Ipamorelin
Taken to boost growth hormone
Ghrelin-receptor agonist (GHRP)
Match every finding to its exact substance, formulation, route and study population. A related molecule or approved medicine does not validate a catalog vial.
Color key
At a glance
Why people take it. And what backs it up.
-
Boost growth hormone
Early human studies
Men’s-health and anti-aging clinics prescribe nightly shots, often with CJC-1295, to raise growth hormone that falls with age.
Sources (5)
-
ClinicDenver Regenerative Medicine (clinic): Wolverine peptide stack guide (opens in a new tab)
“Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue. Together, they work on two complementary receptor pathways in the pituitary gland to stimulate your body’s own production of growth hormone”
-
ForumExcelMale forum: “Ipamorelin Dosage Discussion” (opening post, July 2018) (opens in a new tab)
“On recent labs, my doctor noted my IGF-1 was on the low end, 105ng/mL (range 88-246). He added 350 micrograms of ipamorelin per day to my current protocol”
-
ForumExcelMale forum: same thread (Nelson Vergel, forum founder) (opens in a new tab)
“Ipamorelin can also be taken chronically at 250-500mcg qhs for age-management/wellness in aging patients.”
-
“Ipamorelin induces the release of GH at all dose levels”
-
ReviewDominikowski et al., Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2026 (review, full text) (opens in a new tab)
“In a phase I study in healthy adults, ipamorelin was generally well tolerated and produced a clear GH response, with peak GH levels occurring approximately 40–60 minutes after administration”
-
-
Build muscle, burn fat
People report it, not studied
Lifters and clinics use it for leaner muscle and less fat, as a milder alternative to growth hormone shots.
Sources (3)
-
ForumExcelMale forum: “Ipamorelin Dosage Discussion” (user JimGainz, April 2019) (opens in a new tab)
“Great sleep and increased my lifts, with visibility noticeable fat loss and muscle fullness.”
-
“Benefits: This combination provides enhanced muscle mass, improved fat metabolism, increased energy levels, better skin quality, and potentially anti-aging effects.”
-
“For example, these clinics marketed various uses of ipamorelin, including weight loss management, anti-aging purposes, inflammatory conditions, building muscles, boosting energy levels, and improving sleep cycle.”
-
-
Sleep deeper, recover faster
People report it, not studied
Taken before bed for deeper sleep and faster recovery from training, often stacked with CJC-1295.
Sources (3)
-
“Ipamorelin enhances recovery through the activation of human growth hormone (known as a “growth hormone secretagogue”), which is well-known to accelerate the healing process.”
-
ForumExcelMale forum: “Ipamorelin Dosage Discussion” (user JimGainz, April 2019) (opens in a new tab)
“Great sleep and increased my lifts, with visibility noticeable fat loss and muscle fullness.”
-
ForumSuperiorMuscle forum: “Peptides basics by author Datbtrue” (August 2010 repost) (opens in a new tab)
“It takes just 100mcg of each to get this deeper sleep.”
-
Evidence briefing
Sources checkedWhat the sources support.
Ipamorelin is investigational, not FDA-approved. A phase 2 postoperative-ileus trial used IV infusions and did not significantly improve its primary time-to-meal outcome; it does not support marketed muscle, fat-loss or anti-aging claims.
The phase 2 study was postoperative and intravenous; it does not establish benefit for other uses or routes.
The research. What’s been studied.
TapClick a dotted word to see what it means.
-
Early human studies
Growth hormone release
Human studies confirmed it raises GH in a dose-dependent pulse.
-
Early human studies
Clean, selective effect
Barely raises cortisol or prolactin, unlike older growth-hormone-releasing peptides.
-
Early human studies
Less hunger
Causes less appetite increase than other mimics.
-
Unverified
Recovery, sleep and body composition
Commonly claimed benefits of higher GH; no trials have tested them.
What do these labels mean?
- Human evidence: approved-drug data or larger human studies, within the populations and uses studied.
- Early human studies: small, preliminary or limited human studies.
- Animal & lab studies: animal or laboratory findings that do not establish effects in people.
- Unverified: a proposed use or claim without verified supporting clinical evidence.
How each claim was reviewed (4)
Reported effects and evidence.
A citation may support, qualify or correct a claim. Read the study scope; a laboratory result is not an established benefit in people. Each review covers a claim as it was first collected; the tiles above show the collection’s current wording.
