Ipamorelin dosing starts at 200 mcg in GH studies
Mix 2 ml bacteriostatic water into a 5 mg ipamorelin vial. Draw 0.1 ml for 250 mcg. Inject subcutaneously before bed. Research uses this as the starting point because it pulses growth hormone without touching prolactin or cortisol (Raun 1998, Eur J Endocrinol, PMID 9849822).
It mimics ghrelin and acts on the GHS-R1a receptor (Raun 1998, Eur J Endocrinol, PMID 9849822). Studies put its half-life at about 2 hours (Gobburu 1999, Pharm Res, PMID 10496658), so dosing 2 to 3 times a day keeps the GH pulses coming. That is much shorter than some GHRH peptides, which is why how often you inject matters more than the total dose.
Our ipamorelin calculator works out your vial size and target mcg in seconds. Enter the numbers and it gives you the syringe marks.
Standard dosing protocols
Start at 200 mcg per injection. Bump to 300 mcg if it sits well. Run it 2 to 3 times a day, usually morning, after a workout, and at bedtime.
Solo: 250 mcg three times daily, so 750 mcg total. Community reports of GH increases over baseline are anecdotal. No primary human ipamorelin trial quantifies the rise that way, and the published PK work describes GH as an episodic pulse rather than a percentage over baseline (Gobburu 1999, Pharm Res, PMID 10496658).
With GHRH: 200 mcg ipamorelin plus 100 mcg CJC-1295 no DAC. Pairing a GHRH with a GHRP gives a GH pulse bigger than either one alone, though the exact size for this dose combination is community-reported, not from a primary human trial. See the CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin calculator.
Beginner stack: 100 mcg ipamorelin + 100 mcg sermorelin twice a day. See the sermorelin calculator.
Inject 30 minutes before meals. An empty stomach helps absorption. The bedtime shot lines up with the natural GH window.
Run 8 to 12 weeks, then take 4 weeks off. Community reports of IGF-1 changes vary, and no primary ipamorelin monotherapy trial quantifies the delta in ng/ml.
Reconstitution step-by-step for 250 mcg doses
Use 5 mg or 10 mg vials. Bacteriostatic water only.
For 5 mg vial:
- Wipe tops with alcohol.
- Inject 2 ml bac water down the side, slow.
- Swirl gently for 5 minutes. Skip the shaking.
- 0.1 ml = 250 mcg on a 1 ml insulin syringe.
For 10 mg vial:
- Add 4 ml bac water.
- 0.1 ml = 250 mcg.
Keep the reconstituted vial at 2 to 8 C. It lasts 28 days, which matches the benzyl-alcohol bacteriostatic water standard for multi-dose use after the first puncture (Bacteriostatic Water for Injection USP label). The dry vial keeps in the freezer at -20 C for 2 years.
| Vial Size | Water Added | mcg per 0.1 ml |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 2 ml | 250 mcg |
| 10 mg | 2 ml | 500 mcg |
| 10 mg | 4 ml | 250 mcg |
Inject subQ into abdomen fat and rotate spots. Use a 29 to 31 gauge, 0.5 inch needle.
Half-life and why frequency matters more than total dose
Human PK studies put the half-life at 2 hours (Gobburu 1999, Pharm Res, PMID 10496658). GH peaks roughly 40 minutes (0.67 h) after the shot, then declines exponentially back toward baseline by hour 3 (Gobburu 1999, Pharm Res, PMID 10496658).
Working from the ~2 hour half-life, spacing shots every 6 to 8 hours keeps the pulses overlapping, while once a day skips too many. Three injections cover the morning cortisol drop, post-gym recovery, and sleep. This 2 to 3x daily schedule is practical protocol guidance, not a clinical-trial finding.
Sermorelin fades in 10 to 20 minutes (Walker 2006, Clin Interv Aging, PMID 18046908), and CJC-1295 DAC lasts 6 to 8 days (Teichman 2006, J Clin Endocrinol Metab, PMID 16352683). Ipamorelin's short window suits frequent dosing without numbing the receptors.
Dose-proportionality and a plateau are both plausible, but the specific fold figures for set mcg doses are community-reported, and no primary human ipamorelin trial reports them.
Stacking protocols
Ipamorelin pairs well with other peptides, with the GHRP behavior but less of the side effect baggage.
CJC-1295 no DAC + Ipamorelin:
- 100 mcg CJC + 200 mcg ipa, twice daily.
- Community-reported as producing strong GH pulses.
- Calculator here.
Tesamorelin or Sermorelin:
- 200 mcg ipa + 200 mcg sermorelin at bedtime.
- Anecdotally aimed at supporting GH rhythms.
Recovery:
- 250 mcg ipa twice a day + 500 mcg BPC-157 daily.
- BPC-157 calculator.
Fat loss:
- 200 mcg ipa three times + 300 mcg AOD-9604 in the morning.
- AOD-9604 calculator.
Skip GHRP-6 or hexarelin, since they tend to bring on hunger and cortisol. Ipamorelin avoids both.
