HomePeptides › Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin

NNC 26-0161

Tier 4 · Preclinical Only
Class
Growth hormone secretagogue (GHRP)
Molecular target
GHS-R1a (ghrelin receptor)
Sequence / structure
Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2
Evidence tier
Tier 4 — Preclinical Only
Category
Growth Hormone Axis
Emergency card
Signs something is wrong

Puffiness and fluid retention in the hands and feet, joint aches, wrist tingling (carpal tunnel), and blood sugar creeping up over weeks — most pronounced with MK-677 and somatropin.

What to do now

These accumulate rather than strike suddenly — reassess and stop rather than pushing the dose up. Check glucose if you can.

When it is an emergency

A severe persistent headache with vision changes (possible raised intracranial pressure), or symptoms of very high blood sugar — extreme thirst, confusion, vomiting — warrant urgent care.

Any injection — every time

Allergic reaction: hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, wheezing or dizziness can escalate to anaphylaxis within minutes — call 911 immediately. Site infection: spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or fever is not wait-and-see; an abscess or cellulitis can need drainage or IV antibiotics. Unverified product: grey-market vials are frequently mislabelled or contaminated, so a reaction may be to endotoxin or the wrong contents, not the named compound.

This is not permission or instruction to use this compound. It is harm-reduction information for someone who has already decided to, so that a bad reaction is recognised and treated. When in doubt, get help — embarrassment is survivable.

Biology & mechanism

A pentapeptide agonist at the ghrelin receptor, GHS-R1a, on pituitary somatotrophs and the hypothalamus. Notable for selectivity: unlike earlier GHRPs, it releases GH with minimal effect on ACTH, cortisol, or prolactin at comparable doses. Acts through a pathway separate from GHRH, which is why the two classes are often studied together.

What the research actually shows

Preclinical characterisation is reasonably good. Early human work was conducted by the original developer but development was discontinued. No controlled trials establish clinical benefit for any indication.

Regulatory status

Not FDA-approved. No approved product anywhere. Was subject to FDA 503A bulk substance review. Prohibited in sport (WADA S2).

Safety signals

Human safety data are limited to small early-phase studies. Ghrelin-receptor agonism affects appetite and glucose handling. Long-term consequences are unknown.

Clinical trial dosing — what the studies actually used

No established human dose. Early-phase work by the original developer was discontinued; no regimen was ever validated against a clinical outcome.

Reported from clinical trials or FDA labelling as a matter of record. It is not a recommendation, and for unapproved compounds no dose has been shown safe or effective in humans.

We report study doses, not protocols

Above is what was administered in trials or on FDA labels, reported as fact. We do not convert it into a personal protocol, calculate a dose for your body weight, or tell you what to inject or how to reconstitute it — that decision belongs with a licensed physician. See our editorial policy.

References & further reading

Regulatory status changes. This page reflects our reading of public sources as of July 2026 and should be independently verified before it is relied upon.

Important notice Forge Bioenergy publishes scientific reference information only. Nothing on this site is medical advice, a therapeutic claim, or a recommendation to use any substance in humans. Many peptides described here are not approved by the FDA for any use, and several are approved only for narrow indications under prescription. We do not publish dosing, administration, or usage protocols. Consult a licensed physician before making any medical decision.