-
Human pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study
Review of “Growth hormone release”
A human volunteer study found dose-related stimulation of GH release.
Limitations and applicability. GH release is an endocrine endpoint, not proof of improved recovery, sleep or body composition.
Original collected claim and review history
Original title: Growth hormone release
Human studies confirmed it raises GH in a dose-dependent pulse.
Original label: early. Preserved for traceability; the reviewed wording above qualifies this record.
Record ipamorelin:benefit:1 · Annotated 2026-10-01 · Review method
-
Preclinical endocrine selectivity
Review of “Clean, selective effect”
Preclinical experiments found selective GH release with limited ACTH/cortisol response under the tested conditions.
Limitations and applicability. Key selectivity experiments were in swine and rat preparations; “clean” implies unproven overall safety.
Original collected claim and review history
Original title: Clean, selective effect
Barely raises cortisol or prolactin, unlike older growth-hormone-releasing peptides.
Original label: early. Preserved for traceability; the reviewed wording above qualifies this record.
Record ipamorelin:benefit:2 · Annotated 2026-10-01 · Review method
-
Unknown — no direct primary source verified. Comparative appetite claim unresolved
Review of “Less hunger”
Lower hunger than other ghrelin mimics is a reported claim with no direct supporting human comparison verified here.
Limitations and applicability. No direct human comparison of hunger with other ghrelin mimics was verified.
Unknown: no direct primary source verified. This does not mean that no research exists.
Original collected claim and review history
Original title: Less hunger
Causes less appetite increase than other ghrelin mimics.
Original label: early. Preserved for traceability; the reviewed wording above qualifies this record.
Record ipamorelin:benefit:3 · Annotated 2026-10-01 · Review method
-
Unknown — no direct primary source verified. Explicitly unverified reported benefits
Review of “Recovery, sleep and body composition”
Recovery, sleep and body-composition effects remain reported claims without a verified direct clinical outcome trial.
Limitations and applicability. Keep as attributed claims. A pharmacodynamic GH study cannot support clinical recovery/sleep/body-composition outcomes.
Unknown: no direct primary source verified. This does not mean that no research exists.
Original collected claim and review history
Original title: Recovery, sleep and body composition
Commonly claimed benefits of higher GH; no trials have tested them.
Original label: claimed. Preserved for traceability; the reviewed wording above qualifies this record.
Record ipamorelin:benefit:4 · Annotated 2026-10-01 · Review method
The research in detail
Evidence category
Human trials, not approved
A postoperative-ileus trial used intravenous ipamorelin after bowel surgery. It did not significantly improve the primary time-to-first-tolerated-meal outcome. No trials for muscle gain, fat loss or anti-aging were identified.
Evidence is assessed claim by claim above. Regulatory approval, study design, findings and relevance are separate questions; there is no single evidence score.
Risks and unknowns. What to know first.
Collected cautions follow. These are not an exhaustive or independently validated safety assessment; claim references do not automatically support every caution.
- Headache, flushing and water retention; blood sugar can rise with ongoing use.
- Same long-term GH/ concerns as other secretagogues.
What people report
-
Regulator
The FDA lists ipamorelin among compounding substances that may pose significant safety risks. It notes a published study in which serious adverse events, including deaths, occurred when ipamorelin was given into a vein after bowel surgery.
-
Case report
FDA’s adverse-event database had two non-serious reports: watery eyes and headache after a compounded ipamorelin nasal spray used daily for 17 days, and lasting elbow pain after a compounded ipamorelin + sermorelin injection.
Source: FDA briefing document, Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, 29 October 2024 (opens in a new tab)
-
User reports
Anecdotal side effects listed by a forum founder include headache or light-headedness, water retention, numbness in the hands and feet, tiredness, reduced insulin sensitivity and carpal-tunnel symptoms.
Source: ExcelMale forum: “Ipamorelin Dosage Discussion” (Nelson Vergel, February 2019) (opens in a new tab)
Show all 5 cautionsShow fewer cautions
-
User reports
Flushing and a pounding heart for a few minutes after a CJC-1295/ipamorelin shot are reported.
Source: ExcelMale forum: “Ipamorelin and CJC 1295 (no DAC) plan” (opens in a new tab)
-
User reports
For one user the head-and-neck flush after CJC-1295/ipamorelin shots faded after about 45 days.
Source: Reddit r/Peptides (August 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Published dosing records. What the trials used.