Sample 8-week run:
- Weeks 1-4: 200 mcg ipa + 100 mcg CJC twice a day.
- Weeks 5-8: 300 mcg ipa.
- 4 weeks off.
Injection timing for max GH
Splitting the same total into more daily doses is community-reported to give more total GH pulses. The fold-increase figures below are illustrative and community-reported, not from a primary trial:
| Doses/Day | Avg GH Fold Increase (community-reported) | Best Times |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3-5x | Bedtime |
| 2 | 6-8x | Morning, bed |
| 3 | 10-12x | Wake, post-workout, bed |
Fast 8 hours before the first shot and wait 20 minutes before eating. The workout dose goes right after training.
Women often start low at 100 mcg as a conservative entry point. Ipamorelin is prolactin-sparing, though. It did not raise prolactin even at high doses (Raun 1998, Eur J Endocrinol, PMID 9849822), so a prolactin rationale for the lower starting dose is weak.
Injection sites and needles
Inject subQ in the abdomen, thigh, or love handles. Pinch the skin and go in at a 45-degree angle.
Use 0.3 ml or 0.5 ml insulin syringes. A 30g needle hurts least.
Cap volume at 0.3 ml per site and split bigger doses across two spots.
Wipe with alcohol and use a fresh needle every time.
Tracking progress
By week 2, users report a smaller waist, better sleep, and more energy. IGF-1 bloods at week 4 are worth checking, but specific target numbers are not from any ipamorelin study, and typical figures reflect normal adult reference ranges rather than an ipamorelin-specific outcome.
By week 6, skin tends to firm up and recovery speeds up, with faster nail growth.
For side effects, a head rush or flush at high doses shows up in community reports but is not a documented ipamorelin trial adverse event. If it happens, cut back to 100 mcg.
A 24-hour water fast before starting is a common way people reset.
Advanced protocols
Pulse 5 days on, 2 off to hold sensitivity.
12-week lean bulk:
- 250 mcg ipa three times + 150 mcg CJC twice.
- Add 1 mg HGH weekly if stacking. HGH calculator.
Microdose: 50 mcg five times a day for steadier GH without the bigger peaks.
TB-500 for joints: 250 mcg ipa + 2.5 mg TB twice weekly. TB-500 calculator.
Ipamorelin vs other GH peptides
Half-lives are sourced (ipamorelin ~2 h, Gobburu 1999, PMID 10496658; CJC-1295 DAC ~7 d, Teichman 2006, PMID 16352683; sermorelin ~12 min, Walker 2006, PMID 18046908). The "GH Boost" column is community-reported, not from primary trials.
| Peptide | Half-Life | Dose Freq | GH Boost (community-reported) | Hunger? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipamorelin | 2 hr | 2-3x day | 10x | No |
| Sermorelin | 15 min | 1-2x day | 5x | No |
| CJC-1295 DAC | 7 days | 1x week | 3-5x | No |
| GHRP-2 | 2.5 hr | 2-3x day | 12x | Yes |
| PT-141 | ~2-3 hr | PRN | Libido | Yes* |
*PT-141 boosts desire, not GH. GHRP-2, unlike ipamorelin, raised ACTH and cortisol (Raun 1998, Eur J Endocrinol, PMID 9849822). PT-141 calculator.
Ipamorelin's main draw is that it gives a solid boost without the hunger. Stack with the tirzepatide calculator for cuts.
Troubleshooting
Watery injection? Bad bac water. Remix the vial.
No effects? Extend empty stomach to 2 hours.
Redness? Rotate sites. Ice after.
Cloudy vial? Toss it.
Desensitized? Take 2 weeks off.
Diet and training tips
Carb up after the bedtime dose, since a 50g shake drives IGF.
A fasted morning workout helps with fat loss.
Semaglutide curbs appetite if you need it. Semaglutide calculator.
A 20% calorie deficit can drive roughly 1-2 lb fat loss a week as general dieting guidance. That is not an ipamorelin-specific outcome, and no ipamorelin trial reports fat-loss rates.
Long-term cycles
For six months, run 12 weeks on, 4 off, then repeat. Specific long-term IGF-1 targets are not sourced to any ipamorelin study and reflect normal adult reference ranges rather than a documented treatment outcome.
Get annual bloods to check liver and thyroid. Prolactin stays flat.
Topical GHK-Cu helps the skin. GHK-Cu calculator.
This pulls from PK studies and GH trials, with no disease claims.
Disclaimer: This summarizes research findings. Consult a physician before use. Not medical advice.
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References
- Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al. "Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue." Eur J Endocrinol, 1998. PubMed
- Gobburu JV, Agersø H, Jusko WJ, Ynddal L. "Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers." Pharm Res, 1999. PubMed
- Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, et al. "Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults." J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2006. PubMed
- Walker RF. "Sermorelin: a better approach to management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency?" Clin Interv Aging, 2006. PubMed
- Bacteriostatic Water for Injection USP (0.9% benzyl alcohol) product information. Empower Pharmacy