What it is
Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide (five amino acids) that acts as a growth hormone secretagogue. It binds the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) in the pituitary and prompts release of the body’s own growth hormone (GH). Its defining feature is selectivity: in lab studies it triggers a GH pulse without meaningfully raising cortisol, ACTH or prolactin, even at doses well above what is needed for GH release. That separates it from older GHRPs such as GHRP-6 and GHRP-2, which tend to drive up those other hormones and appetite more.
What people use it for
Reported goals are GH elevation for recovery, sleep and body composition, usually with a milder side effect profile than other secretagogues. It is very often paired with a GHRH analog (such as no-DAC CJC-1295 / mod GRF 1-29) to get a larger combined GH pulse.
Typical dose range
Common community dosing is roughly 200 to 300 mcg per dose, often given two to three times per day subcutaneously. The dose-response from GH release studies shows meaningful activity starting around 100 mcg, with the curve flattening above roughly 300 to 400 mcg per injection, so going much higher per shot tends to add side effect risk more than extra GH. To convert a dose into syringe units for your vial, use the calculator: Peptide Calculator - Reconstitution & Dosage | Buy Peptides UK
Half-life and frequency
Ipamorelin has a short elimination half-life of about 2 hours. That is why it is dosed multiple times per day in most protocols rather than once daily, and why it suits a pulse-style strategy (often timed away from food and around sleep or training).
Reconstitution (typical)
For a 5 mg vial, a common mix is 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, giving 2.5 mg/mL. On a U-100 insulin syringe (1 mL = 100 units):
- 200 mcg is 8 units (0.08 mL)
- 300 mcg is 12 units (0.12 mL)
Add the water gently down the vial wall and swirl rather than shaking. Calculate your own per-dose units here: Peptide Calculator - Reconstitution & Dosage | Buy Peptides UK
Storage
Keep the powder cold and protected from light. After reconstitution, refrigerate at roughly 2 to 8 C and use within about 28 to 30 days. Do not freeze the reconstituted solution.
Common side effects
The most commonly reported effects are mild: headache, light water retention, a mild increase in appetite, and tingling in the hands or feet. Most people report these settling within the first week or two. Its relatively clean cortisol and prolactin profile is the main reason it is often preferred over other GHRPs, but “selective” does not mean “no effects,” and long-term human safety data is limited.
Stacking and co-solubility
The classic pairing is ipamorelin plus a GHRH analog (no-DAC CJC-1295 / mod GRF 1-29). The two act through different receptors, and the combination produces a stronger GH pulse than either alone. Some users reconstitute and inject the two together; keeping separate vials is the more cautious habit. As always, a bigger pulse is not automatically a better or safer outcome.
Evidence grade
Mechanism and short-term pharmacology are reasonably well characterised: the selectivity for GH over cortisol and prolactin traces back to Raun et al. (1998) and related work. However, long-term human outcome trials (for body composition or recovery) are limited. So the GH-releasing action is well supported, while the real-world benefit and long-term safety in healthy adults are less so.
Honest unknowns
- Long-term safety of repeated GH stimulation in healthy adults is not established.
- The benefit of common stacks over ipamorelin alone is not well quantified in humans.
- Optimal dosing and timing for specific goals are based on practice, not trials.
- As with all GH-raising compounds, the downstream effects of chronically elevated IGF-1 are not fully understood.
Research use only. Not medical advice. 18+.