Orexin A
A hypothalamic peptide that keeps the brain awake and alert; its loss causes narcolepsy.
Not approved as a drug. Research use only.
Look it up on Wikipedia2 listings across 1 independently tested vendor, ranked by price per milligram after coupon codes anyone can use. Vendors you can only order from by message are hidden.
Not an FDA-approved drug and not nominated for FDA's 503A bulks list, so US pharmacies can't legally compound it.
Daily price tracking started October 7, 2026; a price-history chart appears here once a few days have been collected.
| Vendor | Trust | Listing | Vials | Price | Per mg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Qingdao Sigma Chemical QSC #69 by metascore |
Orexin A 10mg | 20-Vial Kit | Hypocretin-1 | Wakefulness & Narcolepsy Research | 20 × 10 mg = 200 mg | $1,150.00 $57.50 per vial |
$5.75 | Buy | |
Qingdao Sigma Chemical QSC #69 by metascore |
Orexin A 10mg | 10-Vial Kit | Hypocretin-1 | Wakefulness & Narcolepsy Research | 10 × 10 mg = 100 mg | $600.00 $60.00 per vial |
$6.00 | Buy |
Mixing a 10 mg vial
What each common amount of bacteriostatic water gives you on a U-100 insulin syringe. Pick a vial size above to change it.
| Water | Strength | Per 10 units (0.1 mL) | Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 10 mg/mL | 1,000 mcg | 100 mcg |
| 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 500 mcg | 50 mcg |
| 3 mL | 3.333 mg/mL | 333.3 mcg | 33.33 mcg |
| 5 mL | 2 mg/mL | 200 mcg | 20 mcg |
Doses studied in research Studied in people
What was given to people (or animals) in published studies and official labels, each linked to its source. This is not a recommendation: study products, purity and supervision differ from research-grade vials.
| Who was studied | Dose given | How often | For how long | What happened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| adults with narcolepsy with cataplexy (double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover) n = 14 |
435 nmol intranasal | single dose in the morning | single administration | fewer wake-REM transitions, shorter REM sleep and fewer attention-test errors vs placebo | PubMed |
| adults with narcolepsy with cataplexy (double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover) n = 8 |
435 nmol (human recombinant hypocretin-1) intranasal | single dose before night sleep | single administration | no significant change in nocturnal wakefulness; reduced REM sleep and fewer direct wake-to-REM transitions | PubMed |
| lean healthy men (double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover) n = 10 |
500 nmol intranasal | single dose | single administration | increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity 30-45 min later; blood pressure and heart rate unchanged | PubMed |
Animal studies: Sleep-deprived monkeys received 1.0-10 microg/kg intravenously or about 1.0 microg/kg by nasal spray; rodent studies used about 250 μg/kg intranasally.
Human studies are single-dose experiments in very small groups; no repeated-dose treatment trials exist. Orexin A is not an approved medicine.
What the research says
Orexin A has been given intranasally in a few very small placebo-controlled crossover trials in narcolepsy and healthy men, with effects on REM sleep, olfaction and sympathetic nerve activity but not on daytime sleepiness; most other data come from rodent and primate studies.
Key papers ✓ 5~ 2? 1
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Treatment of Narcolepsy Type 1 With Orexin: A Systematic Review.No new data3 studies pooledRandomized trialsSystematic review of randomized clinical trials
Systematic review of 3 human trials in narcolepsy type 1: orexin A reduced wake-REM transitions and REM time but did not increase wake time or relieve daytime sleepiness.
Study details
- Studied
- Humans with narcolepsy type 1 treated with orexin-A
- Main outcome
- Efficacy of orexin-A in narcolepsy type 1
- Sample
- 3 studies included (70 publications retrieved)
- Authors' conclusion
- Orexin decreased wake-REM transitions and total REM sleep time without increasing wake time. Failure to relieve daytime sleepiness suggests orexin deficiency is not the only factor in type 1 narcolepsy.
- Limitations
- Only three studies met inclusion criteria.
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The effect of intranasal orexin-A (hypocretin-1) on sleep, wakefulness and attention in narcolepsy with cataplexy.Humanssize not reportedRandomizedPlacebo-controlledDouble-blindSingle morning dose with sleep recording that nightWithin-subject, random-order, double-blind crossover, placebo-controlled
Crossover RCT in 14 narcolepsy-with-cataplexy patients: intranasal orexin A reduced wake-REM transitions and REM duration and reduced attention-test errors.
