Ipamorelin

Growth Hormone Secretagogue

Ipamorelin is what you pin before bed to get a clean growth hormone pulse while you sleep. It only touches GH — doesn't spike cortisol or prolactin, which is a big deal if you know how messy older secretagogues were. Most people run it with CJC-1295 (no DAC) because they hit different pathways, and together they produce a stronger, more natural GH wave. The effects are subtle but cumulative — better sleep first, then faster recovery, then your body composition shifts over weeks without you changing anything else.

Protocol

Dose: 200-300mcg per day | Frequency: Once nightly, on an empty stomach (2+ hours after eating) | Cycle: 8-12 weeks on, 4 weeks off | Route: SubQ

Reconstitution: 2mL bacteriostatic water per 5mg vial. Use our free reconstitution calculator for exact syringe units.

Effects

• Improved sleep quality (70%) — Deeper sleep is usually the first thing people notice, often within the first week
• Faster recovery (65%) — Reduced soreness and faster bounce-back from training
• Improved body composition (55%) — Gradual fat loss and lean mass gains over 8-12 week cycles
• Better skin and hair (40%) — GH elevation has downstream effects on collagen and keratin — skin looks tighter, hair thicker

Side Effects

• Water retention (20%) — You might look a little puffy the first week or two. It levels out. Drink more water, weirdly.
• Tingling or numbness (15%) — Tingly hands, like mild carpal tunnel. That's your GH running high — it means it's working, but drop the dose a bit.
• Headache (12%) — Mild headache when you first start. Usually gone after a few days.
• Injection-site irritation (8%) — Small red mark where you pinned. Clears up fast. Rotate your spots.

Evidence

Emerging evidence — Ipamorelin is one of the cleaner GH secretagogues — it triggers a growth hormone pulse without spiking cortisol or prolactin, which older peptides in this class did. Small human studies exist showing it works as intended. Not FDA-approved, but the selectivity data is solid.

Approval status: Not approved

References

1. Raun K et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue Eur J Endocrinol, 1998. PMID: 9849822
2. Gobburu JV et al. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers Pharm Res, 1999. PMID: 10496658
3. Johansen PB et al. Ipamorelin, a new growth-hormone-releasing peptide, induces longitudinal bone growth in rats Growth Horm IGF Res, 1999. PMID: 10373343
4. Svensson J et al. The GH secretagogues ipamorelin and GH-releasing peptide-6 increase bone mineral content in adult female rats J Endocrinol, 2000. PMID: 10828840
5. Andersen NB et al. The growth hormone secretagogue ipamorelin counteracts glucocorticoid-induced decrease in bone formation of adult rats Growth Horm IGF Res, 2001. PMID: 11735244
6. Venkova K et al. Efficacy of ipamorelin, a novel ghrelin mimetic, in a rodent model of postoperative ileus J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 2009. PMID: 19289567

Storage

• Lyophilized: Refrigerate at 2-8C. Stable for 12+ months sealed.
• Reconstituted: Refrigerate. Use within 3-4 weeks.
• Water: Bacteriostatic water, 2mL per 5mg vial.
• Needle: 29-31 gauge, 0.5 inch for subcutaneous injection

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These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a healthcare professional before starting any protocol.

vialprep research · Sources: PubMed, FDA, peer-reviewed trials · How we verify