VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) for Sleep
A 28-amino-acid signaling peptide with anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory actions; its synthetic form (aviptadil) has been trialed for respiratory failure, and an intranasal form is used off-label in the chronic-inflammatory-response (mold/CIRS) community.
Why VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) for sleep?
According to PubMed, a multicenter randomized trial of IV aviptadil (synthetic VIP) in critical COVID-19 respiratory failure did NOT meet its primary endpoint, though it showed a secondary survival signal and reduced IL-6 (Youssef JG et al., Crit Care Med 2022). VIP is cleared extremely fast: a rat study measured a plasma half-life of about 0.4 minutes, with the lungs as a major clearance site (Hassan M et al., Nucl Med Biol 1994). The intranasal off-label CIRS use is anecdotal and not supported by controlled trials.
Sleep context: Modulating sleep architecture, slow-wave sleep depth, and circadian regulation. VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) fits this goal because its category (Other) and benefit profile align with the underlying mechanism.
Benefits relevant to sleep
- Anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating signaling
- Upregulates pulmonary surfactant and protects alveolar cells (preclinical, aviptadil)
- Off-label intranasal use reported for chronic inflammatory response and sinopulmonary symptoms (not established)
Reference dosing by bodyweight
Anchored to the most-cited research dose (250 mcg @ 75 kg). Reference only.
| Bodyweight band | Reference dose range |
|---|---|
| <60 kg / <132 lb | 156–211 mcg |
| 60–75 kg / 132–165 lb | 191–259 mcg |
| 75–90 kg / 165–198 lb | 234–316 mcg |
| 90–105 kg / 198–231 lb | 276–374 mcg |
| >105 kg / >231 lb | 319–431 mcg |
Side effects to weigh against sleep benefit
- Hypotension
- Flushing
- Diarrhea
- Infusion-related reactions (IV aviptadil)
Also researched for
Educational use only
This calculator is provided for research and educational purposes. Outputs are derived from the values you enter. Always verify your math and consult a licensed physician before acting on any result.