Research Reference
Ipamorelin
Most selective GHRP — clean GH release without cortisol/prolactin
Research & educational purposes only. BioMaxFit does not sell, promote, or represent peptides in any way. We are strictly educational and recommend working with your doctor on anything health-related. The information below comes from published research and documents what has been studied, not what should be done. Many of these compounds are investigational and not approved by the FDA; possession or use outside an authorized clinical trial may be illegal in your jurisdiction. This is not medical advice.
Ipamorelin is the most selective GHRP characterized in published research — Johansen et al. (1999) and Raun et al. (1998) describe minimal cortisol and prolactin elevation compared to GHRP-2, GHRP-6, and hexarelin, a profile community sources commonly call the "cleanest GHRP." Clinical development was discontinued despite positive Phase II results.
Standard protocol: 300 mcg per injection, AM and/or PM on an empty stomach, 5 days on / 2 days off, 8 weeks on / 8 weeks off.
Ipamorelin is a research peptide, not FDA-approved.
Dosing Reference
Reconstitution
Add 2 mL bacteriostatic water to the 5 mg vial. Resulting concentration: 2.5 mg/mL.
| Dose | Syringe Units | mL Volume | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 mcg | 8 units | 0.08 mL | Daily SubQStarter |
| 300 mcg | 12 units | 0.12 mL | AM + PM SubQStandard (5-on/2-off) |
| 500 mcg | 20 units | 0.2 mL | Daily fasted SubQAdvanced |
Math assumes U-100 insulin syringes (1 mL = 100 units). Verify your syringe matches before use. Round half-units to the nearest visible mark.
Reconstitution
For a 10 mg vial with 3 mL bacteriostatic water, the concentration is ~3,333 mcg/mL. A 300 mcg dose draws to 9 units (0.09 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe.
Gently swirl to dissolve. Refrigerate reconstituted vials and use within 28 days.
Cycling Protocol
The 5-on/2-off weekly pattern is the most commonly described community schedule and preserves the natural pulsatile GH pattern. Ipamorelin is the ghrelin-receptor secretagogue least associated with desensitization in preclinical work (Raun et al., 1998).
Documented starting doses begin around 300 mcg once daily (morning fasted or before bed 3+ hours after last meal) during weeks 1–2 to assess tolerance, then optionally progress to twice daily for enhanced GH elevation. Community protocols typically run 8 weeks on, 8 weeks off, generally for cost and IGF-1 normalization.
Documented protocols describe fasted administration — GH response is significantly blunted by carbohydrates and fats.
Routes of Administration
Subcutaneous (only practical route): Abdomen, love handles, or thighs. Volume is typically 0.09 mL (9 units on insulin syringe) for a 300 mcg dose. Trial protocols and community resources document use of 29–31 gauge insulin syringes.
Stacking Protocols
| Stack | Ipamorelin Dose | Partner | Partner Dose | Purpose | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | CJC-1295 | 300 mcg AM/PM | CJC-1295 no DAC | 100 mcg same syringe | Gold standard GHRH/GHRP | | Sermorelin | 300 mcg AM/PM | Sermorelin | Per protocol | All-natural GH stimulation | | GHRP rotation | 300 mcg (weeks 1–4) | GHRP-2 100 mcg (weeks 5–8) | — | Community rotation pattern |
Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 can be mixed in the same syringe. Documented protocols maintain a fasted state for optimal GH response, and community sources describe running each peptide separately first to assess individual response before combining.
Side Effects & Safety
- Injection site redness — mild, transient
- Mild water retention — lower GH overstimulation vs GHRP-2 (Raun et al., 1998)
- Increased appetite — community reports describe it as milder than GHRP-6's hunger-stimulating profile (Johansen et al., 1999)
- Mild headache — typically first week only
- No cortisol elevation above baseline — unlike GHRP-2/GHRP-6 at equivalent doses (Raun et al., 1998)
- No prolactin elevation — documented in selectivity studies vs hexarelin (Johansen et al., 1999)
- Active cancer — community protocols and researchers note that individuals with active cancer are typically excluded from documented protocols
Research Basis
Community ipamorelin protocols are directly informed by clinical trial data, making the dosing rationale more evidence-based than many peptides.
Phase II trial (postoperative ileus, Barlind et al., 2008, PMID 18695216): Used 0.01–0.1 mg/kg IV with excellent tolerability.
Selectivity profile (Raun et al., 1998, PMID 9849822): Significant GH release starting at low doses with minimal cortisol/prolactin elevation compared to other GHRPs.
Johansen et al., 1999 (PMID 10372149): Confirmed ipamorelin's selectivity — clean GH pulses without hormonal side effects.
The standard 300 mcg dose comes from scaling down clinical IV doses and finding the optimal GH response curve for subcutaneous use. Ipamorelin's high selectivity allows effective dosing at lower amounts than other GHRPs.