Ipamorelin: The Clean GH Pulse

Ipamorelin is the cleanest GHRP in the catalog. Where GHRP-6 makes you eat like a teenager and Hexarelin pushes cortisol up the wall, Ipamorelin basically just tells your pituitary to pulse GH and then gets out of the way. That selectivity is why it's the default GHRP in almost every modern stack.

What it is, in one paragraph

Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide that mimics ghrelin at the GHS-R1a receptor on pituitary somatotrophs. Binding the receptor releases already-stored GH and suppresses somatostatin (the brake). What made Ipamorelin famous in the original Novo Nordisk papers was what it doesn't do — even at 200x the effective dose, it didn't meaningfully raise cortisol or ACTH. That's basically unique among GHRPs.

Dosing: what people actually do

The Ipamorelin sweet spot is small, frequent, and on an empty stomach.

• Per injection: 100–200 mcg, sub-Q
• Frequency: 2–3 times daily (AM fasted, pre-bed, optional pre-workout)
• Daily total: 200–600 mcg
• Cycle: 8–12 weeks on, 4–8 weeks off
• Fasting: At least 2 hours after a meal, 30+ minutes before eating

There's a concept called the saturation dose — around 100 mcg per injection, the somatotrophs have released most of what they've got. Going to 300 mcg in a single shot doesn't really triple the pulse. That's why people split doses through the day rather than slamming one big one.

Reconstitution math (5 mg vial)

Water added	Concentration	100 mcg	200 mcg
2.5 mL BAC	2,000 mcg/mL	5 units	10 units
5.0 mL BAC	1,000 mcg/mL	10 units	20 units

Small volumes. Get a good syringe with clear 1-unit gradations.

What it pairs with

Ipamorelin alone is underwhelming for most people. The stack is where it earns its reputation.

• CJC-1295 no DAC + Ipamorelin — "CJC/Ipa" — the iconic combo. GHRH arm (Mod GRF 1-29, 100 mcg) plus GHRP arm (Ipa, 100–200 mcg) per injection, usually twice daily. Supra-additive GH pulse
• Sermorelin + Ipamorelin — same logic, shorter-acting GHRH partner. More physiological
• Tesamorelin + Ipamorelin — heavier, visceral-fat-focused protocol. Less common

"The trick with CJC/Ipa isn't the dose. It's remembering it's empty-stomach only. I spent two weeks wondering why it did nothing, then I moved the shot to before breakfast instead of after." — forum user

Red flags and side effects

• Head rush / tingling in the 10 minutes after injection — classic GHRP response, harmless
• Vivid dreams — very common, actually one of the first signs it's working
• Increased hunger — mild compared to GHRP-6, but present in some people
• Numb or "tight" hands/feet — water retention signal. If it shows up, dose is too high or cycle is too long
• CTS-like wrist symptoms on long runs — same water retention story

The honest limits

• Ipamorelin's half-life is short (~2 hours) and its effect flattens over time. This is where receptor desensitization debates come in. Most experienced users cycle or do 5-on / 2-off
• Fasting discipline is non-negotiable. Eat a fatty meal before your shot and you've wasted the dose
• Solo Ipamorelin doesn't do much for body composition. Needs the GHRH partner to really move anything

Where to go next

• For the receptor biology, selectivity data, and pharmacokinetic detail, see the Pepperpedia Ipamorelin entry
• CJC/Ipa protocol threads and timing debates live in the Protocol Discussions forum
• Pair with the CJC-1295 field guide to finish the stack, or the Sermorelin guide if you prefer the gentler GHRH partner