline photos every 2–4 weeks and let the data answer.
Tracking a stack
The iOS app handles stack tracking specifically:
- Two separate weekly schedules running in parallel (M/W/F for GHK-Cu, Sat for NAD+)
- Independent reminder tracks
- Body-map rotation across both compounds
- Side-effect timeline that records which compound was logged closest to each symptom report — useful for stack-debugging
- Doctor-ready PDF showing both protocols on one timeline
Related reading
- GHK-Cu reference page — solo dosing
- NAD+ reference page — solo dosing
- Glow Stack protocol template — the schedule in the iOS app
- Wolverine Stack: BPC-157 + TB-500 — the other popular two-peptide stack
References
- Pickart L. & Margolina A. Int J Mol Sci 2018 — GHK actions on tissue
- PubMed: NAD+ supplementation — broader literature
- PubMed: GHK-Cu — full GHK-Cu literature