Ipamorelin Dosage, half-life & reference guide
Also known as IPAM
Considered the 'cleanest' growth hormone stimulator: in animal studies it triggers the pituitary to release GH without raising cortisol, a side effect common with other GH peptides.
- Studied range
- 200–300 mcgstarting dose 200 mcg
- How often
- 2–3× daily
- Half-life
- ~2 hours
- Evidence
- ●●
●Moderate - Routes
- SubQ, IM
Studied in research — not a recommendation.
How it works.
Selective growth hormone secretagogue and ghrelin receptor agonist. In animal studies it released GH without raising cortisol or ACTH, and users report milder hunger than with GHRP-6. Considered one of the cleanest GH pulses available.
Commonly reported: Deeper sleep and vivid dreams first, then better recovery, skin quality and gradual body-composition changes, with milder hunger than GHRP-6. Its human data are a small GH study and phase 2 trials in surgical patients; it was never approved.
Half-life & active level
The half-life of Ipamorelin is ~2 hours (measured in healthy men, given IV).
Here's how a typical Ipamorelin schedule plays out over 48 hours (one-compartment estimate).
An estimate from the half-life above, not a measurement. See your own curve build live in the half-life calculator.
Where Ipamorelin works.
Brain, nerves & sleep
Reported by users. Commonly reported first: deeper sleep, with vivid dreams this week, especially with a bedtime dose.
Appetite & metabolism
Reported by users. Some report measurable fat loss and easier joints.
Muscle
Reported by users. Commonly reported now: faster recovery from training, a shorter soreness window and less stiffness after hard sessions.
An area lights for what a peptide is used for and what people report, with the evidence beside it. It isn’t a promise that it works there.
Week by week.
What to expect in the first 8 weeks
- Onset
- 1–2 weeks
- Peak effect
- 8–12 weeks
- Duration
- 8–16 weeks
Day 1–14Community
Sleep is deepening
Commonly reported first: deeper sleep, with vivid dreams this week, especially with a bedtime dose. It's usually the earliest sign users notice.
The science
Ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist that released GH without raising cortisol or ACTH in animal studies (Raun 1998). Bedtime dosing aims at the natural GH peak during slow-wave sleep. No sleep study has tested ipamorelin; the sleep effect is what users report first.
Sources- Raun et al. (1998)
Updated Sep 2026
Day 14–28Community
Recovery is noticeably faster
Commonly reported now: faster recovery from training, a shorter soreness window and less stiffness after hard sessions.
The science
No human IGF-1 data exist for ipamorelin; the goal users describe is pulsatile GH, not a large IGF-1 rise. Mild water retention or hand and joint stiffness are the commonly reported signs of too much.
Updated Sep 2026
Day 28–56Community
Body composition shifts showing up
Commonly reported in weeks 4 to 8: visible body-composition changes and better skin, a subtle but real shift that friends often start noticing.
The science
No controlled human body-composition trial of ipamorelin exists; this timing comes from community reports.
Updated Sep 2026
Day 56–84Community
Cycle-end + planned break
Many users cycle here, taking 4–8 weeks off before the next run — the convention is conservative rather than data-driven. Ipamorelin's selective signature means desensitization risk is theoretical, not documented in humans. Hold, taper to maintenance, or break — all defensible given how thin the long-term data is. Many find gains hold when sleep, training and nutrition stay in place.
The science
Receptor desensitization concerns are theoretical — no published human data confirms it — but the break convention exists because continuous ghrelin-receptor stimulation has been shown to desensitize in other contexts. Conservative approach is worth it to preserve future responsiveness.
Sources- Ishida et al. (2020)
Updated Apr 2026
Any dayClinical
What Ipamorelin is built on
Ipamorelin has phase 1 human data on GH release and phase 2 safety data from surgical trials. Its clean signature, with no cortisol rise in animal studies, is what makes it the go-to selective GH secretagogue. Body-composition effects are community-reported.
The science
A phase 1 study in healthy men showed GH release at every IV dose tested (Gobburu 1999). Helsinn's phase 2 trial for postoperative ileus missed its key endpoint (Beck 2014) and development stopped; no reason was published. FDA lists ipamorelin acetate in compounding category 2, citing a published report of serious adverse events, including a death, with IV use for gut motility. Remains investigational/research-use-only in the US.
Sources- Gobburu et al. (1999)
- Beck et al. (2014)
- Raun et al. (1998)
Updated Sep 2026
With CJC-1295 no DACCommunity
The core GH stack
The classic GH stack: CJC-1295 amplifies each GH pulse and ipamorelin triggers it, so together they give a larger pulse than either alone, without the cortisol rise of other GHRPs. Commonly reported: deeper sleep and better recovery than either alone.
The science
Mechanism: a GHRH (CJC) plus a GHRP (Ipa) releases more GH than the sum of each alone, a synergy well established for the drug classes in general. CJC-1295 with DAC raised GH 2- to 10-fold for 6+ days after one injection (Teichman 2006); the no-DAC form used in this stack hasn't been studied in humans, and no trial has tested this specific combination.
