Compound Profile
Ipamorelin
Growth hormone secretagogue (ghrelin receptor agonist) peptide
Ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin receptor agonist (growth hormone secretagogue) with more human clinical data than most peptides in this class, showing reliable dose dependent GH release with minimal cortisol/prolactin cross reactivity; downstream body composition and sleep claims are more extrapolated than proven.
Review needed — Short term human studies have not identified major safety signals at studied doses, but long term (multi year) safety data does not exist. Details
At a glance
From this profile's structured data- Evidence
- Grade D
- Safety
- Short-term human studies have not identified major safety signals at studied doses, but long-term (multi-year) safety data does not exist.
- Profile context
- Ghrelin Receptor (GHS-R1a) Agonism, Selective Pulsatile GH Release, Minimal Cortisol/Prolactin Cross-Reactivity
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Unapproved compound: current FDA compounding safety concern
Ipamorelin is not FDA-approved as a finished drug product. FDA’s current significant-safety-risk material lists ipamorelin acetate in Category 2 under the 503B interim policy and describes important safety-information and peptide-characterization gaps.
- FDA notes serious adverse events, including deaths, in an intravenous ipamorelin study for gastric-motility purposes; route and context matter, but the signal rules out blanket safety claims.
- Do not forecast Category 1 or broad compounding access from older announcements; final regulatory status depends on the applicable FDA process.
- This profile is not a self-treatment guide.
Regulatory status
2026 federal and state regulatory context
No prescription form exists on the market; product is RUO or physician prescribed compounded (where accessible). Prohibited under WADA's S2 category for competitive athletes.
Regulatory changelog
- 2026 02: Named among ~14 of 19 originally Category 2 restricted peptides expected to move back toward Category 1 per HHS/FDA announcement. Mid 2026: Formal Federal Register rulemaking confirming final category not yet published.
Quick stats
- Evidence level
- Preliminary evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- Review needed: Safety review pending
- Best for
- Ghrelin Receptor (GHS R1a) Agonism, Selective Pulsatile GH Release, Minimal Cortisol/Prolactin Cross Reactivity
- Avoid / review if
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding, Uncontrolled Diabetes, Unsupervised RUO Product Use Without Physician Oversight
Safety
Safety & Cautions
Short term human studies have not identified major safety signals at studied doses, but long term (multi year) safety data does not exist. Because it stimulates endogenous GH release, theoretical concerns around GH's known effects (insulin sensitivity changes, potential growth factor driven proliferation effects) apply, supporting physician supervised use rather than self directed protocols.
High caution
Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.
- Interaction-AwareMedication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- Hormonal Activity ContextHormone-adjacent wording is present and should be interpreted carefully.
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.
Moderate Caution
110 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering
Moderate Caution
110 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Data provenance recorded for 110 of 110 pairings in this mechanism group.
- Acarbose — Theoretical interaction certainty
- ajoene — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Allicin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Aloe Vera — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid — Theoretical interaction certainty
- American Ginseng Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Andrographis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Anemarrhena Asphodeloides — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Tarragon — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Ashoka — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astragalus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astragalus Membranaceus — Theoretical interaction certainty
+98 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Evidence Summary
Profile-wide ·D PreliminaryEvidence lens
Early signal that needs stronger human replication before practical claims.
Human clinical evidence: Not the primary signal
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Ghrelin Receptor (GHS R1a) Agonism · Selective Pulsatile GH Release · Minimal Cortisol/Prolactin Cross Reactivity
Research maturity: Theoretical / mechanistic research — Mechanistic or unresolved evidence is kept separate from established human outcomes.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Short term human studies have not identified major safety signals at studied doses, but long term (multi year) safety data does not exist.
Confidence estimate based on the design quality and consistency of published clinical trials.
Ipamorelin has a preliminary evidence rating.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
- Strong
- Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
- Moderate
- Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
- Preliminary / Mixed
- Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
- Traditional / Theoretical
- Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
How Ipamorelin Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Ipamorelin Works
Dosing
- No standardized dose
- No established consumer dosing protocol; see full guide article for regulatory and safety context.
Mechanisms & biological pathways
Preclinical mechanism details from scientific profiles; these represent plausible pathways but do not guarantee clinical efficacy in humans.
- Ghrelin Receptor (GHS R1a) Agonism
- Selective Pulsatile GH Release
- Minimal Cortisol/Prolactin Cross Reactivity
- Growth Hormone Axis
- IGF 1 Signaling
Compare & Sourcing
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Direct product recommendations and affiliate links are suppressed for this compound due to its high caution or needs-review safety classification.
Evaluate the safety checks, contraindications, and potential medication interactions above under clinician supervision before use.
Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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Compound profile context
How to interpret Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin compound profile with evidence context, key research topics, source notes, safety context, and references presented in an evidence-first format. Use this compound profile to understand mechanism, evidence quality, and practical safety context before comparing products or building a stack. A biochemical pathway connection can be useful for discovery, but it is not the same as proven benefit in humans.
When reviewing Ipamorelin, separate the active molecule from the product category around it. Dose form, absorption, extract standardization, medication interactions, and individual sensitivity can change the real-world risk-benefit picture.
For supplement planning, avoid combining multiple compounds with overlapping sedating, stimulating, serotonergic, blood-pressure, anticoagulant, or liver-metabolism effects unless a qualified clinician has reviewed the context.