- subcutaneous
Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin Acetate
Ipamorelin at a glance
FDA category 2How studies gave it
Injected into the fat under the skin
Evidence on this page
2 peer-reviewed papers, published 1998 to 1999
FDA compounding lists
FDA put it on the list of bulk substances that may carry significant safety risks.
Mixing it
Ipamorelin reconstitution calculatorWhat it is
Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide that acts as a selective growth hormone secretagogue. It has been studied in human and animal models in the context of growth hormone release with minimal reported effect on cortisol or prolactin levels, distinguishing it from earlier secretagogues. It is discussed in communities focused on growth hormone optimization, sleep quality, and body composition.
Published research
Ipamorelin has been studied in human clinical trials and animal models. Published research has characterized it as a selective GH secretagogue that stimulates growth hormone release without significantly affecting cortisol, ACTH, or prolactin levels. Clinical studies have examined its effects on GH pulsatility, body composition, and bone mineral density.
It has been investigated in post-surgical recovery contexts. Community interest centers on its selectivity profile and its combination with GHRH analogs like CJC-1295.
What the terms on this page mean5 termsHide
- GH
- Growth hormone, released by the pituitary gland, involved in growth and tissue repair.
- animal model
- A test in animals standing in for the human condition. Results often fail to carry over to people.
- clinical trial
- A study that tests something in people under a written plan, with results recorded.
- ACTH
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone, the pituitary signal that drives cortisol release.
- GHRH
- Growth hormone-releasing hormone, the signal that tells the pituitary to release GH.
Compounding status
FDA category 2- FDA lists it as
- Ipamorelin acetate
- Applies to
- Compounders under section 503B
- Added
- September 29, 2023
- What that means
- FDA has identified significant safety risks relating to the use of these substances in compounding pending further evaluation and does not intend to adopt the enforcement policy it applies to category 1 substances.
- Also
- FDA prints this substance in both tables: category 2 under the 503B interim policy, and again among withdrawn nominations.
Source: Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks, FDA. Content current as of 2026-04-22; read 2026-09-05. This describes what a compounding pharmacy may supply. It is not advice about your own use.
Also given subcutaneous
- KisspeptinKisspeptin-10 / Kisspeptin-54 (Metastin)FDA category 2
- KPVLysine-Proline-Valine (α-MSH C-terminal tripeptide)Nomination withdrawn
- LiraglutideLiraglutide (acylated GLP-1(7-37) analog)Not on either FDA list
- LL-37LL-37 (Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide / hCAP18 C-terminal fragment)Nomination withdrawn
- Melanotan IIMelanotan II (Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2)Nomination withdrawn
- MOTS-cMitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA Type-cNomination withdrawn
Where this came from2 referencesHide
Each one was resolved at PubMed and confirmed to be the work this page cites. Author, title, journal and year come from the PubMed record, not from the page text.
- Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue
Raun K, et al.. European journal of endocrinology (1998). PMID 9849822.
- Ipamorelin, a new growth-hormone-releasing peptide, induces longitudinal bone growth in rats
Johansen PB, et al.. Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society (1999). PMID 10373343.
About this page
Reviewed 2026-08-11. This page reports what published studies and FDA documents say. It carries no dose, cycle length or stack, and it does not tell you whether a substance is appropriate for you. Side-effect reports circulating on forums are self-reported rather than measured, so they are not republished here.
See the editorial policy for how corrections are handled.