What is Ipamorelin researched for?

Ipamorelin is described as a synthetic pentapeptide growth hormone secretagogue related to GHRP-1. The supplied source frames it as a research compound that can stimulate endogenous GH release, with human development focused mainly on postoperative ileus and gastrointestinal motility rather than wellness outcomes.

How does Ipamorelin work?

The source describes ipamorelin as acting at the ghrelin or growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHS-R1a, on anterior pituitary somatotroph cells. That receptor activity is reported to promote pulsatile release of stored growth hormone through intracellular signaling involving phospholipase C, IP3, and calcium.

Is Ipamorelin FDA approved?

No. The source lists ipamorelin as not FDA approved and describes its clinical status as investigational, with Phase II trials discontinued. It also notes FDA Category 2 status with a pending reclassification process that had not formally changed the current category in the source.

What side effects are reported for Ipamorelin?

The source lists injection-site reactions, headache, nausea, increased appetite, water retention, and temporary joint stiffness. It also states that ipamorelin was generally well tolerated in the cited context and did not significantly increase cortisol or prolactin, while noting active malignancy as a contraindication.

What dose information is listed for Ipamorelin?

The source reports a community pattern of 200-300 mcg two to three times daily, with a broader per-dose range of 100-500 mcg. It also includes a research-labelled entry of 100-300 mcg per injection by subcutaneous administration. These are evidence-capture fields, not medical dosing instructions.

Growth Hormone Clinical Trials - human trials under way

Ipamorelin

Also known as: IPAM, NNC 26-0161

At a glance

PeptiGuide dataset · reviewed Aug 2026

What it is

Selective synthetic GH secretagogue studied for pituitary growth hormone release.

Status

Clinical Trials

Evidence level: human studies

Typical dose

200–300mcg

Subcutaneous injection

Researched for

Anti-aging, muscle building, sleep quality, recovery

Trial progress

PrePreclinical
IPhase I
IIPhase II
IIIPhase III
IVPhase IV
FDAFDA approved

Phase II - Emerging human evidence with important limitations

Use the tools

In plain language

Synthetic pentapeptide growth hormone secretagogue associated with GHRP-1 and developed by Novo Nordisk.
Investigational compound; the source says Phase II development was discontinued and it is not FDA approved.
Human study context in the source centers on postoperative ileus and gut motility, while wellness uses are described as unproven extrapolations.
Source-reported community dosing is 200-300 mcg two to three times daily by injection.
Listed research-interest areas include anti-aging, muscle building, sleep quality, and recovery.

How it's thought to work

Ipamorelin is reported to activate GHS-R1a, the ghrelin or growth hormone secretagogue receptor, on somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary. The source links this receptor activity to Gq/phospholipase C signaling, IP3 generation, intracellular calcium release, and pulsatile release of stored growth hormone. It also describes ipamorelin as relatively selective in early characterization, with GH-releasing doses not meaningfully increasing ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, FSH, LH, or TSH. Because the mechanism relies on pituitary GH stores, the source indicates that pituitary function and normal feedback biology remain relevant to the response.

What the research shows

Where the research stands

The source identifies Raun et al. 1998 as early foundational work and describes characterization across rats, pigs, and isolated pituitary cells. It reports that ipamorelin released GH without corresponding ACTH or cortisol increases at doses above the GH-release threshold. The source also notes that human development reached Phase II for postoperative ileus before being discontinued for insufficient efficacy. For popular wellness uses such as anti-aging, fat loss, muscle gain, or recovery, the source states that large peer-reviewed human randomized trials are not available and that these claims are extrapolated from mechanism rather than established outcomes.

What it shows

✓ Human studies

Emerging human evidence with important limitations

△ Limitations

Study protocols describe research and are not dosing recommendations.

Bottom line: Investigational; Phase II trials discontinued. Listed as FDA Category 2 pending possible reclassification, with formal status not changed in the source. Not FDA Approved

Typical dosing

CommunityCommunity dataset

200–300 mcg

2-3x daily

100 mcgfull range seen500 mcg

Community-reported pattern only; the source also notes fasted timing, common use in the morning, after workouts, or before bed, and frequent pairing with CJC-1295.

Research dosing

Study-specific protocolsHuman trials under way - protocols are study-specific

Doses observed in studies

100-300 mcg per injection

Clinical Trial Data - Investigational - Phase II trials completed

Study protocols describe research and are not dosing recommendations.

Duration: 8-12 weeks typical
Administration: Subcutaneous injection

Timing & administration

Best time to take

Before bed or morning, fasted

2-3 times daily, with main dose before bed

Food recommendation

Fasted timing reported

Why this timing?

The source links fasted use to a stronger GH-release response because food, especially carbohydrate or fat intake, may dampen that response. Bedtime timing is described as an attempt to coincide with sleep-related GH pulse patterns.

Possible side effects

Not everyone experiences these. Individual responses vary with dose, duration, and personal factors.

Generally well tolerated
Injection-site reactions
Headache
Nausea
Increased appetite
Water retention
Temporary joint stiffness
No significant cortisol or prolactin elevation reported
Contraindicated with active malignancy

Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity can vary by context, purity, route, and individual health factors.

Sources

PubMed ClinicalTrials.gov FDA.gov

Frequently asked questions

Sequence

H-Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2

One open dataset

Every fact on this page - doses, side effects, references - comes from the same PeptiGuide dataset that powers the Tracker, Compare, and the Lab.

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Educational resource, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before acting on anything here.

Community discussion

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Ipamorelin

In plain languageIn plain language

How it's thought to workHow it's thought to work

What the research showsWhat the research shows

Typical dosing

Research dosing

Timing & administrationTiming & administration

Possible side effectsPossible side effects

SourcesSources

Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions