Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Recovery & healing
  3. VIP

Recovery & healing

VIP

Endogenous neuropeptide and vasodilator with immunomodulatory properties, used investigationally for mold-illness immune dysregulation and pulmonary hypertension.

FDA investigational (synthetic aviptadil had Fast Track status for COVID-19, not approved) Recovery & healing Nootropics & cognitive

Reviewed 2026-09-12
Full name
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
Also known as
vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
Regulatory status
FDA investigational (synthetic aviptadil had Fast Track status for COVID-19, not approved) | Compounding-pharmacy use only

Origin

A naturally occurring 28-amino-acid neuropeptide produced in the central/peripheral nervous system and gut. Its vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory properties drove cardiovascular/inflammatory-disorder research. The CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome/mold illness) community adopted intranasal VIP off-label based on proposed immune mechanisms.

Mechanism

Binds VPAC1/VPAC2/PAC1 GPCRs, elevating cAMP and suppressing NF-κB inflammatory signaling, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and expanding regulatory T cells. Also drives direct vasodilation via smooth-muscle relaxation.

Research summary

Evidence

Strong mechanistic foundation. The synthetic analog aviptadil showed selective pulmonary vasodilation, reducing vascular resistance ~50% in trials. Human RCT evidence for compounded intranasal VIP specifically for CIRS is limited; small case series suggest symptom improvement but lack blinding/placebo control. FDA Fast Track for aviptadil in COVID-19 was granted but never led to approval.

Evidence tier: FDA investigational (synthetic aviptadil had Fast Track status for COVID-19, not approved) — see the methodology note for how this is assessed.

Citations

No specific peer-reviewed citations indexed for this entry — see the research summary above for what evidence does exist.

Reported benefits

  • reduction in systemic inflammation markers
  • pulmonary vasodilation and improved cardiac output (early data)
  • immune dysregulation correction (CIRS community anecdote)

Dosing protocols reported in the literature & community

These are protocols reported by compounding pharmacies, published trials, or self-experimentation communities — not a prescription. Start low, especially for anything new.

Reported dosing protocols
RouteReported protocol
Intranasal spray (compounded)Compounding-pharmacy formulations: 0.5-2 mg per dose, 1-3x daily; not FDA-standardized.

Side effects

  • transient nasal irritation/rhinitis
  • flushing/mild headache
  • symptomatic hypotension
  • gastrointestinal effects

Safety notes

Safety: Low reported adverse-event frequency in small case series, but systemic hypotension is a real concern, particularly with baseline low blood pressure. Compounding-pharmacy quality/sterility varies.
Community & reddit notes (anecdotal — not clinical evidence)

Enthusiastically adopted in the CIRS/mold-illness community based on theoretical mechanisms. Patient reports describe improved fatigue and cognition over weeks to months, but no blinded human data support CIRS-specific efficacy.