Ipamorelin: what it is and what the evidence says
A secretagogue pentapeptide that activates the ghrelin receptor in the pituitary to release a pulse of growth hormone with a selective profile. It is short-acting and, in the original studies, did not raise ACTH or cortisol.
Last reviewed: August 16, 2026 · How we verify this
The ground it plays on
Hormones work in axes: a signal from the brain tells a gland to release another hormone, and so on down the chain, with brakes that shut the process off. Intervening at one point has consequences both upstream and downstream. That is why this is the group where professional assessment stops being a recommendation and becomes essential.
What it is studied for
Recovery, body composition, sleep.
There is a distinction that almost always gets lost. A compound being studied for something is not the same as achieving it. And even where it works in a dish or in a mouse, that says little about whether it works in a person or whether the benefit is worth the risk. The section below therefore carries more weight than everything above it.
What the human evidence says
In humans there is one pharmacokinetic and GH-release study in 48 healthy volunteers (1999) and one randomized phase 2 trial in 117 bowel resection patients, for postoperative ileus (2014), both by the intravenous route. In the second, the difference from placebo did not reach statistical significance.
The limitation that matters most
There are still no human trials on body composition, muscle mass, sleep, or aging, and no studies of the subcutaneous route. Its selective profile was described in pigs and rats and has not yet been compared head to head in humans against other secretagogues.
Regulatory status
It is not approved as a medicine by any agency. In October 2024 the FDA's advisory committee voted against adding it to the list of substances for pharmacy compounding. In sport, WADA prohibits it at all times under section S2 (growth hormone secretagogues).
Status can change and varies by country. Always verify the rules in force where you live before drawing conclusions.
Cautions and context
It acts on the growth hormone axis, so IGF-1, fasting glucose, and signs of fluid retention such as tingling in the hands are worth tracking. For anyone who competes, WADA names it in section S2.
With diabetes or prediabetes, a history of cancer, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if you compete under anti-doping control, have a professional assess it before you start and while you are on it.
What this page cannot give you
A reference page can take you this far. You know what Ipamorelin is and where its research stands, which already puts you ahead of most readers. Four questions remain that no encyclopedia can answer for you, because the answers depend on your own situation:
- What would you measure beforehand, so that later you could tell whether anything actually changed?
- What would you watch along the way, and how consistently?
- What would you ask a professional, and in how much detail, so you do not walk out with a textbook answer?
- What would make you stop?
That is what the course is for
PeptiXtreme is ${CIF.LECCIONES} lessons that hand out no numbers. Each one ends with your starting point, what to watch along the way, the specific questions you take to a professional and the signals that mean stop. It includes per-module exams, a Certificate of Completion with a verifiable certificate ID, a Progress Tracker to follow how you are doing, and a human advisor you can actually write to.
See the course → Or measure your judgment, freeReferences
Every entry links to its record on PubMed, the US National Library of Medicine database. Open them and check. We would rather have a reader who verifies than one who takes our word for it.
- Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteershuman Pharm Res · 1999 · PMID 10496658 →
- Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patientshuman Int J Colorectal Dis · 2014 · PMID 25331030 →
- Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagoguepreclinical Eur J Endocrinol · 1998 · PMID 9849822 →
- Ipamorelin, a new growth-hormone-releasing peptide, induces longitudinal bone growth in ratspreclinical Growth Horm IGF Res · 1999 · PMID 10373343 →
- The growth hormone secretagogue ipamorelin counteracts glucocorticoid-induced decrease in bone formation of adult ratspreclinical Growth Horm IGF Res · 2001 · PMID 11735244 →
- The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagoguesreview Sex Med Rev · 2018 · PMID 28400207 →
- Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues in the modern management of body composition in hypogonadal malesreview Transl Androl Urol · 2020 · PMID 32257855 →
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Frequently asked questions
What is Ipamorelin?
A secretagogue pentapeptide that activates the ghrelin receptor in the pituitary to release a pulse of growth hormone with a selective profile. It is short-acting and, in the original studies, did not raise ACTH or cortisol. It is studied within the area of hormonal/sexual.
Is there human evidence for Ipamorelin?
In humans there is one pharmacokinetic and GH-release study in 48 healthy volunteers (1999) and one randomized phase 2 trial in 117 bowel resection patients, for postoperative ileus (2014), both by the intravenous route. In the second, the difference from placebo did not reach statistical significance.
Is it approved by any health agency?
It is not approved as a medicine by any agency. In October 2024 the FDA's advisory committee voted against adding it to the list of substances for pharmacy compounding. In sport, WADA prohibits it at all times under section S2 (growth hormone secretagogues).
What is the dose of Ipamorelin?
We do not publish dosages. This is not an oversight. No single figure works for everyone: the regimen depends on a person's medical history, on whatever medication they already take, and on the goal they are chasing, which is something a professional weighs with the case in front of them. What you can build is the ability to walk into that appointment knowing what to ask.
Where can I learn to evaluate this properly?
This page tells you what Ipamorelin is and what the evidence says. The PeptiXtreme course teaches the other half: what you would measure before considering anything, what you would watch, the specific questions you would take to a professional and when you would stop.