My Larazotide Results After 3 Months (With Numbers)

So here's the thing about leaky gut: I didn't even know I had it until my functional medicine doctor ran a zonulin test and it came back at 107 ng/mL (normal is under 30). This was at age 35, after two years of unexplained bloating, brain fog, and feeling like garbage every afternoon. I'd already tried probiotics, L-glutamine, bone broth—the whole "heal your gut" internet protocol. Nothing stuck. Then I stumbled onto larazotide acetate while reading research papers at 2 AM, because that's apparently what I do for fun now.

I'm not a doctor, just a former tech guy who got obsessed with fixing his broken body. Everything here is my personal experience. Talk to your doctor before trying any peptide, especially one that messes with your intestinal lining.

TL;DR: Ran larazotide at 0.5mg three times daily for 90 days. Zonulin dropped from 107 to 41 ng/mL. Bloating episodes went from 5-6 times per week to maybe once. Brain fog mostly gone. Cost me about $340 for the full three months. Would I do it again? Yeah, probably. But it's not magic—I also had to fix my diet and stress levels.

What Is Larazotide Peptide Anyway?

Larazotide is a synthetic peptide that was originally developed for celiac disease. The idea is simple: it tightens up the spaces between cells in your intestinal lining (called tight junctions). When those junctions are too loose—"leaky gut"—stuff that shouldn't get into your bloodstream does: undigested food particles, bacterial toxins, all kinds of inflammatory crap.

The peptide works by regulating zonulin, a protein that controls tight junction permeability. High zonulin = leaky gut. Larazotide basically tells zonulin to chill out and let those junctions close up properly. It's been through Phase 3 clinical trials for celiac disease, though it's not FDA-approved yet for general use.

I first heard about it while researching BPC-157, which I'd tried the year before for a shoulder injury. BPC helped with the joint pain, but didn't do much for my gut issues. Larazotide seemed more targeted for intestinal permeability, so I figured why not give it a shot.

My Baseline: How Bad Was My Gut?

Before starting, I got some tests done so I'd have real numbers to compare. Here's where I was at in February 2025:

I was also tracking my symptoms in a journal because I'm that kind of nerd. Every day I'd rate bloating, energy, brain fog, and digestive comfort on a 1-10 scale. Obsessive? Maybe. But it gave me data to work with.

The Larazotide Protocol I Used

After reading through the clinical trials and some anecdotal reports on forums, I settled on this dosing:

The clinical trials for celiac used doses ranging from 0.25mg to 12mg daily. I went with 1.5mg total per day (0.5mg × 3) as a middle ground. Some people take it orally, but the bioavailability is terrible—like 1-2%. Injections are more reliable, even though nobody likes pinning themselves three times a day.

I sourced my larazotide from a compounding pharmacy that specializes in peptides. Cost was about $340 for a 90-day supply at my dosage. Not cheap, but way less than some other peptides I've tried. Looking at you, Epithalon, you expensive bastard.

Month 1: The "Is Anything Even Happening?" Phase

First two weeks? Honestly, not much changed. I kept expecting some dramatic shift, but my bloating was still there, brain fog still rolled in most afternoons. I almost quit at day 10, thinking I'd wasted $340 on overpriced water.

But around week 3, I noticed something subtle: I ate pizza (yeah, I know, gluten) and didn't feel like death the next day. Normally that would wreck me for 24-48 hours. This time? Mild bloating for a few hours, then nothing. I didn't want to get excited yet—could've been a fluke.

By the end of month 1:

Not amazing, but enough to keep going. I also wasn't having any side effects, which was a relief. Some people report mild nausea or headaches when starting larazotide peptide, but I got lucky.

Month 2: Things Start Clicking

This is when it got interesting. Week 5 through week 8, I started feeling noticeably better. The afternoon brain fog wasn't completely gone, but it went from "I can't think straight" to "I'm a little tired." Huge difference when you're trying to work or just function like a human.

Bloating became way less frequent. I was down to maybe 1-2 episodes per week, and they were milder. I could eat a normal meal without my stomach turning into a balloon. I even reintroduced dairy cautiously—had some yogurt, cheese—and didn't react the way I used to.

The energy crashes also smoothed out. Instead of hitting a wall at 2 PM, I'd just feel a little less sharp. I could push through without needing a nap or three cups of coffee.

I got bloodwork done at the 60-day mark:

Seeing those numbers come down was huge. It confirmed that something was actually happening at the cellular level, not just placebo effect from journaling my symptoms obsessively.

Month 3: Solidifying the Gains

The last month was mostly about maintaining the improvements. My bloating settled at about once per week, usually if I ate something really inflammatory or didn't sleep well. Brain fog was maybe 3/10 on bad days, totally clear on good days.

Energy was the most consistent improvement. I wasn't crashing in the afternoons anymore. I could work straight through the day, hit the gym at 5 PM, and still have energy to cook dinner and hang out with friends. Before larazotide, I would've been toast by 3 PM.

