GH secretagogue / ghrelin mimetic (pentapeptide)
A selective synthetic pentapeptide that stimulates the body's own GH release via the ghrelin receptor.
| Class / type | GH secretagogue / ghrelin mimetic (pentapeptide) |
|---|---|
| Category | Growth Hormone & Muscle |
| Status (Jul 2026) | Research use only |
Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide that nudges the pituitary to release the body's own growth hormone. It is prized in the community for being 'selective' - it triggers GH without the appetite spike, cortisol and prolactin bumps seen with older peptides like GHRP-6.
It is not approved for any use (a clinical trial for post-operative ileus was discontinued) and is sold research-use-only.
Ipamorelin selectively activates the growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) on pituitary cells, producing a short GH pulse. Because it is selective, it does this with little effect on cortisol, prolactin or ACTH at typical doses. It is often paired with a GHRH analog (like CJC-1295/Mod GRF 1-29) because the two mechanisms are synergistic.
Short-term pharmacology studies confirm it raises GH with a clean side-effect profile, but there are no completed long-term human efficacy trials for body composition, recovery or anti-aging - those benefits are extrapolated from GH physiology and user reports.
A 'clean' GH pulse without the intense hunger of GHRP-6 or meaningful cortisol/prolactin elevation, which is why it is the most commonly recommended community GHRP.
Users report better sleep, recovery and skin; combining with a GHRH is thought to amplify the GH release.
Long-term human safety is not established. Reported effects include injection-site reactions, transient headache, flushing and mild water retention.
As a GH secretagogue it is on the WADA prohibited list, and gray-market purity is a concern. Anyone with cancer risk should be cautious with anything that raises GH/IGF-1.
Sold research-use-only, commonly as part of a GHRH+GHRP stack. There is no FDA-sanctioned human dose, and we do not provide dosing guidance.
Selectivity - GH stimulation 'without the sides'; the most commonly recommended community GHRP.
NOT FDA-approved. Added to Category 2 (2023), removed (2024); reviewed at PCAC Oct 2024, final determination pending. Research-use-only; WADA-banned.