Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide growth-hormone secretagogue. It is valued in research for its selectivity — stimulating GH release with minimal cortisol or…

Selective ghrelin-receptor agonist studied for clean GH pulses.

Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide growth-hormone secretagogue. It is valued in research for its selectivity — stimulating GH release with minimal cortisol or prolactin effect — making it the default ghrelin-side partner for CJC-1295 protocols.

Overview

Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide growth hormone secretagogue. It is valued in research for its selectivity — stimulating GH release with minimal effect on cortisol or prolactin in published studies.

Mechanism of action

Selective ghrelin/GHS-R1a receptor agonist that triggers GH release from the anterior pituitary.

Researched applications

• GH-pulse research
• Recovery and body-composition studies

Quick facts

Property	Detail
Class	Ghrelin/GHS-R1a agonist (GHRP)
Sequence length	5 amino acids
Half-life	~2 hours
Typical research dose	100–300 mcg paired with CJC-1295
Storage	Lyophilized: freezer. Reconstituted: 2–8 °C

Half-life

Reported half-life: About 2 hours.

Commonly researched alongside

• CJC-1295 (the canonical pair)

Other growth hormone support peptides

Ipamorelin sits in our growth hormone support category. These are the other compounds in the same category, useful when you are deciding which reference page to read next.

• CJC-1295 — A growth hormone–releasing hormone analog studied for endogenous GH support.
• Sermorelin — GHRH (1-29) analog used in long-running clinical and research literature.
• MK-677 — Orally-active small-molecule ghrelin-receptor agonist studied for sustained GH/IGF-1 elevation.

Ipamorelin head-to-head

• CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: The canonical GHRH + GHRP pair — how each works alone, why they are almost always studied together, and what the no-DAC distinction means.
• Ipamorelin vs Ibutamoren (MK-677): Ipamorelin vs ibutamoren (MK-677) side by side: mechanism, half-life, GH pulse pattern, oral vs injectable, and typical cycle length.
• Sermorelin vs Ipamorelin: GHRH analog vs GHRP: two ways to raise growth hormone, hitting two different receptors. Why the answer is almost always 'both'.

Storage and shelf life

State	Conditions	Shelf life
Lyophilized (Powder)	Refrigerate 2–8°C (36–46°F) or freeze	12–24 months refrigerated; longer frozen
Reconstituted	Refrigerate 2–8°C only; no freezing	21–30 days typically
In Transit	Insulated packaging; ice packs	Minimize time; avoid heat exposure
MK-677 (Oral)	Room temp okay; cool/dry preferred	Per manufacturer; typically 12+ months

Sources

• Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue — PubMed / NCBI (accessed 2026-06-13): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822/

Review status

This reference page was last reviewed on 2026-06-13 by the Clarity Wellness editorial team.

Important

All peptide products referenced are intended solely for research, investigational, or licensed professional use. They are not FDA-approved and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a licensed medical practitioner before any personal or clinical use.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ipamorelin a steroid?

No. Ipamorelin is a peptide secretagogue that supports endogenous GH release; it is not an anabolic steroid.

Does Ipamorelin raise cortisol?

Published research shows Ipamorelin is unusually clean on cortisol and prolactin compared to older GHRPs — a major reason it's preferred in modern protocols.