Historical label and trial records for the named product, route, population and indication. These records are not a personal schedule or a validated regimen for a catalog vial. Source attribution does not establish applicability.
Phase 2 trial
Phase 2 trial in adults in hospital after bowel surgery (International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 2014)
Source: Beck et al., International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 2014 (opens in a new tab)
- Days 1–7 after surgery
- 0.03 mg/kg
- How
- Into a vein (drip)
- How often
- Twice a day
- How long
- From day 1 after surgery for up to 7 days, or until leaving hospital
- This was given by drip in hospital. No dose for injection under the skin has been established.
- The authors called it well tolerated, but 2 people given ipamorelin died after surgical complications (the FDA says it is unclear whether the drug played a part), and recovery was not significantly faster than with placebo.
- An earlier study in healthy men gave single 15-minute drips of 4.21 to 140.45 nmol per kg to measure growth hormone release.
These doses were tested in clinical trials under medical supervision. They aren’t approved for use, and a research vial is not the product that was tested.
Community protocols. Reported online. Not clinically validated.
Community reports Collection date: 30 Sep 2026Ipamorelin, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP), is most often injected at 100–300 mcg per shot, usually paired with CJC-1295 (no DAC), once to three times a day, with a bedtime dose on an empty stomach the most common.
More about this
Clinics prescribe 250–500 mcg nightly for months, and some bodybuilders use 500–1,000 mcg up to three times a day.
With CJC-1295 (no DAC), 1–3 times a day
Collected report · exact form and route are only as reported below. Source date and reporter identity are not separately verified. Collection checked 30 Sep 2026; presentation annotated 2026-10-01.
- Forum: Reddit r/Peptides wiki (Datbtrue article archive)
- Forum: ExcelMale forum: “CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin (10mg) blend dosage”, page 2 (user Sean Mosher)
- Practitioner: Ben Greenfield, “Ben’s Peptide Stack for Recovery, Explosive Gains, & Ageless Vitality” (September 2024)
- Forum: Reddit r/Peptides: “CJC/Ipamorelin flushing stopped after around 45 days” (August 2026)
Frequency labels describe this collection, not a measured population. Contradictory records remain available.
Details and sourcesHide details
- Dose
- 100–300 mcg per shot (forum “saturation dose” 100 mcg)
- How often
- Once to three times a day
- Route
- Injection under the skin
- Timing
- Before bed on an empty stomach; extra shots on waking or after training
- How long
- About 12 weeks is common; many run it for months
- Cycle
- Some skip weekends (5 days on, 2 off)
- Ramp
- Start with one bedtime shot, then add more if tolerated
- Mixing
- Often bought as a pre-mixed blend, for example 5 mg + 5 mg with 2.5 mL bacteriostatic water (200 mcg of each per 10 units)
- The idea is that the GHRP (ipamorelin) makes the GHRH (CJC-1295) work reliably, so the two are dosed together.
- Blends come in different ratios (1:1, 2:1, 12 mg:6 mg), which changes the ipamorelin dose per shot.
Sources (4)
-
ForumReddit r/Peptides wiki (Datbtrue article archive) (opens in a new tab)
“Saturation dose is defined as either 100mcg or 1mcg/kg of bodyweight in the studies. For the most part it is treated as 100mcg.”
-
“Usually PM dosing of each is 200 mcg, probably no more than 300 mcg of each.”
-
“100–500mcg 1–3x/day for a 12-week cycle”
-
“I am currently using a CJC/Ipamorelin blend at 500 mcg total, 250 mcg of each.”
Clinic nightly protocol (anti-aging / low IGF-1)
Collected report · exact form and route are only as reported below. Source date and reporter identity are not separately verified. Collection checked 30 Sep 2026; presentation annotated 2026-10-01.
- Forum: ExcelMale forum: “Ipamorelin Dosage Discussion” (Nelson Vergel, February 2019)
- Forum: Same post
- Forum: Same thread, opening post (July 2018)
- Review: FDA briefing document, Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (29 October 2024), describing clinic marketing
Frequency labels describe this collection, not a measured population. Contradictory records remain available.
