Ipamorelin (10 mg vial)
Once daily subcutaneous at bedtime protocol for growth hormone axis research.
Ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin-receptor agonist that triggers GH release with minimal effect on cortisol, prolactin or appetite, which is why it is considered the cleanest of the GHRPs. The protocol below is bedtime subcutaneous dosing on an empty stomach.
Quick answer: at the standard 10 mg + 1 mL reconstitution, a 250 mcg dose of Ipamorelin draws 2.5 units (0.025 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe, once daily subcutaneous at bedtime.
Get Ipamorelin → code PEPDOSE
Protocol overview
Dosing & reconstitution
Frequency: Once daily subcutaneous at bedtime
Typical duration: 8-12 weeks
Reconstitution: 10 mg vial + 1 mL bacteriostatic water = 10 mg/mL. Units below are for a U-100 insulin syringe at this concentration.
| Phase | Dose | Units per injection |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | 100 mcg | 1 unit (0.01 mL) |
| Weeks 3-4 | 150 mcg | 1.5 units (0.015 mL) |
| Weeks 5-8 | 200 mcg | 2 units (0.02 mL) |
| Weeks 9-12 | 250 mcg | 2.5 units (0.025 mL) |
Units = (dose ÷ concentration) × 100 on a U-100 syringe. Change the vial size or water volume and the calculator redoes all of this for you.
Track this protocol → Free account · log doses, rotate sites, never lose your history
Ipamorelin dosing schedule
From the phase 2 proof-of-concept trial in postoperative ileus, which is the compound’s main human trial. Read the result alongside the schedule: ipamorelin did not separate from placebo on the primary endpoint. Median time to first tolerated meal was 25.3 hours versus 32.6 hours for placebo, which did not reach significance (p = 0.15).
| Phase | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial arm | 0.03 mg/kg | Twice daily, intravenous infusion | The only amount studied. 114 patients in the safety and modified intent-to-treat populations. |
Study length: Postoperative day 1 through day 7 or hospital discharge, whichever came first.
Reconstitution and measurement
This part is arithmetic and does not depend on the evidence level. Concentration is vial size divided by the bacteriostatic water you add. Draw volume is your target amount divided by that concentration. Units are draw volume times 100, because a U-100 syringe reads 100 units per millilitre. Common vials for Ipamorelin: 10 mg.
- Wipe the stoppers of both vials with an alcohol swab and let them dry.
- Draw the bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe and inject it slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial — never straight onto the powder.
- Swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake; foaming and agitation damage peptides.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, and refrigerate at 2–8 °C protected from light.
Worked example at the calculator defaults: 10 mg + 2 mL of bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL, so on a U-100 insulin syringe 1 unit = 50 mcg of Ipamorelin. Change either input and the calculator redoes this for you.
Storage and stability
Supplies math
Whatever amounts your research uses, the planning arithmetic is the same. The calculator runs all of this per compound.
Supplies by protocol length
Based on the maintenance dose above (250 mcg, once daily subcutaneous at bedtime) and a 10 mg vial reconstituted with 1 mL.
| Duration | Injections | Vials | Syringes | Bac water | Swabs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 56 | 2 x 10 mg | 62 | 1 x 10 mL | 112 |
| 12 weeks | 84 | 3 x 10 mg | 93 | 1 x 10 mL | 168 |
| 16 weeks | 112 | 3 x 10 mg | 124 | 1 x 10 mL | 224 |
Syringe count includes ~10% spares. Swabs = 2 per injection (stopper + site). Vial count assumes the full maintenance dose for the entire duration.
Important notes
Practical considerations for consistency and safety.
- Use a new sterile insulin syringe for each injection and dispose in a proper sharps container.
- Rotate injection sites (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) systematically to reduce local irritation and avoid lipohypertrophy.
- Inject slowly and steadily; wait a few seconds before withdrawing the needle to ensure complete delivery.
- Administer at the same time each day for consistent levels. Setting a daily reminder helps maintain the schedule.
- The 10 mg vial size is standard for this compound. Reconstitute with 1 mL bacteriostatic water for a convenient concentration.
How Ipamorelin works
A pentapeptide agonist at the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). Its selling point in the literature is selectivity — unlike earlier secretagogues it releases GH without meaningfully raising cortisol or prolactin.
Benefits & side effects
Potential benefits
- Selective GH secretagogue with minimal side effects
- Does not significantly raise cortisol or prolactin
- Clean GH release profile
- Supports recovery, sleep and body composition
Possible side effects
- Injection site reactions
- Mild headache occasionally
- Does not significantly affect cortisol or prolactin
- Well tolerated vs other GHRPs
This list reflects published literature and community reports. Individual responses vary. Not medical advice.
Bloodwork worth tracking
The community-standard practice is a baseline panel before starting, a recheck 8 to 12 weeks in, and another after time off. For Ipamorelin, the markers most worth watching:
IGF-1fasting glucoselipid panel
Typical time off: 4-8 wks
Lab panels are how a research protocol stays honest: numbers move before symptoms do. Interpretation belongs with a clinician. Not medical advice.
Lifestyle factors
None of the literature above was run on a background of poor sleep and no protein. These variables move outcomes more reliably than any compound on this site.
- Protein in the 1.6 to 2.2 g/kg range preserves lean mass through any body-composition phase.
- Resistance training 2 to 4 days per week plus 150+ minutes of weekly aerobic work reinforces whatever the protocol is doing.
- Sleep is the recovery window: 7 to 9 hours at consistent times.
- Hydration matters more than usual on compounds with GI or flushing effects: 2 to 3 liters daily.
- Track the variables that matter: weigh-ins, measurements, photos, and labs at sensible intervals.
Subcutaneous technique and practical notes
General best practice from clinical injection guidance — the same fundamentals nurses are taught, none of it specific to any compound.
References
Quick answers
How many syringe units is a 250 mcg dose of Ipamorelin?
At the standard reconstitution of 10 mg with 1 mL bacteriostatic water (10 mg/mL), a 250 mcg dose draws 2.5 units (0.025 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe.
How do you reconstitute Ipamorelin?
Add 1 mL of bacteriostatic water to the 10 mg vial for 10 mg/mL. Inject the water slowly down the inside wall of the vial, swirl gently without shaking, and refrigerate at 2 to 8 °C after mixing.
How long does a 10 mg vial of Ipamorelin last?
About 40 maintenance doses of 250 mcg, roughly 5.7 weeks at once daily subcutaneous at bedtime.
Does Ipamorelin have human trial data?
Yes. The dosing on this page is anchored to published human research (Beck DE et al., "Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus", Int J Colorectal Dis 2014 (NCT00672074)).
How does Ipamorelin work?
A pentapeptide agonist at the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). Its selling point in the literature is selectivity — unlike earlier secretagogues it releases GH without meaningfully raising cortisol or prolactin.
Sourcing Ipamorelin
Whatever you are working with, the documentation matters more than the price. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis whose lot number matches the vial you actually receive — a COA for a different batch tells you nothing about yours.
Ipamorelin at Summit Research Supply → Grade a COA first
Summit is the supplier we feature and an affiliate link. Our COA checklist applies the same way to any vendor.
