Nootropics Index - Save on smarter supplements
Nootropics>Peptides, proteins & enzymes>DSIP
Peptides, proteins & enzymes

DSIP

Delta sleep-inducing peptide

DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide, also called emideltide) is a nine-amino-acid research peptide. Small older intravenous sleep studies reported mixed or weak effects; they do not establish a healthy-adult oral sleep benefit. Compare vial amount, pack count and chemical form, because retail mass describes package information and does not supply a validated dose.

Sleep SupportBioavailability SensitiveClinical ResearchLimited Human EvidenceMixed EvidenceForm Dependent EvidenceLong Term Safety Unknown
Updated October 2026/6 min read/10 citations
Reviewed by the NootropicsIndex editorial team.Method: prioritize cited human research and official safety or regulatory sources; compare retailer-listed prices without endorsing products.Affiliate disclosure
01

What is it?

What DSIP is

2

DSIP is a peptide made of nine amino acids. The original work isolated it from rabbit cerebral venous blood and synthesized the sequence Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu. That history is distinct from proving that a retail vial reproduces a normal human sleep signal.

Controlled sleep findings were weak4
In 16 adults with chronic insomnia, IV DSIP was associated with higher sleep efficiency and shorter sleep latency than placebo. The authors judged the changes weak and partly attributable to the placebo group; subjective sleep quality did not improve.
Some older studies reported positive findings5
A 14-patient report described better sleep and daytime performance during seven nights of IV DSIP. Its comparison with baseline and external healthy controls cannot provide the same evidence as a randomized concurrent placebo group. Other controlled studies found weak or null results.
02

Names, aliases and forms

Common NamesDelta sleep-inducing peptide; Emideltide
Spelling VariantDelta-sleep-inducing peptide
AcronymDSIP
03

Mechanisms of action

A proposed sleep signal with unresolved biology

6

DSIP was proposed as a naturally occurring sleep factor. The 2006 review highlights uncertainty about its natural occurrence, receptor and biological role. An endogenous-peptide hypothesis does not establish a benefit from taking a synthetic product.

04

Potential effects and evidence map

Human sleep evidence is limited and mixed. A six-volunteer IV experiment reported sleep pressure, and a 14-patient seven-night study reported improved sleep. Other controlled studies found weak or clinically unimportant changes, including unchanged subjective sleep quality. These findings do not establish an oral sleep aid or a general cognitive benefit.

Effect domainMagnitudeGrade
Sleep quality4
UnknownConfidence: Low

Small IV sleep studies reported mixed or weak findings; this research signal is not a measured healthy-adult oral benefit.

Note Magnitude describes the limited IV research signal only. No oral effect magnitude or consumer-product benefit is established.

1/5
C
05

Typical dosages and timing

Intravenous research dose325 nmol/kg

The six-volunteer 1981 study administered DSIP by a slow morning intravenous infusion. There is no validated oral dose or basis for translating that monitored study method into a retail-vial regimen.

06

Timing & effect horizon

Effect horizonUnknown
Unknown
Observation time is not effect duration3

The 1981 volunteer experiment measured sleep for 130 minutes following intravenous infusion and also reported subsequent-night changes. It does not establish oral onset, duration, The time for blood levels to fall by half during the final elimination phase.Source or a repeat-use cycle.

07

Safety, side effects and risk profile

Sedation / impairment3
Confidence: Medium

The six-volunteer intravenous study reported immediate sleep pressure, while describing no classic pharmacologic sedation. That result does not establish alertness or impairment effects for consumer products or other routes.

Note A study finding cannot be converted into a consumer driving-safety claim.

Unscored
C
Evidence uncertainty7
Confidence: High

Healthy-adult oral dose and safety data are inadequate for a numeric risk estimate. Unscored does not mean safe; monitored IV studies do not establish retail-route safety.

Note No supported healthy-adult oral-use estimate; IV and subcutaneous contexts remain separate.

Unscored
C
Interaction risk6
Confidence: Low

No human DSIP study in the reviewed material measures interactions or combination outcomes; this is an evidence gap, not a demonstrated interaction hazard.

Note No specific mixture is endorsed or characterized as safe.

Unscored
E
Cardiovascular caution7
Confidence: Low

Hypotension was reported during IV DSIP use in a withdrawal population. That context complicates causality and does not give a healthy-user incidence estimate.

Note FDA assessment of Dick et al. 1984; route- and population-specific signal.

Unscored
C
Pregnancy / lactation caution6
Confidence: Low

The reviewed DSIP literature does not provide a pregnancy or lactation safety framework for consumer peptide products; this is an evidence gap, not a demonstrated outcome.

Note The evidence boundary is absence of applicable product-route data.