Details and sourcesHide details
- Dose
- 250–500 mcg (range quoted up to 1,000 mcg); 150–350 mcg in individual prescriptions
- How often
- Once a day at bedtime
- Route
- Injection under the skin
- Timing
- Bedtime
- How long
- 3–6 months for short-term goals; some clinics describe open-ended use
- Mixing
- Compounded multi-dose vials such as 15 mg (about 50 doses of 300 mcg) or 6 mg
- Prescribed by men’s-health and anti-aging clinics through compounding pharmacies, sometimes with testosterone therapy.
Sources (4)
-
ForumExcelMale forum: “Ipamorelin Dosage Discussion” (Nelson Vergel, February 2019) (opens in a new tab)
“Protocol: 250mcg-1000mcg every day qhs for 3-6 months to reach short term goals.”
-
ForumSame post (opens in a new tab)
“Ipamorelin can also be taken chronically at 250-500mcg qhs for age-management/wellness in aging patients.”
-
ForumSame thread, opening post (July 2018) (opens in a new tab)
“He added 350 micrograms of ipamorelin per day to my current protocol, injected before bed every night.”
-
“(supplied as a dose of 150 mcg per day via single injections)”
Show all 4 protocolsShow fewer protocols
High-dose ipamorelin
Collected report · exact form and route are only as reported below. Source date and reporter identity are not separately verified. Collection checked 30 Sep 2026; presentation annotated 2026-10-01.
- Forum: ExcelMale forum, page 2 (user BigTex, February 2024)
- Forum: ExcelMale forum, page 2 (user NomDePlume, February 2024)
- Forum: Reddit r/Peptides: “Peptide stack help/advice” (September 2026)
Frequency labels describe this collection, not a measured population. Contradictory records remain available.
Details and sourcesHide details
- Dose
- 500–1,000 mcg per shot (one user takes 2 mg a day)
- How often
- Up to three times a day
- Route
- Injection under the skin
- Promoted by some bodybuilders as an alternative to growth hormone; often combined with 100 mcg CJC-1295 per shot.
Sources (3)
-
ForumExcelMale forum, page 2 (user BigTex, February 2024) (opens in a new tab)
“I have always suggested that 500mcg of Ipa is the minimum you use. I know guys that get good results at 1000mcg.”
-
ForumExcelMale forum, page 2 (user NomDePlume, February 2024) (opens in a new tab)
“Bodybuilder Taeian Clark is a big advocate for 500mcg high dose Ipamorelin, up to 3x500 daily”
-
ForumReddit r/Peptides: “Peptide stack help/advice” (September 2026) (opens in a new tab)
“Ipamorelin: 2mg/Daily”
Compounded oral or nasal forms
Collected report · exact form and route are only as reported below. Source date and reporter identity are not separately verified. Collection checked 30 Sep 2026; presentation annotated 2026-10-01.
Frequency labels describe this collection, not a measured population. Contradictory records remain available.
Details and sourcesHide details
- Dose
- Not stated in the sources found
- How often
- Once a day in the one reported case
- Route
- Oral (troches or dissolving tablets under the tongue) or nasal spray
- Sold by some clinics; there is no evidence these forms are absorbed well.
Sources (1)
-
“one company offers ipamorelin as SC injections, rapid dissolve tablets (RDT), and sublingual troches.”
Where the numbers come from
The 100 mcg (or 1 mcg/kg) “saturation dose” and the pairing with a GHRH come from the forum writer Datbtrue, archived in the r/Peptides wiki. The 250–500 mcg bedtime dose is compounding-pharmacy and clinic practice, spread through men’s-health forums such as ExcelMale. Bodybuilders later pushed doses to 500–1,000 mcg.
Home-made sprays and serums
Home-made nasal spray. Community recipes. Not tested.
Original source recordsHide
Compounders and wellness clinics have sold ipamorelin as a nasal spray, and some users take it that way. In rats about 20% of a nasal dose was absorbed. No home recipe or pharmacy strength was found. FDA recorded one adverse-event report from a nasal spray bought from a website, which the reporter said was not packaged in a sterile manner.
Best evidence: FDA advisory-committee briefing (Oct 2024): compounders have prepared ipamorelin in nasal form. Rat study (Novo Nordisk, 1998): nasal bioavailability about 20%. Anti-doping study (2015) gave ipamorelin nasally to a volunteer. Community use reports.
Compounded, clinic or vendor nasal sprays (no formula published)
Original source-specific report. Collection checked 30 Sep 2026; presentation annotated 2026-10-01. Source date and reporter identity are not separately verified. Exact form and route are limited to the source’s description.
- Review: FDA Briefing Document – Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, 29 Oct 2024 (ipamorelin)
- Study: Johansen et al. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of ipamorelin ... with emphasis on nasal absorption – Xenobiotica (1998), rat study
- Study: Semenistaya et al. GHRP metabolites in human urine after nasal administration – Drug Test Anal (2015)
- Forum: Reddit r/Peptides, u/EmRenWSR (post, 2023-07-31)
- Forum: Reddit r/Peptides, u/CopperyAbyss9 (post, 2025-01-22)
Ingredients and methodHide the recipe
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ipamorelin | not stated | Active |
Not stated: how it’s used and the amount per dose.
Sources (5)
-
“Internet search results show that compounders have been preparing ipamorelin in injectable, nasal, and oral formulations.”
-
“After intranasal application, the bioavailability of ipamorelin was estimated at approximately 20%.”
-
“we have investigated metabolites of GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, and Ipamorelin in urine after nasal administration.”
-
ForumReddit r/Peptides, u/EmRenWSR (post, 2023-07-31) (opens in a new tab)
“I started the intranasal Wolverine (TB-500 & BPC 157) and intranasal Ipamorelin at the beginning of last month (July).”
-
ForumReddit r/Peptides, u/CopperyAbyss9 (post, 2025-01-22) (opens in a new tab)
“I am currently using CJC1295 and Ipamorelin through and Atomizer.”
How the method was put together, step by step with its sources
Editorial synthesis and reported strength comparison
This synthesized method combines source records. It has not been validated for preparation, sterility, compatibility, absorption or storage. Select a reported strength to inspect the arithmetic; no strength is selected for you.
No amounts were found in the reviewed recipe records for this one. What was found is under “Original source records”.
The general method for home-made nasal sprays, with its sources
Good to know
- Bacteriostatic water contains 0.9–1.1% benzyl alcohol as a preservative. Its label covers mixing injections, not nasal use; EU labels warn of allergic reactions.
- Some use store-bought saline nasal spray for its preservatives: often benzalkonium chloride, which can irritate the nose with long use, and sometimes benzyl alcohol.
- Never tap water: it is not sterile, and CDC researchers warn against it for nasal rinsing.
What people report
-
Regulator
FDA adverse-event database: a 32-year-old man used a compounded ipamorelin nasal spray daily for 17 days for sinus headache and had increased tearing and headache, thought to be a product-quality issue. According to the report, the website’s spray was not packaged in a sterile manner.
Source: FDA Briefing Document – Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, 29 Oct 2024 (opens in a new tab)
-
Regulator
FDA lists ipamorelin acetate among substances that may present significant compounding risks (immune reactions from aggregation or impurities).
On the skin: home-made serums. Community recipes. Not tested.
Original source recordsHide
A CJC-1295/ipamorelin cream exists as a product, meant to work through the skin. One user used it for two cycles and saw little; no strength, maker or recipe was found.
Best evidence: User reports only.
CJC-1295/ipamorelin cream (maker and strength not stated)
Original source-specific report. Collection checked 30 Sep 2026; presentation annotated 2026-10-01. Source date and reporter identity are not separately verified. Exact form and route are limited to the source’s description.
- Forum: Reddit r/Peptides, u/IndependentNo3864 post (Nov 2024)
- Forum: Reddit r/Peptides, u/Hairy_Masterpiece_25 (Nov 2024)
- Forum: Reddit r/Peptides, u/Hairy_Masterpiece_25 (Nov 2024)
- Forum: Reddit r/Peptides, u/Hairy_Masterpiece_25 (Nov 2024)
Batch: not stated
Ingredients and methodHide the recipe
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Role |
|---|---|---|
| CJC-1295 and ipamorelin | not stated | Active |
| Cream base | not stated | Base |
Method
Bought ready-made; no method or strength given.
- How it’s used
- Rubbed on the forearms; one user did two cycles.
- Most replies call these creams a waste compared with injections; none gives a strength.
Sources (4)
-
ForumReddit r/Peptides, u/IndependentNo3864 post (Nov 2024) (opens in a new tab)
“Has anybody had experience with the topical cream version of this peptide combo?”
-
ForumReddit r/Peptides, u/Hairy_Masterpiece_25 (Nov 2024) (opens in a new tab)
“Did the cream for 2 cycles”
-
ForumReddit r/Peptides, u/Hairy_Masterpiece_25 (Nov 2024) (opens in a new tab)
“Got a slight improvement in skin and sleep, but was very frustrated at the lack of any other results.”
