Ipamorelin Information

Also known as

Other names:

• L-Lysinamide

Brand names:

• Ipamorelin Acetate

Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval

Ipamorelin is not listed in the Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Ingredients) Determination and is not an excipient or active in any medicines on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).¹

World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List 2025

Ipamorelin is included in S2.2.4 Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Relates Substances, and Mimetics - Growth hormone releasing factors - Growth hormone secretagogues: which are prohibited in both in and out of competition.²

This substance meets at least two of the following three criteria, as determined by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

• It has the potential to enhance or does enhance sports performance
• It poses an actual or potential health risk to the athlete
• It violates the spirit of sport (as defined in The Code).

The Prohibited List is updated yearly after consultation with scientific, medical, and anti-doping experts to ensure that it aligns with the latest medical and scientific evidence and doping trends.

What is it?

Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide, a substance composed of five amino acids derived from growth hormone releasing peptide 1 (GHRP-1).³ Ipamorelin simulates growth hormone release in humans. 

Uses

Ipamorelin was originally developed in Denmark.⁴

Ipamorelin was introduced into a phase II clinical trial for the treatment of intestinal pseudo-obstruction (POI) however the results showed no significant difference and therefore development was halted.⁵

Ipamorelin influences a number of anabolic processes such as appetite regulation, fat processing and overall energy usage.⁶

Ipamorelin has been associated with the ability to stimulate food intake, body weight gain and gastrointestinal motility.⁷ 

How does it work?

Ipamorelin is a selective agonist, that selectively binds to the GHSR-1a receptor, and this leads to the growth hormone release from the pituitary gland.⁸

This increase in growth hormone levels can have a negative effect on many biological processes.

GHSR-1a receptors are present in a number of regions outside the brain such as the gastrointestinal tract.

The function of Ipamorelin is to mimic ghrelin. Ghrelin is a peptide hormone known as the hunger hormone controlling homeostasis around meal time.

Adverse Health Effects and Risk

The ongoing use of peptides like Ipamorelin carries high risk for long-term detrimental health consequences.

Ipamorelin has been associated with increased faecal output and body weight gain as fat.

General side effects of ipamorelin that have been reported include headaches, nausea, rash, lower blood pressure. Long-term use can result in more serious health conditions such as insulin sensitivity or diabetes. 

What if an athlete has been prescribed Ipamorelin for a medical condition?

A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) would not be granted for the use of Ipamorelin.