Sources- Teichman et al. (2006)
- Ishida et al. (2020)
Updated Sep 2026
Any dayClinical
Where Ipamorelin sits in the GH family
Ipamorelin is the GHRP — the trigger that fires a GH pulse — and it's the cleanest one in the family: in animal studies it released GH without the cortisol rise that GHRP-6 and GHRP-2 cause. That selectivity is why it's the default partner for a GHRH like CJC-1295 rather than the stronger-but-messier secretagogues. You trade some peak output for a much tidier hormonal profile.
The science
Ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist that released GH without raising ACTH or cortisol in swine (Raun et al. 1998) — distinguishing it from GHRP-2, GHRP-6 (appetite + cortisol) and hexarelin (potent, on par with GHRP-2 in humans, with partial, reversible tolerance on chronic use). Paired with a GHRH analog it amplifies pulse amplitude.
Sources- Raun et al. (1998)
Updated Sep 2026
Day 1 is the day you start it.
Phase 1 data on GH release (Gobburu 1999). Sleep, recovery and body-composition timelines are community-reported.
Moderate evidence
Mixing and a typical run.
Example numbers
Reconstitution example
Reconstitute a 5 mg vial of Ipamorelin with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water and a 200 mcg dose is 8 units on a U-100 syringe, about 25 doses per vial.
- Vial
- 5 mg
- Water
- 2 mL
- Amount
- 200 mcg
Draw to8 units
0.3 mL insulin syringe · 30 units
Run notes
- Cycle
- Commonly 8–12 weeks on, 4 weeks off to avoid receptor desensitisation. Some run longer with breaks.Community practice — opinions vary. Not a clinical recommendation.
- Timing
- Best fasted or 2h post-meal. Pre-sleep dose popular for GH pulse timing.
- Routes
- SubQ injection, IM injection
- Stacks
- CJC-1295 no DAC, BPC-157, Sermorelin
Safety.
Common side effects
- Headache
- Flushing
- Nausea
- Water retention
- Numbness/tingling
Interactions
No formal human drug-interaction studies exist. The main mechanism-based consideration is glucose: because GH can reduce insulin sensitivity, combining with insulin or antidiabetic agents is worth clinician-guided glucose monitoring. It is classically stacked with a GHRH analog (CJC-1295) for amplified GH release — no combination-specific human interaction data exists. No documented interaction with SSRIs, anticoagulants, or thyroid medication; raise all medications with your clinician.
Safety notes
Ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin-receptor / GH-secretagogue pentapeptide; published pharmacology emphasizes its selectivity — unlike GHRP-2/GHRP-6 it did not raise ACTH or cortisol in animal studies (none of the three changed FSH, LH, prolactin or TSH there); human data cover GH only. FDA lists ipamorelin acetate in compounding category 2, citing a possible risk of immune reactions and a published report of serious adverse events, including a death, when it was given intravenously for gut motility. Reported/observed effects relate to GH/IGF-1 elevation: transient water retention, headache, flushing, and — because GH affects insulin sensitivity — possible glucose changes, plus carpal-tunnel-like symptoms or joint discomfort with sustained GH exposure. Human data remain limited and long-term safety is not established; most effects are described as reversible on cessation. Discuss glucose-relevant monitoring with your clinician.
Goes with.
In the GH Pulse + Repair stack
Body composition, GH optimization & recovery
With CJC-1295 no DAC and BPC-157
In the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin stack
Classic GH pulse stack — CJC-1295 no DAC + Ipamorelin
With CJC-1295 no DAC
Questions people ask.
What is Ipamorelin?
Considered the 'cleanest' growth hormone stimulator: in animal studies it triggers the pituitary to release GH without raising cortisol, a side effect common with other GH peptides.
How is Ipamorelin dosed in research?
The research range for Ipamorelin is 200–300 mcg, with a 200 mcg starting dose. 2–3x daily, best fasted or before bed. Studied in research — not a recommendation.
How long does Ipamorelin last?
The half-life of Ipamorelin is ~2 hours (measured in healthy men, given IV).
What do people report on Ipamorelin?
Commonly reported on Ipamorelin: deeper sleep and vivid dreams first, then better recovery, skin quality and gradual body-composition changes, with milder hunger than GHRP-6. Its human data are a small GH study and phase 2 trials in surgical patients; it was never approved.
Is Ipamorelin safe?
The research basis for Ipamorelin is moderate: animal studies + some human data. Common side effects in the library: headache, flushing, nausea, water retention and numbness/tingling.
What does Ipamorelin stack with?
Common stacks for Ipamorelin: CJC-1295 no DAC, BPC-157 and Sermorelin. Curated stacks with Ipamorelin: GH Pulse + Repair and CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin.
Reference.
- Cadence
2–3× daily
2–3x daily, best fasted or before bed
- Half-life
~2 hours
~2 hours (measured in healthy men, given IV)
- Research basis
●●
●ModerateAnimal studies + some human data
PepVault for iPhone
Track Ipamorelin in PepVault
Log every dose, keep your vial and the doses left in it and watch its estimated active level. 7 days free on the yearly plan for new subscribers.
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