VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide): dosage in studies
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.
VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) has been given to people in two ways: as an injection into the penis together with phentolamine for erectile dysfunction [1]A, and as synthetic VIP, aviptadil, for COVID-19 respiratory failure, by infusion into a vein or by inhalation [2, 3, 4]A.
According to the EMA database, the combination product of aviptadil and phentolamine, Invicorp, holds a national marketing authorisation in Finland, among other countries [6]regulator.
Doses used in studies
| Study | Participants | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Source and level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinsmore 1999 | 236 men with erectile dysfunction; 171 in the placebo-controlled phase | 25 µg VIP with 1 mg or 2 mg phentolamine injected into the erectile tissue of the penis (auto-injector) | Self-injected, up to 12 injections | 6 months (placebo-controlled phase) | [1]A |
| Youssef 2022 | 196 patients with critical COVID-19 respiratory failure (randomised 2:1 to aviptadil or placebo) | Aviptadil into a vein at 50, 100 and 150 pmol/kg per hour (rising dose) | One 12-hour infusion a day | 3 consecutive days | [2]A |
| TESICO 2023 | 461 hospital patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure (231 aviptadil, 230 placebo) | Aviptadil into a vein, target 600, 1,200 and 1,800 pmol/kg on days 1, 2 and 3 | One 12-hour infusion a day | 3 days | [3]A |
| Esendagli 2025 | 80 hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (randomised 1:1 to aviptadil or placebo) | Aviptadil inhaled by nebuliser, 100 µg twice 30 minutes apart (200 µg a day) | Once a day | 7-14 days | [4]A |
Evidence levels: regulator = a regulator's assessment or decision, not research evidence · 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or meta-analysis · B = observational human study or case series · C = animal study · D = cell or laboratory study · E = not peer-reviewed
Units: µg = microgram, written mcg in the calculator. A milligram (mg) is a thousand times larger.
Notes
In the erectile dysfunction trial, VIP was always given together with phentolamine and directly into the penis, and in the placebo phase the men injected it themselves [1]A.
The infusion doses in the COVID-19 trials were calculated by body weight and given in hospital [2, 3]A. In TESICO, 94% of patients were in intensive care [3]A. On this page the inhaled dose rests on a single trial of 80 patients [4]A.
What points the other way or is uncertain
The TESICO trial was stopped for futility: aviptadil did not improve recovery at 90 days, and mortality was 38% in the aviptadil group and 36% in the placebo group [3]A.
In the Youssef trial the primary endpoint was not met [2]A. In a meta-analysis, the pooled survival odds ratio of two randomised trials was 1.01, so no benefit was seen [5]A.
- VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide): the full substance page
- VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide): why no calculator preset
- Are peptides legal in Finland?
- All dose pages and calculators
Read the research yourself: sources
- Dinsmore WW, Gingell C, Hackett G, et al. Treating men with predominantly nonpsychogenic erectile dysfunction with intracavernosal vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and phentolamine mesylate in a novel auto-injector system: a multicentre double-blind placebo-controlled study. BJU Int. 1999;83(3):274-279. PMID 10233493
- Youssef JG, Lavin P, Schoenfeld DA, et al. The Use of IV Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (Aviptadil) in Patients With Critical COVID-19 Respiratory Failure: Results of a 60-Day Randomized Controlled Trial. Crit Care Med. 2022;50(11):1545-1554. PMID 36044317
- Brown SM, Barkauskas CE, Grund B, et al. Intravenous aviptadil and remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19-associated hypoxaemic respiratory failure in the USA (TESICO): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Respir Med. 2023;11(9):791-803. PMID 37348524
- Esendagli D, Sarı N, Akhan S, et al. Inhaled Aviptadil Is a New Hope for Recovery of Lung Damage due to COVID-19. Med Princ Pract. 2025;34(2):191-200. PMID 39870064
- Udupa AA, Todur P, Chaudhuri S, et al. Aviptadil Therapy in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2025;29(11):942-953. PMID 41368449
- European Medicines Agency. Article 57 product data (EMA/518502/2018 Rev.89, data as of 21 Sep 2026): aviptadil + phentolamine (Invicorp) entries, including Finland. EMA
The authorisation status of the combination product Invicorp (aviptadil and phentolamine) is on the VIP substance page. This page shows study doses; the product's authorised dosing is given on the substance page. The doses of the Youssef and Esendagli trials are from the full text of the articles.
Content is general information about research, not medical advice. If you have symptoms, contact a healthcare professional.