Ipamorelin Dosage Chart: 300mcg AM/PM, 5-On/2-Off

Ipamorelin is the most selective GHRP characterized in published research — Johansen et al. (1999) and Raun et al. (1998) describe minimal cortisol and prolactin elevation compared to GHRP-2, GHRP-6, and hexarelin, a profile community sources commonly call the "cleanest GHRP." Clinical development was discontinued despite positive Phase II results. This is not medical advice.

Research-context information only. Ipamorelin is a research peptide. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from published research and self-reported community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.

Quick Reference: Standard Protocol

Cycling Details

The 5-on/2-off weekly pattern is the most commonly described community schedule and preserves the natural pulsatile GH pattern. Ipamorelin is the ghrelin-receptor secretagogue least associated with desensitization in preclinical work (Raun et al., 1998). Documented starting doses begin around 300 mcg once daily (morning fasted or before bed 3+ hours after last meal) during weeks 1-2 to assess tolerance, then optionally progress to twice daily for enhanced GH elevation.

Community protocols typically run 8 weeks on, 8 weeks off, generally for cost and IGF-1 normalization. For more on how the ghrelin and GHRH peptide families differ on this point, see Do GH Peptides Desensitize the Pituitary?. Documented protocols describe fasted administration — GH response is significantly blunted by carbohydrates and fats.

Routes of Administration

Subcutaneous (only practical route): Abdomen, love handles, or thighs. Volume is typically 0.09 mL (9 units on insulin syringe) for a 300 mcg dose. Trial protocols and community resources document use of 29-31 gauge insulin syringes for subcutaneous injections of this volume.

Why not oral? Like most GHRPs, ipamorelin is degraded by stomach acid with poor oral bioavailability. Subcutaneous was the route used in clinical trials.

Reconstitution Quick Reference

Math: 10,000 mcg / 3 mL = 3,333 mcg/mL. 300 mcg / 3,333 = 0.09 mL = 9 units. Community protocols describe swirling gently to dissolve, refrigerating reconstituted vials, and using within 28 days.

For step-by-step reconstitution instructions, see the Ipamorelin reconstitution guide.

Affiliate disclosure: vendor links in this article are affiliate links — The Peptide Catalog may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no additional cost to you.

Where These Numbers Come From

Community Ipamorelin protocols are directly informed by clinical trial data, making the dosing rationale more evidence-based than many peptides.

The primary clinical evidence comes from a Phase II trial for postoperative ileus using 0.01-0.1 mg/kg IV with excellent tolerability (Barlind et al., 2008). Earlier research established ipamorelin's selectivity profile — significant GH release starting at low doses with minimal cortisol/prolactin elevation compared to other GHRPs (Raun et al., 1998).

The standard 300 mcg dose comes from scaling down clinical IV doses (which were much higher) and finding the optimal GH response curve for subcutaneous use. Ipamorelin's high selectivity allows effective dosing at lower amounts than other GHRPs, and its selectivity is its primary advantage — providing clean GH pulses without hormonal side effects (Johansen et al., 1999).

Stacking Protocols

Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 can be mixed in the same syringe. Documented protocols maintain a fasted state for optimal GH response, and community sources describe running each peptide separately first to assess individual response before combining.

Side Effects & Safety

• Injection site redness — mild, transient
• Mild water retention (Raun et al., 1998 — lower GH overstimulation vs. GHRP-2)
• Increased appetite — community reports describe it as milder than GHRP-6's hunger-stimulating profile (Johansen et al., 1999)
• Mild headache — typically first week only
• No cortisol elevation above baseline — unlike GHRP-2/GHRP-6 at equivalent doses (Raun et al., 1998)
• No prolactin elevation — documented in selectivity studies vs. hexarelin (Johansen et al., 1999)
• Active cancer — trials and endocrinology literature note that GH elevation could theoretically promote tumor growth; clinical trial eligibility criteria typically excluded subjects with active malignancy

mg to Units Conversion

Conversion reference (community-documented dilutions): These reflect dilutions described in community reconstitution protocols — not a prescribed dosing schedule.

On a standard 100-unit insulin syringe, each "unit" equals 0.01 mL (so 100 units = 1 mL). Once ipamorelin is reconstituted, the conversion from a target dose to syringe units depends on the chosen dilution.

The two reconstitution ratios most often described in community protocols are below.

Reconstitution A: 10 mg vial + 3 mL BAC water (3.33 mg/mL) — the standard dilution from the Quick Reference above.

Reconstitution B: 10 mg vial + 5 mL BAC water (2 mg/mL) — more BAC water for larger, easier-to-measure draws.

These conversions reflect the dilutions documented in community reconstitution protocols. They report how the math is described, not a recommended dosing schedule.