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Limited human dataFDA 503A Category 1

VIP side effects

Also known as: Vasoactive intestinal peptide · Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide · Aviptadil · RLF-100

Updated 28 sources

8 side effects reported for VIP: 2 from studies and labels, 6 from users and guides. 2 come with the ways people manage them.

VIP overview

Side effects reported in studies and labels

Rates as each trial or label states them. A rate from one trial does not carry over to research-grade vials or other doses.

From trials and regulators2

Clinical studies and regulatory documents.

  • Facial flushing

    With 40% of 1,711 penile injections of VIP plus phentolamine; also at the highest IV dose in volunteers

  • Faster heart rate and lower diastolic blood pressure

    With IV VIP in healthy volunteers

Side effects users and guides report

What people post and what dosing guides list. These are reports, not measured rates.

From users and guides6

Community reports, competitor and vendor guides, media.

  • Dizziness, lightheadedness or low blood pressure

    Among the most reported short-term effects, from blood-vessel widening

    How people manage it

    • Stop and seek clinical guidance if strong flushing or dizziness follows a dose; slower injection is a commonly reported mitigation under supervision.

  • Loose stools or diarrhea

    Commonly listed; VIP drives intestinal secretion

  • Headache

    Mild, among the most reported effects in guides; 77 PeptIQ app logs

  • Nausea

    Transient, at higher doses in guides; the most logged side effect in the PeptIQ app (83 logs)

  • Rising lipase or pancreatitis

    Called the main documented risk by one guide; lipase did not rise in the 20-person CIRS trial

    How people manage it

    • Check lipase before starting and during use; stop and get care if lipase rises or belly pain starts.

  • Nasal or airway irritation

    The main concern with chronic nasal or inhaled use

Who should avoid it, and what not to combine

  • History of pancreatitis or raised lipaseCondition

    VIP can affect the pancreas; protocols gate on a normal lipase.

  • Low blood pressureCondition

    VIP widens blood vessels and can lower pressure further.

  • Blood pressure medicinesSubstance

    Its blood-pressure effect could add to antihypertensive drugs.

  • Pregnancy or breastfeedingCondition

    Safety not established.

  • Active cancerCondition

    VIP receptors are overexpressed on some tumors, a theoretical concern.

  • Nasal MARCoNS or ongoing mold exposureCondition

    The CIRS protocol says VIP will not work while these remain and requires a negative MARCoNS culture first.

How much is known

Limited human data

Human data exist but rarely for the way people use it. The CIRS nasal spray rests on one open-label, single-clinic trial of 20 patients published outside PubMed. Inhaled VIP had small open studies in sarcoidosis (n=20) and pulmonary hypertension (n=20 single dose; n=8). The best controlled result is the VIP plus phentolamine ED injection. IV aviptadil failed in COVID respiratory failure (n=461).

VIP side effects questions

What are the side effects of VIP?

Mostly effects of widened blood vessels: flushing, lightheadedness, low blood pressure, a faster heart rate, headache, nausea and loose stools. Flushing came with 40% of injections in the ED trial. Guides flag the pancreas as the key thing to monitor.

Sources for these side effects

11 sources, each checked by date. Record updated Oct 24, 2026. Numbers are restated in our own words and labelled by where they came from.

Competitor guide6

  1. VIP peptide dosing guidepeptidedosingprotocols.com · checked Oct 24, 2026
  2. VIP complete research guidepeptidedeck.com · checked Oct 24, 2026
  3. VIP compound pagebodyhackguide.co · checked Oct 24, 2026
  4. VIP protocol guidepathtopeptides.com · checked Oct 24, 2026

Community-reported1

  1. VIP compound page, app community datapeptiq.io, via a competitor guide · checked Oct 24, 2026

Back to the full VIP page for dosing, the vial chart and storage.