GHRP-2 vs Ipamorelin
Two ghrelin-receptor secretagogues separated by selectivity. GHRP-2 pulls cortisol, prolactin and appetite along with the GH pulse; ipamorelin was engineered to leave those alone.
GHRP-2
Pralmorelin
Genuinely raises GH (and is an approved diagnostic in Japan), but the same dose lifts cortisol, prolactin and appetite, and desensitizes — no anti-aging outcomes.
Full GHRP-2 evidence reviewIpamorelin
Raises GH, but failed its one rigorous human efficacy RCT; no body-composition outcome data.
Full Ipamorelin evidence reviewSide by side
| GHRP-2 | Ipamorelin | |
|---|---|---|
| Marketed for | Muscle, 'anti-aging' | Muscle, fat loss, 'anti-aging' |
| Evidence grade | Clinical data | Clinical data |
| Family | GH axis | GH axis |
| Regulatory status | Not FDA-approved | Not FDA-approved |
| How it's obtained | Research-only | Research-only |
| Key human source | Bowers, Endocrine 2001 | Beck RCT, 2014 |
marks a row where the two differ. Evidence grades come from our evidence matrix, which grades each molecule on the human data for the use it is marketed for.
Our verdict
GHRP-2 has the deeper human pharmacology; it reliably raises GH and is an approved GH-stimulation diagnostic in Japan. But the same dose raises ACTH, cortisol and prolactin, increases food intake, and in healthy young men five days of daily dosing attenuated the GH response without raising IGF-1. Ipamorelin is the selective alternative on paper, with little effect on cortisol or prolactin, but its one rigorous human efficacy trial, for recovery of bowel function after surgery, failed its primary endpoint and the program did not advance. Neither is approved for body composition or anti-aging; both are sold research-only, and they have not been compared head to head.
GHRP-2 fits if
GHRP-2 is the better-characterized molecule for anyone whose interest is GH secretion itself, since it has a validated stimulation-test literature behind it.
Ipamorelin fits if
Ipamorelin is the one to read about if selectivity is the question, since it is the agent designed to raise GH with minimal cortisol, prolactin or appetite spillover.
Where to get it
Where to get peptide therapy
Clinician-led telehealth services that prescribe compounded peptides. The specific peptides offered vary by provider — confirm GHRP-2 availability before ordering.
