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DSIP: dosage in studies

Updated 12 Oct 2026 Author: About 2 min read Drafted with the help of AI; sources and claims checked separately.

Not a recommendation, not treatment guidance. This page shows only what published human studies used, with sources. This site does not say how much anyone should use of any substance. Fimea warns against using injectable peptides bought online: Fimea warning.

DSIP (a peptide described as inducing delta sleep) doses in humans have been reported almost only in studies from 1981-1992. They are 34-45 years old and small: the sleep studies whose abstracts give the number of participants had 6-18 participants [1, 2, 4]B [7]A.

In every study DSIP was given into a vein, most often at 25 nmol per kg of body weight. The newest, a 2009 anaesthesia study, used 25, 50 or 100 nmol/kg [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]B [6, 7, 8]A.

Doses used in studies

Doses used in published human studies. Not a recommendation.
StudyParticipantsDoseFrequencyDurationSource and level
Schneider-Helmert et al. 1981 6 healthy volunteers (4 men, 2 women) 25 nmol/kg as a slow infusion into a vein in the morning Single dose, placebo on another occasion (double-blind crossover) One dose [1]B
Schneider-Helmert and Schoenenberger 1981 6 middle-aged people with chronic insomnia 25 nmol/kg into a vein Single dose One dose [2]B
Dick et al. 1983 67 patients with withdrawal symptoms (28 alcohol, 39 opiates), 49 of them evaluated 25 nmol/kg into a vein as the only treatment Not reported Not reported [3]B
Schneider-Helmert 1986 18 people with chronic insomnia (aged 29-83) 30 nmol/kg into a vein 6 times over one week 1 week plus one week of follow-up [4]B
Monti et al. 1987 Patients with chronic insomnia (number not given in the abstract) 25 nmol/kg into a vein On four nights, compared with placebo (double-blind crossover) 4 nights [5]B
Bjartell et al. 1989 11 healthy men (aged 25-39) 25 nmol/kg into a vein Single dose, compared with saline (randomised, double-blind crossover) One dose [6]A
Bes et al. 1992 16 people with chronic insomnia, half given DSIP and half placebo 25 nmol/kg into a vein in the afternoon On three consecutive days before the night 3 days [7]A
Pomfrett et al. 2009 24 women undergoing anaesthesia, 12 given DSIP and 12 saline 25, 50 or 100 nmol/kg as a single dose into a vein Twice: while awake and after anaesthesia began One anaesthesia [8]A

Evidence levels: A = randomised human trial or meta-analysis · B = observational human study or case series · C = animal study · D = cell or laboratory study · E = not peer-reviewed

Notes

Two other studies (withdrawal symptoms 1984, 107 patients; severe insomnia 1987, 14 patients) gave DSIP, but their abstracts do not state the dose, so they are not in the table [10, 11]B.

What points the other way or is uncertain

Monti et al. (1987) found no difference from placebo in awakenings or time awake with 25 nmol/kg on four nights. The researchers concluded that the sleep improvement was of little clinical significance [5]B.

In a placebo-controlled study, Bes et al. (1992) found only weak effects, which may partly have been due to a chance change in the placebo group. They concluded that short-term DSIP treatment is not likely to help chronic insomnia much [7]A.

In the anaesthesia study DSIP raised heart rate and reduced heart rate variability, and at 25 nmol/kg it unexpectedly lightened the anaesthesia [8]A.

More on this

Read the research yourself: sources

  1. Schneider-Helmert D, Gnirss F, Monnier M, 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. PMID 6895513
  2. Schneider-Helmert D, Schoenenberger GA. The influence of synthetic DSIP (delta-sleep-inducing-peptide) on disturbed human sleep. Experientia. 1981;37(9):913-917. PMID 7028502
  3. Dick P, Grandjean ME, Tissot R. Successful treatment of withdrawal symptoms with delta sleep-inducing peptide, a neuropeptide with potential agonistic activity on opiate receptors. Neuropsychobiology. 1983;10(4):205-208. PMID 6328354
  4. Schneider-Helmert D. Efficacy of DSIP to normalize sleep in middle-aged and elderly chronic insomniacs. Eur Neurol. 1986;25(6):448-453. PMID 3792404
  5. Monti JM, Debellis J, Alterwain P, et al. 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. PMID 3583493
  6. Bjartell A, Ekman R, Bergquist S, et al. Reduction of immunoreactive ACTH in plasma following intravenous injection of delta sleep-inducing peptide in man. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1989;14(5):347-355. PMID 2554357
  7. Bes F, Hofman W, Schuur J, et al. Effects of delta sleep-inducing peptide on sleep of chronic insomniac patients. A double-blind study. Neuropsychobiology. 1992;26(4):193-197. PMID 1299794
  8. Pomfrett CJ, Dolling S, Anders NR, et al. Delta sleep-inducing peptide alters bispectral index, the electroencephalogram and heart rate variability when used as an adjunct to isoflurane anaesthesia. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2009;26(2):128-134. PMID 19142086
  9. Kovalzon VM, Strekalova TV. Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a still unresolved riddle. J Neurochem. 2006;97(2):303-309. PMID 16539679
  10. Dick P, Costa C, Fayolle K, et al. DSIP in the treatment of withdrawal syndromes from alcohol and opiates. Eur Neurol. 1984;23(5):364-371. PMID 6548969
  11. 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. PMID 3622582

Sources checked in PubMed on 12 Oct 2026; none has been retracted. Doses are from the study abstracts. Evidence level A means the abstract or PubMed states the study was randomised; the other placebo-controlled studies do not mention randomisation.

Content is general information about research, not medical advice. If you have symptoms, contact a healthcare professional.