Corrected : A study reference linked to an unrelated PubMed record. It now links to the correct paper (Raun et al., Eur J Endocrinol 1998) and the summary has been rewritten to match that paper's abstract.
What Is Ipamorelin? Benefits, Research & Safety
A selective growth hormone-releasing peptide known for its favourable side effect profile, stimulating GH release without significantly affecting cortisol or prolactin.
UK summary: Not a licensed UK medicine. Selective growth-hormone secretagogue commonly paired with CJC-1295 by private clinics. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2. Human-outcomes evidence for the marketed wellness uses is limited.
Quick Facts
Overview
Ipamorelin — evidence and risk at a glance
Twenty standard modules scored against the Peptide Authority evidence grading methodology. Missing modules indicate the field has not yet been characterised editorially — treat absences as uncertainty rather than reassurance.
01Evidence snapshot
Not a licensed UK medicine. Selective growth-hormone secretagogue commonly paired with CJC-1295 by private clinics. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2. Human-outcomes evidence for the marketed wellness uses is limited.
02Human evidence grade
03Preclinical evidence grade
04Regulatory status
- UK: Not licensed for human use. Research compound only.
- EU: Not approved for therapeutic use.
- Notes: Ipamorelin is not approved by any regulatory authority. It is prohibited in competitive sports by WADA. Clinical development was discontinued by Novo Nordisk.
05Approved medical uses
None in the UK or EU as a finished medicine. (Or: not yet documented; treat as absence rather than approval.)
06Unapproved / promotional claims
- Cleanest GH peptide — no cortisol or prolactin rise
- Safe for long-term ‘peptide therapy’
- Stack with CJC-1295 for the ‘safer-than-HGH’ result
07Common internet claims
- Most-selective GH peptide on the market
- Replaces HGH with no side effects
- ‘Peptide therapy clinic’ standard option
08Claim vs evidence
| Claim | Evidence | Human evidence? | Regulatory concern | Safer wording |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Selectively raises GH without raising cortisol” | C | Limited | Moderate | Small short-term studies show GH release with minimal cortisol effect; longer-term human-outcomes data are limited. |
| “Improves lean body composition in healthy adults” | E | No | High | Body-composition outcomes in healthy adults from Ipamorelin alone are not robustly established. |
| “Safe for long-term anti-ageing use” | E | No | High | Long-term safety in healthy adults is not established. |
| “Permitted in sport because it's a peptide not steroids” | E | No | High | Prohibited at all times under WADA S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances). |
09Safety uncertainty score
Limited human safety data; meaningful uncertainty about rare or long-term effects.
10Known adverse signals
- Pharmaceutical development discontinued — limited long-term human data
- Selectivity for GH release doesn't eliminate downstream IGF-1 risks
- Theoretical concern over sustained ghrelin-receptor activation
- WADA S2 strict-liability risk for athletes
11Drug-interaction uncertainty
Interaction picture sparse; meaningful uncertainty when combined with other medicines.
12Anti-doping status
13UK legal position
Not licensed for human use. Research compound only.
14EU legal position
Not approved for therapeutic use.
15What this page cannot tell you
- Whether ipamorelin is safe for you as an individual.
- Long-term effects of repeated GH-axis stimulation in non-deficient adults.
- Whether grey-market product actually contains ipamorelin at the claimed concentration.
- How ipamorelin interacts with other medicines you take.
16Last reviewed
17Citation quality score
18Research gaps
- No completed UK / EU phase 3 trials.
- Long-term safety data absent.
- Combination-stack data limited; consumer-stack patterns not characterised in humans.
19Safer alternatives / established care pathways
- Specialist endocrinology assessment for genuine GH-axis concerns.
- Evidence-based body-composition strategies (training, sleep, diet).
- Licensed GH therapy where clinically indicated and prescribed.
20Doctor discussion prompts
Questions to ask a qualified clinician
These are starter questions you can adapt for a GP, specialist, pharmacist, or anti-doping advisor. The aim is to help you have a better-informed conversation — not to replace one.
- Is Ipamorelin a licensed UK medicine?
- What licensed treatments exist for the underlying issue I'm asking about?
- What is the long-term safety evidence in healthy adults?
- If I'm tested in sport, what is my WADA exposure?
Discovery & History
Mechanism of Action
Researched Benefits
Based on preclinical and clinical research findings:
- 1Selective growth hormone release from the pituitary
- 2Elevated IGF-1 levels
- 3Minimal effect on cortisol and prolactin (unlike other GHRPs)
- 4No significant appetite increase (unlike GHRP-6)
- 5Potential improvements in body composition
- 6Possible enhancement of recovery and tissue repair
- 7Good tolerability profile
Claim vs Evidence
How popular claims about Ipamorelin stack up against the current research, graded using our public evidence grading methodology.
