Ipamorelin

What people use it for

• Raising growth hormone (popular use, often with CJC-1295)
• Postoperative ileus (studied in clinical trials)

What Ipamorelin does in the body

Activates the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) in the pituitary, triggering a pulse of growth hormone. It is considered more selective than older secretagogues, with less effect on cortisol and prolactin.

Strength of evidence

Limited: animal data and small human trials; a phase 2 trial for postoperative ileus did not meet its goals.

Look up the evidence

• Reviews on PubMed: Summaries of the published research
• Clinical trials on PubMed: Published studies in people
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Registered trials, past and ongoing

Live searches of official databases. New to the terms? See the glossary.

Reported side effects & risks

• Increased hunger
• Headache, flushing
• Injection-site reactions

Who should avoid it or take extra care

• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Active or past cancer
• Diabetes (may raise blood sugar)
• Competitive athletes (prohibited by WADA)

Not a complete list. Check with a doctor or pharmacist about your own health and medicines.

Regulatory status

Not approved. Prohibited in sport by WADA.

How it's taken

Route: Injection under the skin

How long it lasts (half-life): About 2 hours

Storage

Unreconstituted (powder) vials are usually kept refrigerated or frozen and away from light. Once mixed with bacteriostatic water, keep refrigerated and do not freeze; follow the supplier's stated beyond-use date.

Mixing guides

How much water to add and what each syringe mark holds, worked out for your own dose:

• 2 mg vial
• 5 mg vial
• 10 mg vial

Found in these stacks

• CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin: Two growth hormone releasers that work through different pathways, often sold pre-mixed.