Ipamorelin
Selective growth hormone secretagogue with minimal side effects
Clinical Research Score: 4/5 — Studied in human clinical trials as a selective growth-hormone secretagogue, but development stalled before FDA approval.
Categories: Hormonal Support, Performance & Energy, Anti-Aging / Longevity
What is Ipamorelin?
If you're new to growth hormone peptides, Ipamorelin is where most people start — and for good reason. It provides a clean, natural pulse of growth hormone without the side effects that make other GH peptides difficult to use. No cortisol spikes. No intense hunger. No hormonal chaos.
The benefits build gradually and consistently. Sleep gets deeper and more restorative — many people say this is the first thing they notice, often within the first week. Over the following weeks, body composition starts shifting: lean muscle fills in, stubborn fat starts to budge. Recovery from workouts accelerates. Skin takes on a more youthful quality.
What makes Ipamorelin special is its selectivity. It only triggers growth hormone — it doesn't touch other hormones that cause unwanted effects. This makes it one of the safest, most predictable GH peptides available, and it's why it's become the go-to recommendation for anyone exploring growth hormone optimization for the first time.
How Ipamorelin works
Ipamorelin works by mimicking ghrelin at the pituitary gland, triggering it to release a natural pulse of growth hormone. But unlike other ghrelin mimetics, it's remarkably selective — it only stimulates GH release without meaningfully affecting cortisol, prolactin, or aldosterone. This selectivity is what gives it such a clean side-effect profile. The result is a natural, pulsatile GH release pattern that mimics what your body did when you were younger.
Scientific overview
Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide and selective growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) that stimulates the release of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland. Unlike other GHS peptides, ipamorelin does not significantly affect cortisol, acetylcholine, prolactin, or aldosterone levels, making it one of the cleanest and most selective GH-releasing peptides available. It acts through the ghrelin/GHS receptor.
Dosing
- Starting dose: 100 mcg per dose
- Common dosage range: 200-300 mcg per dose
- Administration: Subcutaneous
- Half-life: ~2 hours
- Frequency: 2-3x daily