What Is Ipamorelin?

Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide growth-hormone secretagogue — it mimics ghrelin at the pituitary's GHS receptor to trigger a pulse of the body's own growth hormone. Developed by Novo Nordisk in the 1990s, it became the market's favorite secretagogue for one reason: selectivity.

Unlike earlier GHRPs, ipamorelin releases GH with almost no effect on cortisol, prolactin or appetite. The result is a 'clean pulse' — physiological GH elevation that works with the body's own rhythm, typically timed before bed and stacked with a GHRH analog for synergy.

What is Ipamorelin studied for?

Side effects & safety

Among the mildest reported: brief flushing or head-rush after injection, occasional water retention at higher doses. GH-axis caveats apply to all secretagogues: glucose tolerance can drift with heavy chronic use, and active cancer is a contraindication.

Legal & approval status

Not approved (clinical development stopped for business, not safety, reasons). Compounding access tightened in the US in 2023; widely available as a research chemical. WADA-banned.

Typical dosing at a glance

Commonly reported protocols use 200 mcg–300 mcg, 1–3x daily, often before bed, via subcutaneous injection. For the mixing math — how much bacteriostatic water, exact syringe units, doses per vial — see the Ipamorelin reconstitution calculator →

Related peptides

What is CJC-1295 (no DAC)?What is CJC-1295 DAC?What is Sermorelin?What is Tesamorelin?What is Hexarelin?

Educational overview based on published research and commonly reported community protocols — not medical advice, and not an endorsement of any compound. Consult a licensed healthcare provider.