AICAR
Also known as Acadesine, AICA riboside, AICA ribonucleotide, 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside
An AMP-mimetic nucleotide that activates AMPK and acts as an 'exercise mimetic' in animals; it is banned by WADA and has little human performance data.
Typical use cases
Dosing guidelines
Titration
Typically flat-dosed; the short half-life sometimes prompts split daily dosing in informal protocols.
Reconstitution
50 mg vial: add ~2.5–5 mL bacteriostatic water (~10–20 mg/mL); swirl gently.
Injection sites
Subcutaneous, rotate sites (abdomen/thigh); clinical acadesine studies used IV.
Storage & handling
Lyophilized: stable months cool/dark, longer frozen. Reconstituted: refrigerate (2–8 °C).
Side effects
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Transient hypoglycemia
- Elevated uric acid / lactic acid
- Fatigue / headache
Research summary
AICAR (acadesine) is phosphorylated intracellularly to ZMP, an AMP analog that allosterically activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), driving mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α), insulin-independent glucose uptake, and fatty-acid oxidation. A 2008 Cell paper (Narkar et al.) showed AICAR boosted running endurance in sedentary mice, popularizing the 'exercise mimetic' label; it has been studied clinically as IV acadesine, but evidence for the research-peptide endurance/fat-loss use is largely animal-based and thin in humans. It has been on the WADA prohibited list since around 2009. Educational only — not medical advice.
Key references
- Narkar et al., Cell (2008) — AMPK and PPARδ agonists as exercise mimetics
- Corton et al., Eur. J. Biochem. (1995) — AICAR as a cell-permeable AMPK activator
Related compounds
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Educational reference only — not medical advice. Dosing figures are commonly-cited ranges, not prescriptions. Consult a qualified clinician.
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