Key resultAfter intranasal orexin-A (435 nmol), patients had fewer wake-REM transitions and decreased REM sleep duration, and fewer false reactions in divided attention testing (no numbers in abstract).
Study details
- Studied
- Subjects with narcolepsy with cataplexy
- Compared with
- Intranasal sterile water (placebo)
- Main outcome
- Sleep structure, wakefulness and attention
- Sample
- Fourteen subjects with narcolepsy with cataplexy
- Authors' conclusion
- Results support orexin-A as a REM sleep stabilizing factor with functional effects on sleep alterations and attention in narcolepsy with cataplexy.
- Limitations
- Small crossover study with single dose.
-
Effects of intranasal hypocretin-1 (orexin A) on sleep in narcolepsy with cataplexy.Humanssize not reportedRandomizedPlacebo-controlledDouble-blindSingle dose before night sleepDouble-blind, random-order crossover, placebo-controlled pilot study
Crossover RCT in 8 narcolepsy patients: intranasal orexin A did not change nocturnal wakefulness but reduced REM sleep and direct wake-to-REM transitions.
Key resultNo significant effect on nocturnal wakefulness; REM sleep quantity was reduced and direct wake-to-REM transitions were significantly reduced (no numbers in abstract).
Study details
- Studied
- Subjects with narcolepsy with cataplexy
- Compared with
- Placebo
- Main outcome
- Nocturnal polysomnography (wakefulness, REM sleep)
- Sample
- Eight subjects with narcolepsy with cataplexy
- Authors' conclusion
- Pilot evidence that intranasal hcrt-1 (435 nmol) has functional effects on sleep in narcolepsy with cataplexy; may encourage further intranasal studies.
- Limitations
- Pilot study with eight subjects.
-
Olfactory dysfunction in patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy is restored by intranasal Orexin A (Hypocretin-1).Humanssize not reportedRandomizedPlacebo-controlledDouble-blindCase-control olfactory comparison plus double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover of intranasal orexin A in 7 patients
Crossover RCT in 7 narcolepsy patients: intranasal orexin A improved odour detection thresholds vs placebo.
Key resultIn all patients the PEA olfactory threshold increased after orexin A (median 11.5, range 6.5-13.25) vs placebo (median 7.75, range 6.25-11.25; P < 0.05).
Study details
- Studied
- Narcolepsy with cataplexy patients and matched healthy controls
- Compared with
- Matched healthy controls; placebo
- Main outcome
- Olfactory TDI scores and PEA odour detection threshold
- Sample
- 10 narcolepsy patients and 10 matched controls; 7 patients in the crossover
- Authors' conclusion
- Results support mild olfactory dysfunction as an intrinsic symptom of narcolepsy with cataplexy and that intranasal orexin A restores olfactory function.
- Limitations
- Small sample; crossover given to only seven patients.
-
Intranasal orexin A modulates sympathetic vascular tone: a pilot study in healthy male humans.Humans10 peopleRandomizedPlacebo-controlledDouble-blindMeasured 30-45 min after single doseBalanced, double-blind crossover pilot study
Crossover pilot in 10 healthy men: intranasal orexin A increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity without changing blood pressure or heart rate; physiological study only.
Key resultResting MSNA burst rate rose +5.8 ± 0.8 vs +2.1 ± 0.6 bursts/min with orexin A vs placebo (P = 0.007).
Study details
- Studied
- Lean healthy males, mean age 25.8 yr
- Compared with
- Intranasal placebo
- Main outcome
- Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and baroreflex function
- Sample
- 10 lean healthy males
- Authors' conclusion
- Intranasal orexin A (500 nmol) acutely induced vasoconstrictory sympathoactivation in healthy men; BP, heart rate and baroreflex sensitivity were not altered.
- Limitations
- Pilot study in 10 healthy males only.
-
Systemic and nasal delivery of orexin-A (Hypocretin-1) reduces the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance in nonhuman primates.Animalssize not reportedAnimal experiment with intravenous (2.5-10.0 µg/kg) and nasal (about 1.0 µg/kg) orexin-A during a delayed match-to-sample task
In sleep-deprived rhesus monkeys, intravenous and nasal orexin A improved short-term memory task performance, nasal more than intravenous.
Key resultBoth routes significantly improved performance in sleep-deprived monkeys; nasal delivery was significantly more effective than the highest i.v. dose (10 µg/kg).
Study details
- Studied
- Sleep-deprived (30-36 h) rhesus monkeys
- Compared with
- Non-sleep-deprived alert animals; i.v. vs nasal route
- Main outcome
- Short-term memory task performance and cerebral glucose metabolism
- Authors' conclusion
- Findings provide strong evidence that intranasal orexin-A alleviates cognitive deficits produced by sleep loss in monkeys.
