Ipamorelin protocol
Ipamorelin dosing — the cleanest GHRP, why it pairs with CJC-1295, daily timing patterns, and reconstitution math for typical 5 mg vials.
Updated May 7, 2026 · 5 min read
Ipamorelin is the cleanest peptide in the GHRP class — it triggers GH release through the ghrelin receptor without significantly raising cortisol or prolactin (which is what differentiates it from older GHRPs like GHRP-2 and GHRP-6). It's the GHRP most commonly recommended for first-time secretagogue users and the standard pairing partner for CJC-1295.
Quick reference
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | GHRP (ghrelin mimetic) |
| Half-life | About 2 hours |
| Cadence | 1–3x daily |
| Best timing | Pre-bed always; pre-training optional |
| Typical dose | 100–300 mcg per injection |
| Common vials | 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg |
The Ipamorelin + CJC-1295 stack
Ipamorelin is rarely run alone. The standard pairing is Ipamorelin + CJC-1295 (no DAC), with the two peptides activating complementary pathways for synergistic GH release:
- Ipamorelin → ghrelin receptor → triggers GH pulse
- CJC-1295 (no DAC) → GHRH receptor → amplifies the pulse
Activating both pathways at once produces a larger, cleaner GH pulse than either alone. The standard stack:
| Compound | Per-injection dose | Cadence |
|---|---|---|
| Ipamorelin | 100–300 mcg | 1–3x daily |
| CJC-1295 (no DAC) | 100–300 mcg | 1–3x daily, paired with Ipa |
You can run Ipamorelin alone — the GH pulse will be smaller but still meaningful. The decision usually comes down to whether you want an extra vial in the protocol.
Timing
The single most important Ipamorelin injection is the one before bed. Your largest natural GH pulse occurs in early deep sleep, and the pre-bed Ipa dose amplifies it.
Typical patterns:
| Schedule | Sessions per day | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Once daily, pre-bed | 1 | Conservative; sleep-quality and recovery focus |
| Twice daily, pre-bed + post-workout | 2 | Most-reported balanced protocol |
| Three times daily, pre-bed + pre-training + post-training | 3 | Aggressive; training-day focus |
Like most GH-axis interventions, empty-stomach timing matters. High blood glucose blunts GH release. Inject at least 2 hours after eating, and don't eat within 30 minutes after injection.
Body-weight scaling
| Body weight | Per-injection dose |
|---|---|
| Under 175 lb (80 kg) | 100–200 mcg |
| 175–225 lb (80–100 kg) | 200–250 mcg |
| Over 225 lb (100 kg+) | 250–300 mcg |
Doses above 300 mcg per injection don't reliably scale the GH pulse — the pituitary's release ceiling caps the response. More peptide per shot doesn't equal more GH. If you want more total daily GH exposure, add a third injection rather than increasing per-dose.
Reconstitution math
Ipamorelin commonly ships in 2 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg vials. The standard mix:
5 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water = 2.5 mg/mL.
A 200 mcg dose → 0.08 mL → 8 units on a U-100 insulin syringe.
A 300 mcg dose → 0.12 mL → 12 units.
Use the reconstitution calculator for exact units.
For Ipa+CJC stacks, you don't mix the two peptides in the same vial — keep separate reconstituted vials and inject from each. Some users do successive injections at the same site; others use different sites. Either is fine.
Cycling
Ipamorelin protocols typically run 12–16 weeks, then 4–8 weeks off. The cycle length is tied to GH-axis effects (body composition, sleep quality, recovery) which take 8+ weeks to express.
Some users run continuous low-dose Ipa (one pre-bed injection at 100 mcg) as a sleep-quality / recovery support indefinitely. Long-term continuous use isn't well-studied — opinions vary. The conservative position is to cycle.
What to expect
Ipamorelin's effects build slowly:
- Weeks 1–2: improved sleep depth, vivid dreams (a marker of GH activity), occasional mild lightheadedness in first few injections
- Weeks 3–6: subjective recovery improvement, slightly reduced morning stiffness, increased feeling of fullness in muscles
- Weeks 7–12: body composition shifts (modest), sleep changes consolidate, IGF-1 elevation visible on bloodwork
Ipamorelin is not a "feel" drug. The signal is in your sleep quality and how you feel two months in, not in the moments after injection.
Side effects
Ipamorelin's selective profile is its whole pitch — it produces fewer side effects than other GHRPs:
| Effect | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Vivid dreams | Common (positive marker) |
| Mild flushing or warmth at injection time | Occasional |
| Mild lightheadedness | Occasional, first few injections |
| Slight increase in appetite | Mild (much less than MK-677 or GHRP-6) |
| Water retention | Mild |
| Numbness or tingling | Rare at therapeutic doses |
What Ipamorelin doesn't do (which differentiates it from older GHRPs):
- Significantly raise cortisol
- Significantly raise prolactin
- Cause dramatic appetite spikes
- Cause significant water retention at therapeutic doses
Common dosing mistakes
- Eating right before injection — high blood glucose blunts the pulse
- Skipping the pre-bed dose — this is the most important one
- Bumping per-injection dose above 300 mcg — doesn't scale benefit, just costs more
- Quitting at week 4 — GH-axis effects need 8+ weeks to express
- Running without CJC-1295 — Ipa alone works, but the stack is dramatically better-reported