Carl read the papersWhat it actually is
Ipamorelin mimics ghrelin at the GH-secretagogue receptor, prompting the pituitary to release growth hormone. Its claim to fame is selectivity.
In animal studies it released GH with little effect on cortisol or prolactin, unlike older secretagogues, which is why it’s the default partner for CJC-1295. The low-hunger reputation is mostly user reports; a mouse study still saw more eating.
How it’s thought to work
- Ghrelin-receptor agonism — triggers a GH pulse via the GHS-R.
- Selectivity — minimal cortisol/prolactin effect in animal studies; the hunger effect is less clear.
- Synergy with GHRH — stacks with CJC-1295 for a bigger pulse.
- Short action — clean, pulse-like release.
What the research says
Characterised in animal studies as a selective GH secretagogue, with one human dosing study (half-life about 2 hours). Its patient trials were for gut recovery after bowel surgery, and the published one didn’t beat placebo. Aesthetic/performance use is unapproved and anecdotal.
- Raises GH cleanly (little cortisol in animal data).
- Recovery, sleep and body composition (reported).
- Common ‘first secretagogue’ for beginners.
Watch: Ipamorelin explained
Video by Thomas DeLauer on YouTube. Not affiliated with Peptide Carl and not an endorsement — included because a second explanation of the same mechanism is often what makes it click.
Reported protocols
These are the doses the peptide community actually reports running (Reddit & forums), alongside published research — logged for education, not as a recommendation to use.
| Parameter | Commonly reported range |
|---|---|
| Community dose | 100–150 mcg per dose (some 200–300) |
| Frequency | 1–3× daily — AM + pre-bed common |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Cycle | 8–12 week blocks |
| Community tip | Run WITH CJC-1295, fasted, before bed; keep a 2–3 h food gap |
Common use cases
| Goal | Community protocol notes |
|---|---|
| GH support (clean) | 100–150 mcg with CJC-1295, pre-bed |
| Recovery & sleep | before-bed dose |
| Beginner GH stack | the default first secretagogue |
Mixing it (reconstitution)
Freeze-dried peptides must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before they can be measured. Carl’s calculator turns “mg in the vial + ml of water + target dose” into “units on the syringe” — and tells you how long the vial lasts.
→ Open the Reconstitution Calculator
Injection & handling
SubQ, 100–150 mcg, fasted — the classic timing is with CJC-1295 before bed (rides the nocturnal GH pulse), plus an optional AM/post-workout dose. Keep a 2–3 h food gap. Refrigerate reconstituted.
Stacks it appears in
- Lean Signal — CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin — the most popular GH-support pairing.
Sources
- Ipamorelin, the first selective GH secretagogue, Eur J Endocrinol 1998 (PMID 9849822)
- Ipamorelin PK/PD in human volunteers, Pharm Res 1999 (PMID 10496658)
- Ipamorelin for post-op ileus, phase 2, Int J Colorectal Dis 2014 (PMID 25331030)
- Ipamorelin phase 2 (bowel surgery recovery), ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01280344
- GH secretagogues raise body fat and food intake in mice, Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001 (PMID 11162489)
- GHRP plus GHRH synergy in men, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990 (PMID 2108187)
- FDA compounding safety list (Category 2), Apr 2026
