What You Need Before Starting
Reconstituting retatrutide requires three things: a vial of lyophilized retatrutide powder, a vial of bacteriostatic water, and sterile insulin syringes. Bacteriostatic water is sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol, which prevents bacterial growth in the reconstituted solution. Do not use sterile water without preservatives — it does not inhibit bacterial growth and the solution must be used within 24 hours. Bacteriostatic water allows the reconstituted peptide to be stored for up to 28 days in the refrigerator.
Step 1: Calculate the Ratio
The standard reconstitution ratio for retatrutide is 2 mL of bacteriostatic water per 10 mg of peptide powder. This produces a concentration of 5 mg/mL. A 20 mg vial would receive 4 mL of bacteriostatic water, maintaining the same 5 mg/mL concentration. A 5 mg vial would receive 1 mL. Keeping the concentration consistent across vials simplifies dose calculation: at 5 mg/mL, a 2 mg dose equals 0.4 mL or 40 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe.
Step 2: Inject the Bacteriostatic Water
Wipe the rubber stopper of both vials with an alcohol swab. Draw the calculated amount of bacteriostatic water into your syringe. Insert the needle through the rubber stopper of the retatrutide vial at a slight angle — not straight down — to avoid damaging the stopper. Inject the water slowly down the inside wall of the vial, not directly onto the lyophilized powder cake. Direct injection onto the powder can cause foaming and peptide degradation.
Step 3: Swirl, Do Not Shake
After adding the water, remove the syringe and gently swirl the vial until the powder is completely dissolved. Do not shake the vial. Shaking creates bubbles and turbulence that can denature the peptide, causing it to lose efficacy. A gentle circular motion for 30 to 60 seconds is sufficient. The solution should be clear and colorless once fully dissolved. If you see particles or cloudiness, the peptide may have degraded and should not be used.
Step 4: Storage After Reconstitution
Reconstituted retatrutide must be stored in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze it. The solution is stable for up to 28 days when refrigerated. After 28 days, the peptide begins to degrade and should be discarded even if the solution appears unchanged. Unreconstituted lyophilized powder can be stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight for up to 12 months, or longer in the freezer.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake is using too little bacteriostatic water, which creates a high-concentration solution that is difficult to dose accurately. The second most common mistake is injecting the water directly onto the powder, causing foaming and potential peptide damage. The third is failing to refrigerate the reconstituted solution, which accelerates degradation. The fourth is reusing syringes — always use a fresh sterile syringe for each injection.
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