Ipamorelin
Also known as Ipamorelin acetate
Last reviewed · Awaiting clinical review
Main safety concerns
Well tolerated, but it still raises growth hormone and IGF-1, so avoid it with active cancer. Human evidence is mostly about GH release, not long term outcomes.
- SeriousAvoid if: Active or recent cancer, or a strong family history
- SeriousAvoid if: Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- WarningHigher blood sugar
Educational information, not medical advice. If you have symptoms that worry you, contact a clinician or emergency services.
What is known
A selective growth hormone releaser that gives a clean GH pulse without raising cortisol or prolactin.
On this page
What it is and how it works
Ipamorelin mimics ghrelin, the hunger hormone, at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). This triggers the pituitary to release a pulse of growth hormone. What sets it apart is selectivity: unlike some older releasers, it does not meaningfully raise cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH, so it gives a cleaner pulse without the stress hormone baggage. This selectivity was shown in pigs. It works through a different receptor than GHRH peptides, which is why people pair it with CJC-1295, though no trial has tested that combination.[1] [5] [6]
Evidence by claim
Each claim is graded on its own. Tap a grade to see what it does and does not mean.
Triggers a clean growth hormone pulse without raising cortisol or prolactin.
Source type: Animal study, Other, Review
Pigs showed no rise in cortisol, ACTH, or prolactin. In healthy men it caused a single short GH pulse. Human data on other hormones are thin.
Well tolerated in a short placebo controlled trial.
Source type: Randomized trial
In 114 surgery patients, IV ipamorelin twice daily for up to a week had side effect rates no higher than placebo. It did not help the bowel recovery it was being tested for.
Improves body composition, recovery, and sleep.
Source type: Review
Popular claims, not proven by outcome trials in healthy adults.
Reported side effects
- WarningHigher blood sugar[5]Growth hormone can raise blood sugar over time. This is a known effect of the drug class, not something measured in ipamorelin studies.
- CautionInjection site reactions(common)From user reports. Published human studies gave it by IV drip.
- CautionHead rush or lightheadedness right after dosing(common)From user reports, not from studies.
- CautionMild water retention or headache(uncommon)[5]Not seen in published studies. Possible in theory because it raises growth hormone.
Interactions and combination risks
Commonly paired with CJC-1295 (no DAC) in the hope of a bigger GH pulse, since the two work through different receptors. No trial has tested the combination.
Because growth hormone raises blood sugar, glucose control may need watching.
Who should avoid it
- SeriousActive or recent cancer, or a strong family history
Raising growth hormone and IGF-1 could in theory feed a tumor.
- SeriousPregnancy or breastfeeding
No safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Dosing
Placed after the evidence and risks on purpose. Nothing here is a recommendation for you.
| Route(s) | subcutaneous |
|---|---|
| Typical range | Community dosing, not from any published study: about 100 to 300 mcg per dose, one to three times a day, often 200 to 300 mcg before bed, sometimes with 100 mcg of CJC-1295 (no DAC). |
| Frequency | Once to three times daily |
| Cycle guidance | Often run in cycles of several weeks to a few months. |
| Notes | In healthy men the was about 2 hours, so it does not build up. Users often dose on an empty stomach and before bed, but this timing has not been tested in studies. |
For the equipment itself, see syringes, needles, and the rest of the kit.
Reconstitution
| Vial sizes | 5 mg, 10 mg |
|---|---|
| Diluent | Bacteriostatic water for multi dose vials, or sterile water for single use |
| Concentration | Example: a 5 mg vial plus 2.5 mL of water gives 2 mg/mL, so a 300 mcg dose is 0.15 mL, which is 15 units on a U-100 syringe. |
| Notes | Ipamorelin usually ships as 5 mg or 10 mg freeze dried vials. |
General reconstitution technique
Units and volume arithmetic
Converts between an amount and syringe units for the vial and diluent you enter. It starts empty and does not suggest an amount. Open the full calculator
Result
Fill in steps 1 to 3 to see the arithmetic. Nothing here is a suggested amount.
Settings live in the address bar, so a pasted link reopens this calculator as you left it.
Educational arithmetic only. It does not choose an amount for you and is not medical or dosing advice. Verify every calculation independently.
Storage and stability
Dry powder (lyophilized)
| Temperature | Freeze for long term storage, or 2 to 8 short term |
|---|---|
| Shelf life | Many months when frozen |
| Notes | Keep dry and out of light until you mix it. |
After mixing
| Temperature | 2 to 8 (refrigerated) |
|---|---|
| Shelf life | About 2 to 4 weeks |
| Notes | Do not freeze after mixing. Discard if cloudy or discolored. |
COA and purity notes
| Common adulterants | underdosed or mislabeled vials, material sold without clear content |
|---|---|
| Mislabeling | As with any research peptide, a recent third party COA helps confirm identity and purity. |
| Notes | Sold as unregulated research material. |
Sources
[1]Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue
Raun K et al. (European Journal of Endocrinology) 1998 (opens source in a new tab)· Animal study[2]Growth hormone secretagogues: history, mechanism of action, and clinical development
JCSM Rapid Communications 2020 (opens source in a new tab)· Review[3]Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers
Gobburu JV et al. (Pharmaceutical Research) 1999 (opens source in a new tab)· Other[4]Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients
Beck DE et al. (International Journal of Colorectal Disease) 2014 (opens source in a new tab)· Randomized trial[5]The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration
Dominikowski A et al. (Frontiers in Endocrinology) 2026 (opens source in a new tab)· Review[6]Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues in the modern management of body composition in hypogonadal males
Sinha DK et al. (Translational Andrology and Urology) 2020 (opens source in a new tab)· Review[7]Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks
U.S. Food & Drug Administration 2026 (opens source in a new tab)· Regulatory record[8]World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2026
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2026 (opens source in a new tab)· Regulatory record
Last reviewed 8 July 2026 · editorial status: reviewed