-
ForumReddit r/Peptides, u/Hairy_Masterpiece_25 (Nov 2024) (opens in a new tab)
“Look at the science there is about 10-20% absorption max. (rubbing on the forearms)”
How the method was put together, step by step with its sources
Editorial synthesis and reported strength comparison
This synthesized method combines source records. It has not been validated for preparation, sterility, compatibility, absorption or storage. Select a reported strength to inspect the arithmetic; no strength is selected for you.
No amounts were found in the reviewed recipe records for this one. What was found is under “Original source records”.
The general method for home-made serums, with its sources
Good to know
- Use distilled water, not tap: tap water carries minerals, chlorine and microbes that can spoil the serum.
What people report
-
User reports
Users call transdermal creams of these peptides ineffective compared with injections.
Source: Reddit r/Peptides, u/Brilliant-Warthog-79 (Nov 2024) (opens in a new tab)
Research notes
Forum “saturation dose” logic (100 mcg is enough) conflicts with bodybuilder advice that 500 mcg is the minimum. Most users take ipamorelin as part of a blend, so the ipamorelin dose per shot depends on the blend ratio.
Nasal spray
The 20% nasal absorption figure is from rats, not people.
On the skin
No strength, maker or recipe found.
Taken with
- CJC-1295 (no DAC) + ipamorelin, separate vials
- Day CJC-1295/ipamorelin + night tesamorelin/ipamorelin
- ‘Deadpool’ healing stack (BPC-157 + TB4 + ipamorelin + tesamorelin + GHK-Cu, separate vials)
- Sermorelin + ipamorelin
- GLP-1 drug + growth-hormone-releasing peptides (CJC-1295/ipamorelin, often with BPC-157/TB4) to protect muscle
What it is. In plain English.
A selective growth-hormone releaser that mimics the hunger hormone ghrelin.
A five-amino-acid peptide developed by Novo Nordisk in the 1990s, part of the growth-hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) family. Three of its five building blocks don’t occur in nature.
It activates the ghrelin receptor and stimulated growth-hormone release in early research. Claims that it reliably avoids cortisol, prolactin or appetite effects have not been established as clinical benefits.
Reviewed 2026-10-01.
Structure. Nothing to show yet.
No experimental 3D structure of ipamorelin is in the .
Searches by name and by its code, NNC 26-0161, found nothing, and none of the 11 ghrelin receptor entries contains it. A different peptide, GHRP-6, has a structure with that receptor (7F9Z), but it isn’t ipamorelin, so it isn’t shown here.
Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Specs. The facts at a glance.
- Length
- 5 amino acids
- Sequence
- Aib-H-2Nal-f-K-NH₂
- Sold as
- Ipamorelin 10 mg
- In blends
- CJC-1295 no DAC / Ipamorelin5 mg / 5 mg per vial
- Tesamorelin / Ipamorelin10 mg / 3 mg per vial
- Regulatory status
- Not FDA-approved. In 2024 the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee recommended against adding ipamorelin acetate to the 503A Bulks List; FDA also cites route-specific immunogenicity and peptide-characterization concerns. prohibits ipamorelin.
- Also known as
- Ghrelin-receptor agonist (GHRP)
Sources. What this page rests on.
Every source behind this page, with what it says and when it was checked, is in the Source library.
Ipamorelin in the Source library
Original overview and research notes · annotated 2026-10-01
Historical collection text. Read alongside the claim corrections above; identity or evidence qualifications may supersede this wording.
Selective growth hormone release
A selective growth-hormone releaser that mimics the hunger hormone ghrelin.
A five-amino-acid peptide developed by Novo Nordisk in the 1990s, part of the growth-hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) family. Three of its five building blocks don’t occur in nature.
It activates the ghrelin receptor in the pituitary, triggering a pulse of growth hormone. Unlike older GHRPs, it barely raises cortisol or prolactin and causes less hunger.
Human studies confirmed dose-dependent GH release. It went into Phase 2 trials for bowel recovery after surgery, didn’t beat placebo, and development stopped. No trials for muscle, fat loss or anti-aging.
Original status record: Not approved. Research chemical. An FDA advisory panel voted against letting pharmacies compound it in 2024, and the FDA still lists it as a possible safety risk for outsourcing facilities. Banned by WADA.