Ipamorelin (Ipamorelin (Selective GH Secretagogue))
A highly selective GH secretagogue that stimulates GH release without significantly affecting cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH. Considered the cleanest GHRP.
How it works
Selectively activates GHSR on pituitary somatotrophs. Unlike GHRP-6 and hexarelin, does not significantly activate ACTH or prolactin-releasing pathways.
Key facts
- Molecular weight: 711.9 Da
- Half-life: 2 hours
- Bioavailability: High (SubQ)
- Storage: Lyophilized: -20°C. Reconstituted: 2-8°C for 28 days.
Dosing overview
- Typical dose: 100-300 mcg
- Frequency: 1-3x daily
- Duration: 8-16 weeks
- Route: Subcutaneous injection
Protocol notes
- Most run 100-300 mcg per dose, 1-3x daily.
- Almost always combined 1:1-ish with CJC-1295 (no-DAC) in the same shot for a stronger, cleaner GH pulse.
- Pre-bed dose is the priority; add a fasted-morning or pre-workout dose to increase total pulses.
Reported benefits
- Clean GH release
- No cortisol or prolactin increase
- Improved sleep
- Fat loss
- Joint support
- Anti-aging benefits
Possible side effects
- Mild hunger increase
- Head rush post-injection
- Water retention (mild)
- Tingling
Research
- Selectivity of ipamorelin as GH secretagogue (2019): Demonstrated pure GH release without dose-dependent cortisol or ACTH increases, unlike hexarelin and GHRP-6.
- Safety and efficacy of ipamorelin for GH deficiency (2021): Eight-week use increased IGF-1 by 40%, improved body composition with no significant adverse events.
Community reviews of Ipamorelin
- researcher465 rated it 3/5 - Ipamorelin was okay, but HGH Fragment fit me better: I tried ipamorelin for about 4 months while training through long runs in Japan and trying to keep recovery decent at 26. For me it seemed a little helpful for sleep and appetite control, and I lost about 8 kg over that time, but nothing felt dramatic. I preferred HGH Fragment for the same fat-loss goal, it felt more direct to me. Ipamorelin was fine, just a bit underwhelming for the cost and effort.
- kim174 rated it 5/5 - sleep got deeper and the scale finally moved: after 12 weeks on ipamorelin, i was genuinely pretty happy with it. i work long lab days on the west coast, train a few times a week, and i mostly wanted better recovery plus a little help with body comp without feeling wired. for me, sleep got deeper, my HRV trended up a bit, and morning soreness was lower, which made my lifting feel smoother. the fat loss was gradual, but real enough that i noticed it in the mirror and on the scale. couldve been a mix of better sleep and tighter food, but my notes line up enough that i kept it at 5 stars.
- engineer_cora rated it 4/5 - Skeptical at first, but it did help my cut: I went in pretty skeptical, because my work in pharmacy makes me side-eye half the internet. After about 8 weeks on ipamorelin, I did drop 13 lbs and my sleep felt deeper, which honestly surprised me. For me, that was enough to keep it in rotation, though I still watched labs like a hawk.
- travis556 rated it 4/5 - leaned out a bit and slept a touch deeper: the main thing for me was leaning out without feeling wrecked, i ran ipamorelin about 4 weeks while lifting and doing a pretty normal midwest winter hibernation routine, and i was down about 5 lbs, sleep seemed a little deeper too, but that was the real draw for me.
- peptidehead_katie rated it 4/5 - IPA fit my late shifts better than I expected: I used Ipamorelin for about 3 months while working pharmacy shifts in India and trying to keep my training steady. For me, the nicest part was how it fit into night-time routine. I would do it, wind down, and sleep seemed a bit deeper, with less of that half-awake feeling at 2 am. My gym sessions felt a little easier to recover from too, especially legs. Body fat moved slowly, nothing dramatic. I kept notes on sleep and resting heart rate, and the trend was decent. One small caveat, it is one more thing to remember daily, and that itself gets annoying. 4/5 for me.
- data_medic rated it 4/5 - Slept better, but my appetite got weird: I ran Ipamorelin for about 8 weeks while trying to stay lean and keep training around my yoga schedule here on the East Coast, and I dropped about 9 lbs. My sleep felt deeper, but I also noticed a weird uptick in hunger at night, which was the main downside for me.
Compare Ipamorelin
Community discussions about Ipamorelin
- topol on peptides, finally someone saying the quiet part out loud - 6 comments
- Night‑time CJC‑1295/Ipa combo and how it’s shifted my sleep‑GH pulses - 4 comments
- Tesamorelin’s VAT loss: promising marker, uncertain performance - 4 comments
- Increased Hunger With MK-677 (Superman Stack): How Bad Did It Get For You? - 4 comments
- Long‑acting CJC‑1295 shows real GH spikes in healthy adults – but is it worth the hype? - 5 comments
- Ask the community about Ipamorelin
Research and educational reference only. Not medical advice.