Born to parents with very skinny builds, I spent a significant part of my life disliking my physique. I did not even like wearing skimpy clothes or swimming in public. I was embarrassed about my body.
Why couldn’t I be more like the fit, well-built people I could not help but admire? Years later, I found out I actually can.
And so can you, if that’s what you came looking for here.
There are many synthetic growth hormones available today, and these can help you gain lean muscle and body weight in a very healthy and safe manner.
Or maybe that’s not why you are here. You are simply looking for a way to maintain your youth.
Or recover from a terrible injury.
Whichever of these reasons brought you here, ipamorelin could be the answer you are looking for.
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Disclaimer: The author of this article is not a certified medical practitioner. Take any advice or recommendation given in this article at your own risk. Consult a doctor before using any of the products mentioned above.
What Is Ipamorelin?
Ipamorelin is a growth hormone secretagogue. This means that it promotes the secretion of growth hormones in the body.
Five different amino acids make up ipamorelin, which is why it is a pentapeptide (1).
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Some of the most common uses of ipamorelin are to increase size, lean mass, and muscle recovery.
It stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release more growth hormones. The anterior pituitary gland handles producing growth hormones (GH) (2).
It is a very popular substance because it releases a high and adequate amount of growth hormone.
Another reason why ipamorelin is a favorite of many is because of how specific its action is. This is because the anterior pituitary gland responds very quickly to even small doses of ipamorelin (3).
Ipamorelin: A Ghrelin Mimetic
Ipamorelin is also called a ghrelin mimetic. A ghrelin mimetic is basically a substance that copies the action of ‘hunger hormones’ – it stimulates appetite (4, 5).
This way, the person using this substance will eat more than he or she usually does. This will then help in gaining body muscle.
Now for all of you who want immediate results from any proteins you take – be patient!
In most cases, a single dose of ipamorelin will not help you gain muscle by making you hungry. You will need repeated doses of ipamorelin at the right times (6).
Benefits
There are a lot of growth hormone-releasing substances available today. But ipamorelin is one of the top choices of users.
We have covered some of the most important reasons why people choose ipamorelin.
1. It Helps Increase Muscle Strength and Bone Formation
An experiment tested the effect of ipamorelin to counter the impact of glucocorticoid.
Glucocorticoids are also steroid hormones that can lead to a decrease in muscle formation and bone strength.
The results of the experiment showed that the subjects with ipamorelin did not suffer. They were safe from any decrease in muscle strength or bone formation.
But how exactly does ipamorelin do this?
It releases the serum concentrations of particular biochemical markers. These biochemical markers are the ones specified for bone formation (7).
2. It Increases Strength and Energy
Most of us know that proteins that help in bodily growth also give us a lot of strength and endurance. This is also the case with ipamorelin.
It will make you feel energized and stronger.
3. It Helps You Gain Lean Muscle
Ipamorelin will also give you lean muscle, unlike some other growth hormone-inducing products (8).
We hope you know that gaining instant weight or muscle that is not lean muscle is a very, very dangerous thing to do.
Yes, it might make your body look the way you want it to for some time, but this effect will reverse very soon.
With harmful side effects and results!
4. It Aids in Recovering Quickly from Injuries
You should also know that not every growth hormone-inducing product is for gaining mass. Sometimes, you just want to rapidly heal an injury that left you badly scarred.
Ipamorelin can help with that due to its properties of rebuilding tissues. It will also give your body the strength for recovery.
5. It Boosts Libido
If your performance in bed is embarrassing, here’s a piece of good news for you. Ipamorelin also increases your libido and sexual performance (9).
It plays a vital role in male erectile capability by having a stimulating effect (10).
It is also necessary for the regulation of sexual arousal (11).
6. It Promotes Fat Loss
Ipamorelin also helps with fat loss (12). This is beneficial for you because your body will have more muscle and less fat.
Ipamorelin in Bodybuilding
Now before using ipamorelin for bodybuilding, you need to see if it is safe and actually useful.
One of the primary purposes of ipamorelin is to increase lean mass, so it is completely harmless to use it for bodybuilding.
Also, ipamorelin is widely used as a performance-enhancing drug that gives strength (13).
And what if you strain a muscle or injure yourself in the process? Ipamorelin has got you covered.
It can accelerate recovery from sporting or other serious injuries (14).
