Skin Longevity & Glow
Cellular support for skin radiance and tone.
NAD+ InjectionGHK-Cu PeptideOptional: Glutathione Injection
IV / injection nutrient · 503A compounded
Glutathione injection, antioxidant support under physician supervision.
Glutathione is the body's primary intracellular antioxidant, a molecule that most people have heard of but fewer understand in clinical terms. Injectable glutathione bypasses the absorption limitations of oral supplementation and produces higher transient plasma levels, which makes it a legitimate adjunct in specific clinical contexts. What it is not: a skin-lightening treatment, a weight-loss tool, or a cure for chronic disease.
What it is
Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide composed of glycine, cysteine, and glutamate. It is the most abundant intracellular antioxidant in the human body, found in highest concentrations in the liver, where it plays a central role in Phase II detoxification.
Injected glutathione is compounded under 503A pharmacy regulations. There is no FDA-approved injectable glutathione drug for general use (unlike, for example, FDA-approved injectable ascorbic acid for scurvy). Genesis Longevity offers glutathione injection as an adjunctive therapy for appropriate clinical indications, not as a standalone cure or cosmetic intervention.
We do not market glutathione for skin lightening. The FDA has issued specific safety communications regarding IV glutathione for skin lightening, citing serious adverse events including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and renal toxicity.
How it works
Primary antioxidant function. Glutathione neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) through direct scavenging and by serving as a substrate for glutathione peroxidase. When oxidized (GSSG), it is recycled back to its active form (GSH) by glutathione reductase, a process requiring NADPH.
Hepatic detoxification. GSH conjugates electrophilic compounds in Phase II liver detoxification (glutathione-S-transferase reactions), making them more water-soluble for excretion.
Antioxidant recycling. GSH restores vitamins C and E to their active (reduced) antioxidant states, creating a cooperative antioxidant network.
Mitochondrial support. Mitochondria are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage. GSH is actively transported into mitochondria and depleted in states of oxidative stress and aging.
Injectable vs oral. Oral glutathione is largely degraded in the gastrointestinal tract before reaching systemic circulation. Injection produces higher transient plasma levels, though whether this translates meaningfully to increased tissue GSH levels is debated in the literature.
Conditions and use cases
Where glutathione injection has a legitimate role.
- Adjunctive support in oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory states. Clinically reasonable adjunct; supportive evidence from observational data.
- Post-procedure recovery (aesthetic context). Used after laser, peel, or other procedures as part of an antioxidant recovery stack.
- NAFLD and Parkinson's disease support. Investigational only; not standard-of-care.
- NOT supported: skin lightening (FDA safety communications), weight loss (no credible data), cancer treatment (unsubstantiated).
Expected timeline
What patients commonly observe.
Week 0 to 2
Tolerability
Subjective reports of energy and recovery feeling. Plasma GSH rise after injection is variable and transient.
Week 2 to 4
Recovery support
Used as adjunct after aesthetic procedures or in oxidative stress contexts.
Month 1 to 3
Maintenance dosing
Weekly or biweekly maintenance is typical when used in stack protocols.
Month 3 to 6
Reassessment
Provider reassesses indication and clinical response. No validated long-term outcome data exist for general wellness use.
Stacks that include this therapy
Glutathione injection appears in this stack.
Investment and access
Care plans, not menus.
Genesis Longevity therapies are dispensed only after a complimentary consultation and Good Faith Exam. Schedule yours to receive a personalized plan tailored to your biology and goals.
Side effects
What patients commonly report.
Common. Injection site reactions, mild erythema. Mild transient nausea or headache.
Rare but serious. Hypersensitivity reactions. In the context of skin-lightening misuse specifically, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported with high-dose IV glutathione. These risks are associated with misuse for unapproved indications, not with standard physician-supervised adjunctive protocols.
Contraindications
Who should not use this therapy.
Show contraindications
Sulfa allergy. Potential cross-reactivity concerns warrant caution.
Asthma. Risk of bronchospasm with sulfite-containing or contaminated preparations.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Insufficient safety data.
Severe renal impairment and known hypersensitivity to glutathione or compounding excipients.
Pairs well with
Therapies that complement this protocol.
- 503A compounded
NAD+ Injection
Cellular energy, cognitive function, and systemic antiaging support.
Moderate evidence - 503A compounded
GHK-Cu Peptide
Collagen and elastin synthesis. Skin rejuvenation and hair health.
Emerging evidence - 503A compounded
B12 / MIC Injection
Energy metabolism, fat processing, and lipotropic support.
Moderate evidence
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Glutathione injection.
Skin-lightening is not a supported or safe indication for IV glutathione. The FDA has issued specific safety communications citing serious adverse events including severe skin reactions and renal toxicity associated with IV glutathione marketed for this purpose. Genesis Longevity does not offer glutathione for skin lightening.
Oral glutathione is largely degraded in the GI tract before systemic absorption. Injection produces higher transient plasma levels. However, increased plasma GSH does not automatically translate to meaningfully higher intracellular or tissue GSH, and head-to-head clinical outcome data comparing oral vs injectable glutathione are limited. Oral precursors (N-acetylcysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, glycine) may be a worthwhile alternative.
Protocols typically involve weekly or biweekly maintenance dosing, but no validated schedule exists for general wellness use. Your provider will recommend cadence based on your clinical indication.
No. Injectable glutathione is a 503A compounded preparation, not an FDA-approved drug. This is separate from other injectable antioxidants like ASCOR (FDA-approved ascorbic acid for scurvy).
200 to 2,000 mg IV or IM, 1 to 3 times weekly, depending on protocol and clinical indication. Slow IV push or short infusion preferred over rapid bolus. Solutions are light-sensitive; proper storage and compounding practices are essential.
Sources
Citations & references
Status & disclosures
- FDA status: not FDA-approved as injectable
- Injectable glutathione is a 503A compounded preparation, not an FDA-approved drug. The FDA has issued safety communications regarding its misuse for skin lightening.
- 503A compounded preparation
- Compounded by licensed 503A pharmacies under U.S. FDA regulations. Genesis sources from regulated compounders that follow USP standards.
- No skin-lightening claim
- Genesis Longevity does not offer or market glutathione for skin lightening. Use is limited to physician-supervised adjunctive antioxidant protocols.
Next step
Talk to a Genesis provider about Glutathione injection.
Schedule a consultation. Physician-led, evidence-graded.
Or keep reading: See the Skin Longevity & Glow stack