- Limitations
- Nonhuman primate study; number of animals not given in abstract.
-
Therapeutic effects of orexin-A in sepsis-associated encephalopathy in mice.Animalssize not reportedAnimal model with intranasal orexin-A after surgery; receptor blockers used for mechanism
In a mouse sepsis-associated encephalopathy model, intranasal orexin A reduced mortality, cognitive deficits and neuroinflammation.
Study details
- Studied
- Mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (cecal ligation and perforation)
- Compared with
- Untreated model; OXR1 and OXR2 blockers
- Main outcome
- Survival, cognition, BBB integrity, inflammation
- Authors' conclusion
- Intranasal OXA reduced mortality, improved cognitive and emotional deficits, protected the BBB and inhibited OXR2/RAS/MAPK activation, suggesting it may be a promising approach for sepsis-associated encephalopathy.
- Limitations
- Mouse study; group sizes not stated in abstract.
-
Orexin A alleviates chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction by inhibiting the NEK7/NLRP3 pathway.Humans + animals4 weeks of treatment after 8 weeks of modelingAnimal model with 4 weeks of intranasal Orexin A (250 µg/kg) plus in vitro hypoxia experiments
In rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, 4 weeks of intranasal orexin A reduced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment.
Study details
- Studied
- Adult male SD rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (vascular dementia model) plus BV2 microglia / HT22 neuron cultures
- Compared with
- Untreated hypoperfusion rats; cells without Orexin A
- Main outcome
- Cognition, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, microglial polarization, pyroptosis
- Authors' conclusion
- Orexin A restored M1/M2 microglial balance by inhibiting the NEK7/NLRP3 pathway, easing neuroinflammation and pyroptosis and improving cognition after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in this model.
- Limitations
- Preclinical rat and cell study.
Reported side effects
No adverse effects are described in the small human trial abstracts; human exposure is limited to single doses in a few dozen people.
✓ positive · ✗ negative · ~ mixed · ? inconclusive, judged on each paper's own main outcome. Grades: A strong human evidence → D little or none. Papers and verdicts are drawn from PubMed, Europe PMC and Russian journals (CyberLeninka); not medical advice.
Discussions elsewhere
Experiences and questions about Orexin A on other sites. Treat anecdotes with care.
Also sold in blends with Orexin A
Orexin A + Orexin B (1). The order planner uses these automatically when a blend is cheaper than separate vials.
Orexin A: questions people ask
What is Orexin A?
Wakefulness neuropeptide. A hypothalamic peptide that keeps the brain awake and alert; its loss causes narcolepsy. Also searched as orexin.
How much does Orexin A cost?
The cheapest Orexin A from an independently tested vendor is $5.75 per mg (Qingdao Sigma Chemical QSC, Orexin A 10mg | 20-Vial Kit | Hypocretin-1 | Wakefulness & Narcolepsy Research, $1,150.00). Across 2 listings from 1 vendors the median is $6.00 per mg.
Where can I buy Orexin A?
1 vendors tested by Finnrick sell Orexin A. The cheapest per mg right now: Qingdao Sigma Chemical QSC ($5.75). 0 of them publish a lab report (COA) for Orexin A; compare lab scores and reports in the table above before buying.
Is Orexin A FDA approved?
Not approved as a drug. Research use only.
Can Orexin A be compounded in the US?
Not an FDA-approved drug and not nominated for FDA's 503A bulks list, so US pharmacies can't legally compound it. Compounding status for every peptide.
Does Orexin A work? What does the research say?
Evidence grade B (some human evidence), from 8 papers: A few tiny placebo-controlled crossover trials (7-14 narcolepsy patients) show REM-sleep changes but no effect on daytime sleepiness. Orexin A has been given intranasally in a few very small placebo-controlled crossover trials in narcolepsy and healthy men, with effects on REM sleep, olfaction and sympathetic nerve activity but not on daytime sleepiness; most other data come from rodent and primate studies. See the papers.
What dose of Orexin A was used in studies?
Orexin A is studied in people. adults with narcolepsy with cataplexy (double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover): 435 nmol single dose in the morning; adults with narcolepsy with cataplexy (double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover): 435 nmol (human recombinant hypocretin-1) single dose before night sleep; lean healthy men (double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover): 500 nmol single dose. These are amounts used in published studies or official labels, not a recommendation.