These facts combined make it an ideal choice for bodybuilders.
Dosage
The amount of ipamorelin a person should take can vary from one to another. But as a general guide, 200 to 300 mcg is a safe amount to consume.
But bear in mind that this dosage is for a normal user who has recently started taking it (15).
It is safe to use ipamorelin once a day. The best time to take it is usually in the morning.
Note: Even if you use it at any other time of the day, make sure to stick to a routine.
Do not change the timings of your ipamorelin consumption every other day. An irregular schedule can lead to harmful effects (16).
You should also know that the recommended dosage for athletes is higher. Their bodies go through significant amounts of exertion and require more energy and muscles.
Athletes can consume a 200 to 300 mcg dosage twice or even thrice a day for best results (17).
Cycle
Just like ipamorelin dosage, the cycle also depends upon the user.
1. Normal User
A normal person who has no extreme HGH (Human Growth Hormone) needs in his body can take a cycle of a minimum of 8 weeks. The maximum time can be around 12 weeks.
After 12 weeks, ipamorelin might stop being effective or show side effects (18).
It will do you well not to extend your ipamorelin cycle beyond 12 weeks to avoid any severe side effects. But if you still feel the need to do so, consult a doctor.
2. Athlete
This is not just for athletes but also for people trying to increase their lean muscle mass (19). You can try a cycle of a minimum of 12 weeks and a maximum of 16 weeks.
But make sure you follow these guidelines before increasing your cycle duration:
- Start increasing your cycle time slowly
- Take lower doses at the start of the increased time (20)
Now here’s the most critical point for you to note.
Warning 1: Do not abruptly change your ipamorelin cycle or stop it in the middle for no reason.
This is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Here’s why.
When you take any medicinal drug, your body and its organs adjust to the changes it brings to them. Their regular patterns are slightly or largely shifted depending on the drug (21).
What happens when you leave a cycle incomplete is that your body and organs do not get enough time to adjust to those changes.
In some cases, you can experience withdrawal symptoms like:
- Decreased appetite
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain (22)
This is why we strongly suggest you consult a certified medical practitioner for the right ipamorelin cycle for you.
Once you know the duration of your cycle, make sure you do not change it or stop taking ipamorelin abruptly (23).
Also, do not be inconsistent with your ipamorelin dosage during this time. Take the same amount at the same time on all the required days for the length of your entire cycle.
Warning 2: Do not go on continuous ipamorelin cycles.
Once you have completed your recommended cycle, go off ipamorelin for around a month. You can start your cycle again after this time.
Meanwhile, the receptors in your body will have enough time to ensure they do not become highly sensitized to ipamorelin (24). If they do, even a low dosage of ipamorelin can generate powerful effects.
Before and After
If you are not sure about using ipamorelin, here are some of the differences users report before and after taking this peptide.
Before
- The production of growth hormones in your body is low. This is especially true if you are an adult because growth hormone production gets lower with age.
- You are obese and have a tough time losing weight (25).
- You have a lot of fat mass and not many muscles.
- Your skin looks wrinkled, and there is a loss of elasticity.
After
- The production of growth hormones in your body will increase naturally (26).
- Ipamorelin will quickly break down lipids in your body, and you will experience fast weight loss.
- You will gain lean muscle mass and reduce fat mass (27).
- Your skin and nails look younger and fresh. This is because of the regeneration of tissues and bone formation (28).
If these differences seem worth the effort of dedicating time to an ipamorelin cycle, you should go ahead with it.
Who Should Use Ipamorelin?
If you think you fall into any of these categories, ipamorelin can be an excellent choice for you.
1. You Suffer from Muscle Loss
Your muscles can waste away because you do not exercise enough.
This can also happen if you are suffering from diseases like AIDS or HIV. If this is the case, you can gain back your muscles by using ipamorelin.
It will stimulate your body to produce more growth hormones to help you gain lean muscle (29).
2. You Often Get Sporting Injuries
If you play sports like soccer, football, ice hockey, tennis, or even cheerleading, you likely get a lot of injuries.
With its quick tissue-recovery properties, ipamorelin can help your injuries heal faster (30).
3. You Are Sick of Looking Older Than You Actually Are
You cannot stop aging. But you can choose a safe way to slow down the aging process naturally. Ipamorelin is the perfect solution for that.
