Ipamorelin Dosage Guide
Written by Alejandro Reyes
Founder & Lead Researcher
Reviewed by Peptide Nerds Editorial · Updated April 2026
Dosage overview
| Typical dose | 200-300 mcg per injection |
| Frequency | 1-3 times daily, with at least one dose before bed |
| Cycle length | 8-12 weeks on, 4 weeks off |
Dosing notes
Ipamorelin is most commonly dosed at 200-300 mcg per injection, one to three times daily. Bedtime administration is strongly preferred for at least one daily dose, as GH secretagogues administered at night amplify the natural GH pulse during early slow-wave sleep. When dosed multiple times daily, spacing injections 6-8 hours apart maximizes each GH pulse and prevents receptor desensitization. Administration on an empty stomach is critical: food intake, particularly carbohydrates and fats, blunts GH release. A minimum 2-hour fast before injection is widely recommended. The most common protocol combines ipamorelin 200-300 mcg with CJC-1295 (no DAC / mod GRF 1-29) 100-300 mcg in the same injection before bed. The two peptides target different receptors and produce synergistic GH output substantially greater than either alone. Reconstitution: use bacteriostatic water directed against the vial wall, not onto the powder. Gently swirl, never shake. Store reconstituted peptide refrigerated at 36-46 degrees F and use within 14-21 days. Never freeze reconstituted peptide. Cycling protocols of 8-12 weeks on followed by 4 weeks off are the most commonly used community approach, though limited clinical data supports one cycling schedule over another. Ipamorelin is not FDA-approved for any indication and all uses are off-label. It was placed on the FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance list in 2023, restricting compounding pharmacy availability.
Important safety information
Dosage ranges listed above are based on available research data and reported protocols. Individual dosing should be determined by a qualified healthcare provider based on your specific health profile, goals, and response to treatment.
- Start at the lowest effective dose and titrate up gradually
- Monitor for side effects, especially during dose increases
- Do not exceed researched dose ranges without medical supervision
- This is a research compound — human dosing guidelines are not FDA-established
Interactive protocol guide
Step-by-step: your dosing schedule with exact syringe units, what supplies to buy, how to mix, and how to inject.
Ipamorelin Protocol Overview
Goal
GH optimization
Duration
12 weeks
Route
subcutaneous
Important before you start:
- Must be taken on an empty stomach. Food (especially carbs/fats) blunts GH release.
- May cause water retention or tingling in the hands during the first 1-2 weeks.
- Avoid combining with exogenous HGH unless under medical supervision.
Your dosing schedule
Based on a 5 mg vial mixed with 2.5 mL bacteriostatic water (2.00 mg/mL concentration). Using a U-30 insulin syringe.
Draw to here
3 units
on 30-unit syringe
1-12: 200 mcg
| When | Dose | Syringe units | Frequency | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-12 | 200 mcg | 3 units | Once daily | Inject at bedtime on an empty stomach. Best results with consistent timing. |
1-12: 200 mcg
Inject at bedtime on an empty stomach. Best results with consistent timing.
What you need for a 12-week Ipamorelin protocol
Ipamorelin vials (5 mg each)
Quantity: 4
Bacteriostatic water (30 mL vial)
Quantity: 1
Insulin syringes (U-30, 29ga)
Quantity: 84+ (one per injection, never reuse)
Alcohol prep pads
Quantity: 168+ (one for vial, one for skin)
Sharps container
Quantity: 1
Quantities based on 12-week protocol using 5 mg vials reconstituted with 2.5 mL BAC water each.
How to mix your Ipamorelin
Your concentration:
5 mg peptide + 2.5 mL water = 2.00 mg/mL (2000 mcg/mL)
- 1
Wash your hands
Wash with soap and water for 30 seconds. Dry completely.
- 2
Clean the vial tops
Wipe the rubber stopper on your Ipamorelin vial AND your bacteriostatic water vial with an alcohol swab. Let air dry for 10 seconds.
- 3
Draw 2.5 mL of bacteriostatic water
Using an insulin syringe, draw 2.5 mL (75 units on a U-30 syringe) of bacteriostatic water.
- 4
Inject water into the Ipamorelin vial
Hold the peptide vial at a 45-degree angle. Point the needle at the WALL of the vial, NOT directly onto the powder. Push the plunger slowly over 10-15 seconds. Let the water run down the inside wall.
- 5
Swirl gently to dissolve
Swirl the vial in a slow circular motion for 30-60 seconds. NEVER shake. If not fully dissolved, let it sit for 2-5 minutes and swirl again.
- 6
Refrigerate immediately
Store reconstituted peptide at 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C). Good for 4-6 weeks refrigerated. Label the vial with the date you mixed it.
Common mistakes that ruin your peptide:
- Shaking the vial (breaks peptide bonds, reduces potency 30-50%)
- Spraying water directly on the powder (damages the peptide)
- Using sterile water instead of bacteriostatic water (no preservative, short shelf life)
- Leaving mixed peptide at room temperature (loses 10-20% potency per day)
How to inject Ipamorelin
Timing: Bedtime, at least 2 hours after last meal
- 1Choose your injection site and rotate each time (at least 1 inch from the last site).
- 2Wipe the injection site with an alcohol prep pad. Let air dry completely.
- 3Draw your dose (check the dosing schedule above for exact syringe units).
- 4Pinch a fold of skin at the injection site.
- 5Insert the needle at a 45-90 degree angle into the pinched skin fold.
- 6Push the plunger slowly and steadily.
- 7Release the skin fold, then withdraw the needle.
- 8Do NOT rub the injection site. Light pressure with a cotton ball is fine if there is any blood.
- 9Dispose of the syringe immediately in your sharps container. Never recap or reuse.
Site rotation tip
Divide your preferred injection area into a mental grid. Move to a new spot each injection. For Abdomen and Thigh injections, alternate between sides (left/right) each time.
Research references
- Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue — European Journal of Endocrinology (1999) [PubMed]
- Growth hormone secretagogues: history, mechanism of action, and clinical development — JCSM Rapid Communications (2017) [PubMed]
- The effects of growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 and growth hormone-releasing hormone on the pulsatile growth hormone secretion in normal adult men — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (1999) [PubMed]
- Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues in the modern management of body composition in hypogonadal males — Translational Andrology and Urology (2020) [PubMed]
- The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues — Sexual Medicine Reviews (2018) [PubMed]
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