Sermorelin and Ipamorelin are two popular peptide therapies that many people use to boost growth hormone levels, improve recovery, and enhance overall vitality. Both peptides act on the pituitary gland but differ in structure, potency, duration of action, side-effect profile, and ideal patient population. Choosing between them depends largely on your specific goals, tolerance for injections, budget, and how quickly you want to see results.
Ipamorelin vs Sermorelin: Which Peptide Therapy is Right?
Growth hormone release stimulants can be grouped into three main categories: growth hormone secretagogues, somatostatin antagonists, and growth hormone analogs. Ipamorelin belongs to the first group, while sermorelin falls under the second.
Ipamorelin
Structure: a pentapeptide with a highly selective mechanism that targets ghrelin receptors in the hypothalamus.
Duration of action: typically lasts 4–6 hours after injection, producing a pulse-like release of endogenous growth hormone.
Dosing schedule: most protocols recommend 2–3 injections per day at 8–10 am, noon and evening, to mimic natural circadian rhythms. The standard dose is 200–300 micrograms per injection but can be adjusted up to 500 micrograms depending on response.
Side-effects: mild nausea, headache, or a sense of fullness. Because it mimics ghrelin, some people experience increased appetite.
Ideal candidates: athletes looking for muscle recovery and fat loss, middle-aged adults with low growth hormone levels but wanting minimal hormonal side-effects, and patients who prefer to avoid frequent injections.
Sermorelin
Structure: a 24-amino acid peptide that is essentially the first 24 residues of natural growth hormone-releasing hormone. It binds to GHRH receptors in the pituitary.
Duration of action: typically lasts 6–8 hours, leading to sustained but lower peaks compared with Ipamorelin.
Dosing schedule: usually a single injection each morning at around 7 am, with doses ranging from 200 micrograms to 400 micrograms per day. Some protocols include an evening dose for those who need higher total output.
Side-effects: occasional flushing, mild dizziness, or headaches