The growth hormones will cause the creation of more proteins in your body to replace the dead skin, making you look fresher (31).
One of the main reasons why we start looking older as we grow up is because the levels of growth hormones in our bodies decrease. In fact, researchers are now looking into peptides like ipamorelin as anti-aging agents (32).
4. You Are Not Satisfied With Your Sexual Performance
Yes, we know. It is quite embarrassing not to live up to your partner’s expectations in the bedroom. If you are often dissatisfied with how things turn out due to your lack of sexual drive, you can use ipamorelin. It will improve your sexual abilities (33).
5. You Want to Get Rid of Obesity
Ipamorelin helps in the reduction of fat mass. Researchers have proved that the deficiency of growth hormone in adults leads to an increase in the accumulation of fat (34).
Who Should Not Use It?
If you are under 18, you should stay away from ipamorelin. Your body is already producing a good amount of ipamorelin. Its production actually starts reducing after the mid-thirties (35).
But if you still want to use it for any reason, do not do so before consulting a certified medical professional.
- Note well that ipamorelin is not a substitute for a healthy diet. If you are not following a well-balanced meal plan while taking ipamorelin, you might not see any significant results.
- Similarly, ipamorelin is not an alternative to a workout routine either. Don’t be lazy and think that ipamorelin can make up for missed exercise. It can’t! You should follow a good workout plan and take ipamorelin for the best results. The activities involved in working out make your body fit slowly and healthily. The way ipamorelin works is very different (36).
- If you are allergic to any of the constituents of this product, you should not use it.
It is not common, but some people experience allergic reactions to growth hormone-releasing peptides (37). A single reaction by your body to one of the chemicals in ipamorelin can be very hazardous.
Side Effects
Here are all the reasons why using ipamorelin might be a bad idea for you.
1. Rash and Pain
This happens because of the injections that administer ipamorelin in your body. Red areas with mild to severe itching can form at the site of injection (38).
Experimenters noticed this effect on both children and adults.
2. Transient Fever
You might feel chills, sweat, unusually warm skin, or discomfort. But this only lasts for a short time.
3. Insulin Resistance
Beware of these side effects since something like insulin resistance can even possibly be fatal.
If you regularly take insulin to maintain your blood-glucose concentration, do not take even small doses of ipamorelin.
Growth hormones have properties that counter the effect of glucose-producing glands (39). They will cause resistance to glucose production, which is basically what insulin promotes.
And if a patient whose body does not produce its glucose does not get insulin on time, they could face severe medical problems. This can be because of an imbalance of the glucose levels in the body.
4. Development of Neoplasm
Neoplasm is the new or abnormal growth of tissue(s) in the body (40).
This happens because the growth hormones also stimulate the cells to multiply. And ipamorelin enhances the production of these growth hormones.
If you consume a lot of ipamorelin, it can even lead to very fast cell multiplication. This is dangerous for you because uncontrolled growth of tissues can then take place in your body.
5. Hypertension
If you already suffer from high blood pressure, ipamorelin is not the right peptide for you.
And even if you do not have a medical history of hypertension, you should still be careful with the use of ipamorelin. Here’s why.
The increased levels of growth hormone affect the kidneys and their normal activity. If any substance disrupts the activity of your kidneys, it affects your body. The concentrations of different chemicals in the body can drastically change in the blood. This leads to hypertension (41).
This is also why it can lead to fluid retention (42).
6. Progression of Scoliosis
This is one of the highest risk factors for a person taking ipamorelin.
Scoliosis is a condition that happens when a person’s spine gets curved sideways (43). Mild cases of this might not affect you much, but stronger cases can be very painful.
This happens due to the growth-inducing effects caused by ipamorelin, especially if they increase drastically (44, 45).
We know that all of these risks seem to scare a person, but they are just ‘potential’ risks. There are rarely any reports of the side effects of ipamorelin.
Rest assured, you will most likely have no problem with it if you take it properly.
Results
Ipamorelin will cause your body to grow, strengthen, and recover quickly.
Even though ipamorelin induces growth in most parts of the body, it has the best effect on the cartilage and bone (46).
It will cause the cells to enter a state which increases amino acid uptake. This will lead to more production of proteins (the basic unit of growth hormones).
Ipamorelin will result in a stronger and healthier body and also have anti-aging effects.
Ipamorelin Sale
Companies sell ipamorelin in the form of capsules. These are readily available online and in drugstores.
