Ipamorelin: research protocol, dosing & reconstitution
Quick answer
What is Ipamorelin?
Ipamorelin is a selective growth-hormone secretagogue — a compound that prompts the pituitary gland to release GH by mimicking the hunger hormone ghrelin. It is studied for stimulating GH with minimal effect on cortisol or prolactin, which is why it's considered the 'cleanest' compound in its class.
What Ipamorelin is
Ipamorelin is a five-amino-acid peptide that activates the ghrelin receptorReceptorA protein on or inside a cell that binds specific signaling molecules and triggers a response. Most peptides work by binding particular receptors.See glossary → (also called the GHGH (growth hormone)A hormone produced by the pituitary gland involved in growth, metabolism, and tissue repair. Several research peptides are studied for their ability to stimulate GH release.See glossary → secretagogue receptor). Unlike older compounds in its class, it triggers GH release without meaningfully raising cortisol (the stress hormone) or prolactin.
Research vialsVialThe small sealed glass container peptides are supplied in, topped with a rubber septum that a syringe needle can pass through.See glossary → are commonly 2 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg lyophilizedLyophilizedFreeze-dried. Peptides are shipped as a lyophilized powder ('puck') because the dry form is far more stable than a solution. It must be reconstituted before use in research.See glossary → powder.
Mechanism of action
Ipamorelin binds the ghrelin receptor on pituitary cells, triggering GH release through a pathway independent of GHRH. The original 1998 characterization described it as the first selective GH secretagogue — potent GH release with no significant effect on ACTH or cortisol [1].
Because the ghrelin and GHRH pathways are separate, combining Ipamorelin with a GHRH analog like CJC-1295 produces synergistic GH pulses in research contexts.
What researchers study Ipamorelin for
- Selective GH release and pulsatility studies
- Recovery and sleep-quality research contexts
- Body-composition research
- Appetite signaling (ghrelin-pathway) studies
What dose of Ipamorelin do researchers use?
Research literature commonly references doses of ~200–300 mcg per dose, 1–3x daily. This is not a recommendation — the table below summarizes protocols as they appear in published literature and trial designs.
| Context | Dose | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo (literature reference) | 200–300 mcg | 1–3× daily, empty stomach | 8–12 week cycles referenced |
| Blend with CJC-1295 | 250 mcg / 250 mcg | Nightly, 5 days on / 2 off | 8–12 week cycles referenced |
← Swipe to see the full table
Half-life and dosing timing
Half-life: ~2 hours. Route referenced in research: Subcutaneous (research). Half-lifeHalf-lifeHow long it takes for half of a compound to be eliminated from the body. Half-life determines how often researchers dose a compound in protocols.See glossary → is roughly 2 hours; each administration produces a discrete GH pulse. Protocols reference 1–3 pulses daily, with the pre-bed dose considered most important because it reinforces the natural nocturnal GH surge.
Titration: start low, go slow
Literature-referenced protocols start with one 200 mcgMicrogram (mcg / µg)One millionth of a gram, or one thousandth of a milligram. Most peptide research doses are measured in micrograms.See glossary → evening dose, adding morning or midday doses only after several days of assessed tolerance.
Skip the Ipamorelin math
Enter vial size, water volume, and target dose — the free calculator returns concentration, injection volume, and exact U-100 syringe units.
How is Ipamorelin reconstituted?
| Vial size | BAC water | Concentration | Worked example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 2.5 mL | 2,000 mcg/mL | 250 mcg = 0.125 mL = 12.5 units on a U-100 syringe |
| 2 mg | 1 mL | 2,000 mcg/mL | 200 mcg = 0.1 mL = 10 units on a U-100 syringe |
Add 2.5 mL of bacteriostatic waterBAC water (bacteriostatic water)Sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol, which suppresses bacterial growth. It is the standard diluent used to reconstitute lyophilized peptides for multi-dose research vials.See glossary → to a 5 mg vial: 5 mg ÷ 2.5 mL = 2 mg/mL, or 2,000 mcg/mL. A 250 mcg dose is 0.125 mL — 12.5 units on a U-100 syringeU-100 syringeAn insulin syringe calibrated so that 100 units equal 1 mL. The standard syringe referenced in peptide research; each unit equals 0.01 mL.See glossary →.
New to the process? Read the full step-by-step reconstitution guide.
How long does reconstituted Ipamorelin last?
Lyophilized: refrigerated, stable roughly 18–24 months. ReconstitutedReconstitutionThe process of mixing a freeze-dried (lyophilized) peptide powder with bacteriostatic water to create a solution of known concentration.See glossary →: refrigerate at 2–8°C, use within about 28–30 days.
What is Ipamorelin stacked with in research?
Almost always blended with CJC-1295 no-DAC in GH-axis research (e.g. 250/250 mcg nightly) — the two act on separate receptors and the combined pulse is referenced as synergistic.
Side effects observed in research
Commonly reported: brief head-rush, injection-site reaction, and increased appetite (expected — it activates the ghrelin 'hunger' receptor).
- Head-rush
- Injection-site reaction
- Increased appetite
Frequently asked questions
What dose of Ipamorelin do researchers use?
Literature commonly references 200–300 mcg per administration, one to three times daily on an empty stomach. This describes research protocols, not a recommendation.
Why does Ipamorelin increase appetite?
It activates the ghrelin receptor — the same receptor the body's hunger hormone uses — so transient appetite increase is a mechanistically expected effect.
Is Ipamorelin suppressive like external growth hormone?
Research frames secretagogues as working through the body's own pituitary signaling, preserving feedback loops rather than replacing them — one reason they are studied as an alternative to exogenous GH.
When is Ipamorelin dosed in research protocols?
Most commonly before bed on an empty stomach to coincide with the body's natural nocturnal GH pulse; multi-dose protocols add morning and midday administrations.
Related research peptides
CJC-1295
A growth-hormone-releasing hormone analog studied for stimulating GH release; often blended with Ipamorelin.
Growth Hormone SecretagogueTesamorelin
A GHRH analog studied and approved for reduction of visceral adipose tissue; researched for body composition.
Healing & RecoveryBPC-157
A synthetic peptide fragment studied for tissue repair, tendon/ligament and gut healing in animal research.
Browse all Growth Hormone Secretagogue peptides or start with the beginner’s guide to research peptides.
References
- 1.Raun K, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998. PubMed ↗