Both BPC-157 and TB-500 are research peptides — not FDA-approved for human use. The protocols below summarize patterns reported in the research literature, not prescribing guidance. Long-term human safety data for both compounds is limited. If you are considering using either, talk to a licensed healthcare provider first.
The "Wolverine Stack" is internet-coined shorthand for a two-peptide healing protocol — BPC-157 alongside TB-500 (thymosin β4) — named after the Marvel character whose superpower is rapid tissue regeneration. The name is marketing; the underlying compounds are real research peptides with peer-reviewed literature behind them.
This post explains what each compound is, why people pair them, the typical 6-week schedule, and the math for both vials.
The two compounds
BPC-157
A 15-amino-acid fragment of "body protection compound" — a peptide isolated from human gastric juice. The published research describes:
- Accelerated healing in animal models of tendon, ligament, and muscle injury
- Effects on gut-tissue integrity (the original context of its discovery)
- Some evidence for effects on blood-vessel formation and on nervous-system tissue
Most BPC-157 research is in animal models; controlled human trials are limited.
TB-500 (thymosin β4)
A naturally-occurring 43-amino-acid peptide. TB-500 is the synthetic version most commonly sold for research use. The published research describes:
- Cell migration and proliferation in wound-healing contexts
- Effects on actin (the cellular scaffolding protein)
- Investigated in cardiovascular and ophthalmic indications, with one product (Lacrisert / RGN-259) historically advanced for corneal injuries
Like BPC-157, most published data is from animal or cell-culture work.
Why people stack them
The two compounds work on different pieces of the recovery process:
- BPC-157 → cited primarily for tendon, ligament, and gut tissue
- TB-500 → cited primarily for muscle, cell migration, and the broader wound-closure cascade
The hypothesis is that pairing them covers more of the tissue-recovery chain than either alone. Whether that produces meaningfully better outcomes than single-compound protocols is not established by controlled human trials. Practitioners who use the stack rely on the mechanism overlap and on case reports.
The standard 6-week schedule
The iOS app's "Wolverine Stack" template:
| Phase | Weeks | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| BPC-157 (daily)Often injected near the injury area | 1–6 | 0.25 mg subcutaneous |
| TB-500 (2× weekly)Companion compound; typical Mon / Thu schedule | 1–6 | 0.5 mg subcutaneous |
The 6-week duration is the most-cited figure in the practitioner literature for an acute injury cycle. For chronic conditions, longer cycles (8–12 weeks) appear in some reports. Individual response varies enormously — some users report changes within 2 weeks; others see no clear effect. Photo and pain-score logs are the only useful self-monitoring approach.
The math — BPC-157 side
BPC-157 vials commonly ship as 5 mg lyophilized powder, reconstituted with 2 ml of bacteriostatic water → 2.5 mg/ml.
0.25 mg ÷ 2.5 mg/ml = 0.10 ml
0.10 ml × 100 (U-100 syringe) = 10 units
Inputs
BPC-157 common vial sizes: 5 mg, 10 mg. Typical dose range: 0.2–0.5 mg. Research publications. Not medical advice.
for a 0.2 mg dose
- Concentration
- 2.50 mg/ml
- Volume
- 0.080 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 — TB-500 side
TB-500 vials commonly ship as 10 mg lyophilized powder, reconstituted with 2 ml of bacteriostatic water → 5 mg/ml.
0.5 mg ÷ 5 mg/ml = 0.10 ml
0.10 ml × 100 (U-100 syringe) = 10 units
Inputs
TB-500 common vial sizes: 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg. Typical dose range: 2–10 mg. Research publications. 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 2 mg dose
- Concentration
- 1.00 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.
By coincidence both come out to roughly 10 units on a U-100 syringe in the typical configuration — which is why this stack is logistically simple: same draw volume, two different vials.
What to watch for
- Local reaction at injection site — mild redness or soreness, typically resolves within hours
- Fatigue or flu-like feeling in the first week — reported by some users for both compounds, particularly with TB-500
- Headache — reported by a minority of users
- No effect — also reported. Both compounds have variable response rates in the practitioner literature; absence of effect doesn't mean the dose was wrong, it may mean the compound isn't producing change in your specific case
- Limited long-term safety data for both compounds — important context, especially for cycles longer than 6 weeks
Healing peptides are commonly described as injecting "near the injury site." For a non-medical user, this is a non-trivial skill — being near a tendon or muscle without injecting into it requires understanding the anatomy. If your provider hasn't shown you where to inject, ask. Don't guess from a YouTube video.
Tracking the stack
The iOS app handles the BPC-157 daily cadence and the TB-500 twice-weekly cadence on independent reminder tracks, with body-map rotation across both compounds. The doctor-ready PDF shows both protocols on a single timeline so an evaluating clinician can see what overlapped with which.
Related reading
- BPC-157 reference page — solo dosing reference
- TB-500 reference page — solo dosing reference
- Wolverine Stack protocol template — the schedule in the iOS app
- The Glow Stack: GHK-Cu + NAD+ — the other popular two-peptide stack
References
- PubMed: BPC-157 — full literature
- PubMed: thymosin β4 / TB-500 — full literature
- ClinicalTrials.gov: BPC-157 — registered trials