The cost of ipamorelin depends upon the cycle(s) that one container can complete.
As a general estimate, ipamorelin falls into the slightly expensive category of synthetic drugs.
If you want it to be of standard quality, you might be able to get it at an easily affordable price.
The good news is that the number of manufacturers selling ipamorelin is increasing rapidly. As such, you are more likely than ever to find a great bargain.
Synthetic Alternatives
You may not feel comfortable using ipamorelin for any reason. For example, it might be too expensive for you.
But you still want a potent growth hormone steroid, right? You cannot give up on your plan of increasing body weight and muscle.
Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered!
Let’s look at a few other options you might have.
1. GHRP – 6
This is Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide – 6. It is a hexapeptide with a chain containing six amino acids.
GHRP-6 works by stimulating the thyroid gland to produce more growth hormones (47).
It also helps with hypothyroidism. This is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone – the basic human growth hormone (48).
Like ipamorelin, GHRP-6 also causes the body to secrete more ghrelin and feel hungry, to stimulate the body to take food. However, the appetite-stimulating effect of GHRP-6 is far greater than that of ipamorelin.
GHRP-6 has effects like increased slow-wave sleep (SWS) and blunted cortisol levels (49).
2. GHRP – 4
This is a Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide – 4. It is a polypeptide with a chain containing four amino acids. Some of these amino acids are unnatural D-amino acids which can help build peptidomimetics (50).
3. Hexarelin (HEX)
The action of this stimulator of growth hormone is similar to that of ipamorelin. It also goes to the brain, attaches to the receptors in the anterior pituitary gland, and causes it to release growth hormone (51).
Before using Hexarelin, know that it has proven effects on our cardiovascular system. So if you have any history of heart problems, try your best to avoid this.
Not all effects of Hexarelin on the heart are harmful, though. For example, it can help alleviate atherosclerosis and reduce cardiac fibrosis (52).
For best results, you should observe the effect of Hexarelin after two successive doses (53).
4. Alexamorelin (ALEX)
Alexamorelin works very much like Hexarelin. The difference is that Alexamorelin has an ACTH-releasing activity which is more obvious than that of Hexarelin.
ACTH stands for ‘adrenocorticotropic hormone’ and is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland (54).
Natural Alternatives
Many people are wary of using synthetic proteins, and rightly so. Most of these come with adverse side effects that you might not be able to avoid.
If you are afraid of the possible effects of ipamorelin, we have some natural alternatives for you. These are completely safe for consumption.
Here are our top 3 picks for increasing the production of growth hormones in your body naturally.
HGH-X2
HGH-X2 by CrazyBulk is a natural alternative to human growth hormone-releasing peptides like Ipamorelin. It is a top choice for increasing size, burning fat, gaining lean mass, and speeding up recoveries.
It is available for $59.99 and is all-natural, safe, and legal, as the company claims.
Since each bottle has 30 servings and the recommended serving size is two capsules per day, one bottle will last for 15 days.
Also, the instructions ask you to take the dosage with water, around 20 minutes before breakfast, daily. You also need to use HGH-X2 for at least two months for desirable results.
Here’s the best part about this. You do not even need any injections to administer or prescriptions to use it.
You can only buy HGH-X2 from the official website here.
HyperGH 14x
HyperGH 14x, as per the manufacturers, is the most sophisticated human growth hormone-releasing substance for bodybuilding.
Regular use of this can boost genetics to help you gain lean and hard muscles and accelerate your injury recoveries.
Oh, and if you use HyperGH 14x before working out, it releases even higher pulses of the growth hormone that day.
This alternative comes as tablets and oral spray. And even though it costs $384.99, which seems outrageous at first, it will be enough for six months.
For best results, you should take a suitable dosage of this twice a day for around six months.
Part of the reason why HyperGH 14x is so popular is that it has no reported side effects and is absolutely legal.
And just like HGH-X2, it doesn’t need injections or prescriptions for use.
Interestingly, the sellers are very confident that you will see the positive effects of HyperGH 14x within 60 days. This is exactly why they are offering a 100% money-back guarantee in case you don’t!
HyperGH 14x is only available via the official website (code: Save10).
GenF20 Plus
Again, a prevalent human growth hormone (HGH) releasing system has a number 1 rate by its company.