| Claim | Evidence | Human evidence? | Regulatory concern | Safer wording |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Selectively raises GH without raising cortisol” | C | Limited | Moderate | Small short-term studies show GH release with minimal cortisol effect; longer-term human-outcomes data are limited. |
| “Improves lean body composition in healthy adults” | E | No | High | Body-composition outcomes in healthy adults from Ipamorelin alone are not robustly established. |
| “Safe for long-term anti-ageing use” | E | No | High | Long-term safety in healthy adults is not established. |
| “Permitted in sport because it's a peptide not steroids” | E | No | High | Prohibited at all times under WADA S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances). |
Theoretical Dosing & Protocols
| Theoretical Dosage | 100-300 mcg per dose |
| Frequency | 2-3 times daily, typically before meals and at bedtime |
| Duration | Variable; often cycled or used for extended periods |
| Notes | Ipamorelin is not approved for human use. It is often combined with CJC-1295 without DAC for synergistic effects. Any use should be under medical supervision. |
Administration Routes
Routes studied in research settings (educational only):
- Subcutaneous injection (most common)
| Half-Life | Stability |
|---|---|
| Approximately 2 hours | Lyophilised powder should be stored refrigerated or frozen; reconstituted solution refrigerated |
Safety Profile & Known Risks
Commonly Reported Side Effects
- Injection site reactions
- Transient headache
- Mild water retention
- Tingling or numbness (less common than with GHRP-6)
Rare Risks & Concerns
- Unknown long-term effects
- Potential effects on glucose metabolism with prolonged use
- Theoretical concerns about tumour growth (applies to all GH-releasing agents)
Contraindications
- Active malignancy or history of cancer
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Diabetes (monitor glucose closely)
- Children and adolescents (except under specialist care)
UK & EU Regulatory Context
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Not licensed for human use. Research compound only.
🇪🇺 European Union
Not approved for therapeutic use.
Clinical Studies Summary
Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue
In rat, swine, and pituitary cell studies, ipamorelin released GH with potency and efficacy comparable to GHRP-6, while GHRP-2 was more potent but less efficacious. Unlike GHRP-6 and GHRP-2, ipamorelin did not raise ACTH or cortisol levels, giving it a GH-release selectivity similar to GHRH.
Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients.
Ipamorelin 0.03-mg/kg twice daily for up to 7 days was well tolerated. There were no significant differences between ipamorelin and placebo in the key and secondary efficacy analyses.
Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers.
The proposed PK/PD model provides a useful characterization of ipamorelin disposition and GH responses across a range of doses.
Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians.
While peptide therapy may possess significant therapeutic and regenerative potential, it is critical that orthopaedic and sports medicine providers understand the current lack of evidence to support the clinical use of these peptides. Importantly, information regarding the indications, dosing, frequency, and duration of treatment remains unknown.
A new era of doping? Use of peptide and peptide-analog drugs in recreational and professional sport and bodybuilding: a critical review.
In conclusion, peptides represent a new phase in performance enhancement but remain experimental substances with poorly defined long-term risks. Until longitudinal data clarify their safety and prevalence, peptide use in both competitive and recreational settings should be considered high-risk and ethically problematic.
Injectable Peptides in Sports Medicine: A Structured Narrative Review of Evidence, Safety, and Antidoping Implications.
Injectable peptides for sports medicine remain largely experimental. Clinical use should be confined to approved metabolic agents for indicated conditions and to rigorously designed research protocols. Clinicians caring for athletes must counsel patients regarding uncertain efficacy, product quality, safety risks, and antidoping implications.
Registered Trials & Regulatory Status
4 of 6 completed trials have never posted results. Unreported trials are not neutral: results that go unpublished are more often negative ones.
131I-TLX-101 for Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma (IPAX-2)
Status: Recruiting · 12 participants · Telix Pharmaceuticals (Innovations) Pty Limited
Conditions: Neoplastic Disease, Glioblastoma, Glioblastoma Multiforme
Value of Ondansetron Medication vs Inhaled Isopropyl Therapy in the Emergency Department (VOMIITED)
Status: Completed · 121 participants · Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso
Conditions: Nausea, Vomiting
In Vivo Preoperative Skin Preparation Efficacy Study Within a Defined Product Coverage Area
Status: Completed · 28 participants · Solventum US LLC
Conditions: Surgical Skin Preparation, Surgical Procedure, Unspecified
Effectiveness of PUSH Notifications From a Mobile App for Improving the Body Composition of Overweight or Obese Women
Status: Unknown · 90 participants · Universidad de Córdoba
Conditions: Overweight, Obesity
Safety Study to Evaluate the Cumulative Irritation Potential of Topically Applied ZuraPrep™ and ZuraPrep™ Without IPA
Status: Completed · 40 participants · Zurex Pharma, Inc.
Conditions: Surgical Site Infection
In-vivo Efficacy Study of Patient Preoperative Preps
Status: Terminated · 171 participants · Solventum US LLC
Conditions: Skin Flora Bacterial Reduction Post-product Application
Safety and Efficacy of Ipamorelin Compared to Placebo for the Recovery of Gastrointestinal Function
Status: Completed · 320 participants · Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc
Conditions: Gastrointestinal Dysmotility
Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Specialized Centers of Clinically Orientated Research (SCCOR) Coagulation - Acute Intrinsic Pathway Antagonist (IPA)
Status: Terminated · 2 participants · vTv Therapeutics
Conditions: Coagulation
Safety and Efficacy of Ipamorelin for Management of Post-Operative Ileus
Status: Completed · 117 participants · Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc
Conditions: Ileus
Test for Pre Operative Skin Preparations
Status: Completed · 335 participants · C. R. Bard
Conditions: Topical Antisepsis
Adverse event reports (FDA FAERS)
Not applicable: no licensed product contains this peptide, so it is not reported through FAERS. This is an absence of surveillance, not evidence of safety.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov and openFDA. Updated automatically.
Looking for Ipamorelin?
Source research-grade Ipamorelin from a trusted UK supplier — third-party tested with certificate of analysis.
View at SupplierFrequently Asked Questions
Questions to ask a qualified clinician about Ipamorelin
These are starter questions you can adapt for a GP, specialist, pharmacist, or anti-doping advisor. The aim is to help you have a better-informed conversation — not to replace one.
- Is Ipamorelin a licensed UK medicine?
- What licensed treatments exist for the underlying issue I'm asking about?
- What is the long-term safety evidence in healthy adults?
- If I'm tested in sport, what is my WADA exposure?
UK regulatory & safety context
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