Unscored
E
Alertness findings do not establish driving safety3

The small IV volunteer study reported sleep pressure without classic pharmacological sedation and observed no adverse effects. Six participants cannot establish uncommon harms, next-day alertness or driving safety for other routes.

Why overall risk is unscored7

An established oral dose and adequate safety studies in healthy adults are missing. DSIP risk is therefore unscored; this does not mean safe. Older monitored IV studies cannot establish the risk of oral, intranasal or subcutaneous retail products.

IV adverse events and injection-specific concerns7

FDA's 2026 review reports headache, nausea, vertigo and hypotension during IV use in people undergoing alcohol or opioid withdrawal. Underlying withdrawal complicates causality. FDA also identifies potential immune reactions with injectable preparations; other-route and long-term safety remain unresolved.

08

Interactions and cautions

Interaction evidence is insufficient6

The reviewed clinical literature does not establish the effects of combining DSIP with medicines, alcohol or other sleep products. A lack of interaction data cannot establish a safe combination.

09

Legal and regulatory status

U.S. drug-compounding context, checked October 20268

FDA lists emideltide (DSIP) among withdrawn compounding bulk-substance nominations and flags route-specific safety uncertainty. This U.S. human-drug-compounding assessment is not approval for sleep use or a worldwide prohibition; other markets have separate rules.

10

Practical buying and quality notes

  • Emideltide free base and emideltide acetate are distinct bulk substances. Compare the stated chemical form and formulation, rather than assuming every DSIP name or vial is interchangeable with a study preparation.9
  • Compare vial count, mass per vial and total pack mass before using price-per-mg figures. A ten-vial kit needs a different denominator from one vial. Missing quantity or zero normalized prices cannot establish a cheapest offer; package cost is not cost per effective dose.
  • FDA identifies peptide-impurity and immune-reaction concerns for compounded emideltide. A stated purity percentage alone cannot establish a product's identity, sterility, storage history or human safety.8
11

FAQ

What is DSIP?

9

DSIP stands for delta sleep-inducing peptide; emideltide is another common name. It is a nine-amino-acid research peptide, not an established oral sleep supplement.

Does DSIP improve sleep?

10

Evidence is mixed. A separate four-night, double-blind IV crossover study found no significant improvement in awakenings or sleep latency versus placebo. Stage-2 and NREM differences were already present at baseline, and the authors judged overall clinical significance small.

Is vial mass a DSIP dose?

3

No. A vial's advertised peptide content is a package amount. The small IV study does not establish an oral or subcutaneous dose, and concentration is a separate measurement from an administered amount.

Is a DSIP cycle established?

5

No validated consumer cycle or long-term schedule is established. A 14-patient study observed repeated IV use over seven nights; that study window cannot define a safe repeat-use or break schedule.

Can DSIP improve memory or focus?

2

The cited sleep experiments do not establish a healthy-adult memory, focus or productivity benefit. Animal EEG findings, which measure electrical brain activity, cannot supply those outcomes for people.

Are pregnancy or breastfeeding safety data available?

7

The reviewed evidence does not establish safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for long-term use. These are evidence gaps, not measurements of a particular harm rate.

12

References

  1. PubChem. Delta sleep-inducing peptide (CID 68816). Accessed 2026-07-01.
  2. Schoenenberger GA, Monnier M. Characterization of a delta-electroencephalogram (-sleep)-inducing peptide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977;74(3):1282-1286.
  3. Schneider-Helmert D, et al. Acute and delayed effects of DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide) on human sleep behavior. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol. 1981;19(8):341-345.
  4. Bes F, Hofman W, Schuur J, Van Boxtel C. Effects of delta sleep-inducing peptide on sleep of chronic insomniac patients: a double-blind study. Neuropsychobiology. 1992;26(4):193-197.
  5. Schneider-Helmert D. Effects of delta-sleep-inducing peptide on 24-hour sleep-wake behaviour in severe chronic insomnia. Eur Neurol. 1987;27(2):120-129.
  6. Kovalzon VM, Strekalova TV. Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a still unresolved riddle. J Neurochem. 2006;97(2):303-309.
  7. U.S. FDA. Evaluation of emideltide-related bulk drug substances: emideltide (free base) and emideltide acetate. May 11, 2026; July 2026 PCAC briefing. Accessed 2026-10-19.
  8. U.S. FDA. Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks: emideltide (DSIP). Accessed 2026-10-19.
  9. U.S. FDA. Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, July 24, 2026: emideltide-related bulk drug substances presentation.
  10. Monti JM, Debellis J, Alterwain P, Pellejero T, Monti D. Study of delta sleep-inducing peptide efficacy in improving sleep on short-term administration to chronic insomniacs. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 1987;7(2):105-110.
Note

This page is informational and summarizes available evidence. It is not medical advice, a recommendation, or a substitute for guidance from a qualified clinician.