It has proven benefits of:
- reducing wrinkles and age spots,
- enhancing stamina,
- lowering cholesterol,
- increasing lean muscle,
- energizing sex drive
This is slightly different from HGH-X2 and HyperGH 14x. It focuses heavily on anti-aging and youthfulness as opposed to the other two, which concentrate on muscle building.
You can get GenF20 Plus as tablets or oral spray. Also, it has 100% natural dietary supplements, so you can consume them without any worries.
Here’s the attractive part: this costs about only as much as a cup of coffee!
GenF20 Plus comes with a promise of no side effects, overdose, or injections. And, of course, a straight-up 100% refund if you are not satisfied within the first two months of use.
Visit the official GenF20 Plus website (code: Save10).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Should I Use: Ipamorelin or Sermorelin?
Just like ipamorelin, sermorelin is also a synthetic substance. It helps release growth hormones from the pituitary glands.
Sermorelin is the shortest synthetic peptide. But it has all the properties of a growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It has a full biological activity like any other GHRH (55).
It works to naturally increase the production of growth hormones in your body.
Sermorelin and ipamorelin have very similar results and affect the same area in the body to induce growth hormone secretion.
So what’s the difference then?
It is in the way they both act in the body and the kind of substances they are.
What you choose between these two depends upon your requirements. Do you want a GHRH peptide (sermorelin), or do you need a GHRP peptide (ipamorelin)?
2. What Should I Use: Ipamorelin or GHRP – 2?
GHRP – 2 stands for Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide – 2 and is a very common synthetic peptide. As its name can tell you, it also improves the production of growth hormones (56).
It has great potential to benefit athletes and bodybuilders.
Ipamorelin and GHRP-2 work very differently.
GHRP-2 causes an increase in the levels of cortisol and prolactin (57), but ipamorelin does not.
Also, there is a small maximum limit to the amount of growth hormone produced using GHRP-2. Ipamorelin can produce much more growth hormone naturally.
Users mostly prefer to use ipamorelin out of these two because it is more effective at producing growth hormones in large amounts.
3. What Should I use: Ipamorelin or CJC 1295?
CJC 1295 is another useful growth hormone-releasing substance (58). It has a lot of use in the bodybuilding community.
CJC 1295 is also used for the short term to lose fat.
The major difference between ipamorelin and CJC 295 is the duration of their effectiveness.
Ipamorelin works relatively fast and is effective for an extended period after you ingest it. But CJC 1295 has a short duration.
Due to this reason, we will recommend taking ipamorelin for long-lasting effects.
4. Is Ipamorelin Legal?
Even though it is a powerful peptide with potent effects, ipamorelin is legal. But you will notice that it always comes with warnings on the issue label. Use it carefully.
But remember that it is not allowed for athletes. Ipamorelin has performance-enhancing properties. These can give an unfair advantage to players in a sports competition (59).
5. Is Ipamorelin Safe?
Peter Clark, an associate professor from Australia’s University of Melbourne, says that peptides are completely safe for consumption.
But you should remember that these results or statements are for typical cases where the intake of ipamorelin is minimal. In this situation, it is very safe (60).
However, we will not recommend regularly using large amounts of such peptides. You should not use them without first consulting a certified medical practitioner.
Conclusion
It is a common misconception that the human growth hormone is only responsible for our height.
Ipamorelin, a legal and safe peptide, does much more than that.
Ipamorelin:
- helps you gain lean muscle
- has anti-aging properties
- helps in recoveries against injuries
- improves your immune system and sexual abilities
- helps lose weight fast
- gives your body strength
Even though ipamorelin is very safe to use once a day, it comes with its side effects. So you should make sure to know them completely before starting to use it.
Since ipamorelin is a costly substance, make sure you check out all your available options. Then compare their pros and cons before buying one of them.
Before starting any dosage or cycle, consult a doctor to ensure it is safe for you.
Dr. Jack Parker, holding a Ph.D. and driven by a deep passion for fitness, is a trusted expert in physical health and legal steroids. He blends thorough research with hands-on experience to help Muzcle readers achieve their fitness goals safely and effectively. Outside of work, Jack loves spending time with his family and keeping up with the latest health trends and research.
Why you can trust us. Our expert reviewers devote hours to testing and comparing products, ensuring that the information and recommendations we provide are reliable and fact-checked. Learn more about our editorial process.