Peptides
Ipamorelin
What is it?
Ipamorelin is a peptide that activates the ghrelin receptor and prompts the body to release growth hormone. It is discussed in fitness circles for body composition, sleep, and recovery, but it is not an FDA-approved medicine for these uses. [1,3]
How does it work?
In a dose-escalation study of healthy men, intravenous ipamorelin produced a brief growth-hormone pulse. That confirms a biological effect; it does not establish more muscle, less body fat, or better recovery from an injected home protocol. [1]
What have human studies found?
The best-known larger trial tested intravenous ipamorelin for bowel function after surgery, a different use and route from fitness protocols. In 114 analyzed patients, median time to tolerate a meal was 25.3 hours with ipamorelin and 32.6 with placebo, but the difference was not statistically clear. Neither this trial nor the acute hormone study measures bodybuilding outcomes. [1,2]
What should you know before considering it?
FDA has flagged potential immune-reaction and impurity concerns for compounded ipamorelin and noted serious adverse events in the intravenous surgical study. Monitoring of growth-hormone-related effects and glucose matters if a clinician is considering it. [3]
EDUCATOR PRACTICE
How much?
FORM & SCHEDULE
What it refers to
per subcutaneous injection in a practice protocol
This is not an established fitness dose. FDA notes injection-quality and safety concerns.
100–300 mcg — a per-injection subcutaneous range described by peptide educator Jay Campbell, sometimes repeated one to three times daily. It is not a dose shown to build muscle or improve sleep in a controlled fitness trial. [4]
Read detailed dosing notes
The healthy-volunteer study used short intravenous infusions, and the surgical trial used a weight-based intravenous regimen. Neither validates the above injection schedule. [1–3]
Sources & further reading
- Gobburu et al. (1999). Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin in human volunteers (opens in a new tab)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Beck et al. (2014). Randomized ipamorelin trial for postoperative ileus (opens in a new tab)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA. Certain bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks (opens in a new tab)www.fda.gov
- Jay Campbell. How to take peptides: Ipamorelin dosage guide (opens in a new tab)jaycampbell.com