Growth hormone · Selective ghrelin-receptor GH secretagogue (research)
Ipamorelin
NNC-26-0161, Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2
A pentapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist that pulses GH more selectively than older GHRPs. The literature score is 45/100: development for ileus failed, and 2020–2025 clinical work is essentially absent.
- GH release
- Recovery
- Sleep
- Catalog fill
- 10 mg
- Typical water
- 2 mL
- Route
- Subcutaneous
- Cycle
- 8–12 weeks.
- Approval
- Not FDA-approved. Postoperative-ileus Phase II was stopped for lack of efficacy.
- Status
- Research chemical. 2024 FDA compounding re-evaluation is not approval.
- Evidence
- No active trials. Earlier Phase II discontinued.
- Research score
- 45 / 100
Mechanism
GHS-R (ghrelin receptor) on the anterior pituitary, calcium mobilisation, GH pulse — without the ACTH/cortisol/prolactin bump typical of older secretagogues.
Safety file
Short studies tolerated it. Long-term human safety is unknown.
- Injection-site reactions
- Water retention
- Headache
- Numbness
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
Reconstitution
2 mL bacteriostatic water yields 5 mg/mL, 50 mcg/unit. A 200 mcg pulse is 4 units.
Research amounts
1–3 pulses daily, often evening and/or morning, away from a carbohydrate-heavy meal.
| Step | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single pulse | 200 mcg | 1–2× daily | 4 units from a 2 mL reconstitution |
| Upper pulse | 300 mcg | 1–3× daily | 6 units |
Storage
- Lyophilized
- −20 °C freezer preferred; a refrigerator is also acceptable. Do not open a cold vial — wait 15–30 minutes so it does not sweat. Avoid freeze–thaw cycling.
- After water
- 2–8 °C, dark, up to 45 days when mixed with bacteriostatic water. Mixed vials stay in their box. Sterile water (no preservative) is single-use.
Worksheet notes
- If you are using the CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin blend, use that worksheet instead of this one.
- Bacteriostatic water: 20–25 °C. Do not refrigerate the diluent.
- Amounts on this sheet are reconstitution math for the vial, not a recommendation.
Full protocol
Titration, schedule, and handling
The complete protocol for Ipamorelin. Where it differs from the worksheet amounts above, the worksheet reflects the NovaEvum vial.
Reconstitution
| Vial | 1 mL water | 2 mL water |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 5 mg/mL | 2.5 mg/mL |
Ipamorelin can cause a small welt at the injection site. Bac water containing 0.9% sodium chloride reduces that for some people. Plain bac water is also fine.
- Use bacteriostatic water as the diluent.
- Add the water slowly, letting it run down the inside wall of the vial rather than onto the powder.
- Swirl gently to mix, then leave it to dissolve. Do not shake.
- Give it a few minutes. The finished solution should be clear and colourless.
Protocol
Route: Subcutaneous
Standard protocol (subcutaneous)
- 0.2 mg to 0.3 mg per dose, once or twice daily, on an empty stomach
- The classic timing is before bed and/or fasted in the morning
- Start at the lower end (0.1 mg) for the first week
Dosing detail
- Common dose is 0.2 mg to 0.3 mg per injection, once or twice daily.
- Empty stomach, before bed and/or fasted morning. Wait 20 to 30 minutes before eating.
- Selective GH release, so it does not raise cortisol or prolactin the way some secretagogues do.
- A brief flush after injecting is normal.
Duration
- Run 8 to 12 weeks, often 5 days on and 2 off, then a break of similar length. Very commonly paired with CJC-1295 in the same syringe.
Notes
- A selective GH secretagogue, popular paired with CJC-1295.
- A brief flush after injecting is normal.
- Inject subcutaneously and rotate sites.
Storage and handling
- Keep the powdered (lyophilized) vial in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate it for longer-term storage before mixing.
- Once reconstituted and refrigerated at 2–8 °C away from light, use the vial within 90 days.
- Do not freeze a reconstituted vial, and keep it away from heat and sunlight.
- If the solution turns cloudy, develops floating particles, or shows any other sign of degradation, stop using that vial.