Final bloodwork at day 90:

I also noticed I was tolerating foods better. Gluten still isn't great for me, but I can have it occasionally without feeling destroyed. Dairy is mostly fine. Even eggs, which used to give me digestive issues, are back on the menu.

The Stuff That Didn't Work (And Money I Wasted)

Look, larazotide helped, but I need to be honest: it wasn't the only thing I changed. I also:

Before trying larazotide, I wasted money on:

The difference with larazotide is that it actually targets the mechanism—tight junction integrity—instead of just throwing random supplements at symptoms. That said, it's not a magic bullet. You can't peptide your way out of a terrible diet and chronic stress.

How Does It Compare to Other Gut Peptides?

I've tried a few other peptides for gut and systemic health. Here's how larazotide stacks up:

BPC-157: Great for healing injuries and some gut inflammation, but didn't move the needle on my leaky gut symptoms. I used it for a shoulder issue and it helped, but my zonulin stayed high. BPC is more about tissue repair; larazotide is specifically for tight junction regulation.

Thymosin Beta-4: Another healing peptide I tried briefly. Expensive and didn't do much for my gut. Might be better for acute injuries or immune modulation.

I haven't tried combining larazotide with other gut-focused interventions like BPC-157, but some people on forums report good results stacking them. Maybe that's something to explore down the line.

Side Effects and What to Watch For

I got lucky—no major side effects for me. But here's what I've seen reported and what to monitor:

The clinical trials didn't show major safety concerns at doses up to 12mg daily, but most of those were in celiac patients. If you have other health conditions or take medications, definitely consult a doctor before starting. I'm not a medical professional, and this is just my n=1 experiment.

Would I Do It Again? And What's Next?

Yeah, I'd definitely run larazotide again if my gut symptoms came back. The results were solid enough that I'm convinced it works, at least for me. My plan now is to take a month off, retest my zonulin, and see if the improvements hold. If my levels creep back up, I might do another 90-day cycle or try a lower maintenance dose.

I'm also curious about combining it with other gut-supportive interventions—maybe BPC-157 for a dual approach, or experimenting with specific probiotics that support tight junction integrity. There's some interesting research on Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Akkermansia muciniphila that I want to dig into.

One thing I'm watching: long-term safety data. Larazotide is still in trials for celiac disease, and while the short-term safety looks good, we don't have decades of data on continuous use. I'm not planning to stay on it forever—just long enough to stabilize my gut, then maintain with diet and lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for larazotide to work?

In my experience, subtle improvements started around week 3, but significant changes didn't happen until week 5-6. Bloodwork showed zonulin dropping by day 60. Give it at least 60 days before deciding if it's working. Some clinical trials saw benefits as early as 4 weeks, but individual response varies.

Can you take larazotide orally or does it have to be injected?

You can take it orally, but bioavailability is terrible—around 1-2%. The clinical trials used oral dosing at much higher amounts (up to 12mg) to compensate. I chose subcutaneous injections at 0.5mg three times daily because it's more efficient and uses less peptide overall. Injections aren't fun, but they work better.

Is larazotide safe to use long-term?

Clinical trials for celiac disease have run up to 12 weeks with good safety profiles, but we don't have long-term data beyond that. I ran it for 90 days, took a break, and plan to reassess. I wouldn't stay on it continuously without regular monitoring and doctor supervision. Always weigh the benefits against unknowns when using newer peptides.

What's the difference between larazotide and BPC-157 for gut health?

BPC-157 is more about general tissue repair and healing gut inflammation or ulcers. Larazotide specifically targets tight junction permeability by regulating zonulin. If you have leaky gut (high zonulin), larazotide is more targeted. If you have inflammatory gut damage, BPC-157 might be better. Some people stack both, but I haven't tried that yet.

Final Thoughts: Worth It, But Not a Magic Fix

After three months on larazotide acetate, I'm genuinely impressed with the results. My zonulin dropped by more than half, inflammation markers improved, and my day-to-day gut symptoms are like 80% better. That's huge when you've been dealing with bloating and brain fog for years.

But here's the reality: larazotide worked because I also fixed other stuff. I cleaned up my diet, managed stress, slept better, and stopped drinking. The peptide gave my gut the support it needed to actually heal, but it didn't do the work alone. If you're eating garbage, stressed out of your mind, and sleeping four hours a night, no peptide is going to save you.

Is it expensive? Yeah, $340 for 90 days isn't pocket change. But compared to the money I wasted on useless supplements and the cost of feeling like crap every day, it was worth it. Just make sure you're also addressing the root causes—food sensitivities, stress, lifestyle—because tight junctions can't stay tight if you keep beating them up.

If you're dealing with confirmed leaky gut (get that zonulin tested!), larazotide is worth considering. Talk to a knowledgeable doctor, start conservatively, track your symptoms and bloodwork, and give it time. It's not magic, but it's one of the few things that actually moved the needle for me.

And remember: I'm just a guy who reads too many research papers and experiments on himself. I'm not a doctor. Your gut is different from mine. But if my experience helps you figure out your own protocol, then spending three months pinning myself three times a day was totally worth it.