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Ipamorelin vs MK-677 (Ibutamoren)

Side-by-side comparison of Ipamorelin and MK-677 (Ibutamoren): mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.

Ipamorelin from $24.99

MK-677 (Ibutamoren) from $74.99

Price snapshot

Ipamorelin

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$24.99

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MK-677 (Ibutamoren)

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$74.99

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Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin is a selective pentapeptide ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist — one of the most studied growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) in the biohacking community and the modern companion to CJC-1295 / MOD-GRF 1-29. Its…

Lowest listed price: $24.99 across 5 listings

Full Ipamorelin profile

MK-677 (Ibutamoren)

MK-677 (also called Ibutamoren or Nutrobal) is an orally-active, non-peptide ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist developed by Merck Research Laboratories in the 1990s. Unlike Ipamorelin, GHRP-2, or hexarelin — all of…

Lowest listed price: $74.99 across 2 listings

Full MK-677 (Ibutamoren) profile

Side-by-side comparison

Attribute	Ipamorelin	MK-677 (Ibutamoren)
Category	Growth Hormone / IGF-1 Axis	Growth Hormone / IGF-1 Axis
Research Stage	Phase 2	Phase II
Mechanism of Action	Ipamorelin acts as a selective agonist at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a), the same receptor activated by endogenous ghrelin - the "hunger hormone" secreted primarily by P/D1 cells in the gastric fundus. The distinguishing feature of…	MK-677 is a small-molecule full agonist at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a) - the same receptor activated by endogenous ghrelin and the peptide GHS compounds (Ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin). What distinguishes MK-677 is its…
Half-Life	~2 hours (plasma)	~24 hours (oral)
Typical Dose Range	100-300 mcg subcutaneous 1-3x daily (most commonly 200-300 mcg pre-bedtime); often combined with CJC-1295 without DAC at 100-300 mcg	10,000–25,000 mcg (10–25 mg) oral daily
Dosing Frequency	1–3 times daily; most commonly once at bedtime	Once daily, typically at bedtime
Administration	subcutaneous, intravenous (clinical only)	oral
Side Effects	Ipamorelin has the cleanest side-effect profile of any ghrelin-receptor agonist, which is why it dominates modern biohacking protocols. The profile is driven by (a) selective GHS-R1a agonism without cross-receptor activity, and (b) acute GH elevation (the same…	MK-677 has the most pronounced side-effect profile of any GHS compound - specifically because its 24-hour half-life produces sustained rather than pulsatile receptor engagement. Users should expect all of the side effects listed below at some frequency. Common…
Molecular Weight	711.9 Da	528.7 Da
Common Vial Sizes	2mg, 5mg	25mg capsules, 30mL liquid

Price History

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Half Nattys
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Price History

2 data points

Half Nattys
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Ipamorelin: potential benefits

Increased GH pulse amplitude (selective somatotroph activation)
Elevated IGF-1 (~30-80% over baseline) with consistent dosing
Improved slow-wave sleep architecture
No cortisol / prolactin / ACTH elevation (unique among GHS peptides)
Accelerated connective tissue and wound repair
Modest lean body mass gain + fat loss in hypogonadal adults
Enhanced recovery between training sessions
Synergistic effect with CJC-1295 / MOD-GRF 1-29

MK-677 (Ibutamoren): potential benefits

Increased IGF-1 (~80-100% over baseline at steady state)
Improved slow-wave sleep architecture
Lean body mass increase (demonstrated in 2-year older adult trial)
Improved connective tissue / wound / bone repair
Once-daily oral convenience (no injections)
Appetite stimulation (benefit for underweight or hard-gainer populations)
Enhanced recovery between training sessions
Potential bone mineral density improvement

In-depth comparison

Ipamorelin vs MK-677 (Ibutamoren): the long answer

Ipamorelin is a peptide ghrelin-receptor agonist (GH secretagogue): injectable, short half-life, pulsatile GH release matching the body's natural rhythm. MK-677 (ibutamoren) is an oral non-peptide ghrelin mimetic with 24-hour half-life, producing sustained 24/7 elevation in GH and IGF-1. Ipamorelin wins on physiological signal pattern and side-effect profile; MK-677 wins on convenience and total IGF-1 lift.

Last reviewed: May 17, 2026

Mechanism: pulsatile vs continuous

Both hit the ghrelin/GH-secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) and trigger pituitary GH release without affecting cortisol or prolactin (which sets both apart from older GHRPs like GHRP-2 and GHRP-6). Ipamorelin's short half-life (~2 hours) means GH spikes return to baseline between doses, mimicking the natural pulsatile GH pattern. MK-677's 24-hour half-life produces continuous receptor activation: GH and IGF-1 stay elevated around the clock, no pulses.

Ipamorelin: Peptide. Half-life ~2 hours. Injectable. Pulsatile GH release.
MK-677 (ibutamoren): Non-peptide small molecule. Half-life ~24 hours. Oral. Continuous GH/IGF-1 elevation.
Why pulsatile matters: Natural GH secretion is pulsatile. Continuous elevation (MK-677) may downregulate receptor sensitivity over months and is implicated in the appetite + fluid retention side effects.

What they do: measurable outputs

Both raise serum GH transiently and IGF-1 chronically. Published research shows MK-677 at 25 mg/day raises IGF-1 by ~60-80% from baseline within 2 weeks, sustained over 12+ months in trials. Ipamorelin at 200-300 mcg 2-3x/day raises IGF-1 by ~30-50% over similar timeframes: a smaller lift, but a cleaner physiological signal. Both improve sleep quality, body composition (modest lean mass + fat loss in trials), and recovery metrics. MK-677 produces noticeably more sleep depth in week 1-2 due to the GH-on-during-sleep effect.

MK-677 IGF-1 lift: ~60-80% above baseline at 25 mg/day, sustained 12+ months in trials
Ipamorelin IGF-1 lift: ~30-50% above baseline at 300 mcg 3x/day, similar trial duration
Sleep effect: Both improve sleep architecture; MK-677 more noticeably in week 1-2 due to overnight GH elevation

Dosing: once-daily oral vs daily injections

MK-677 protocol: 12.5-25 mg/day oral, single dose before bed (to align with natural sleep GH pulse). Sustained for 12-week cycles or year-long depending on goals. Ipamorelin protocol: 200-300 mcg subQ 2-3x/day for serious users, or 200-300 mcg once before bed for casual users. Cycle 12 weeks on, 4 weeks off to prevent receptor desensitization. Both are typically combined with a GHRH analog (CJC-1295) for the synergistic GH pulse.

MK-677 dose: 12.5-25 mg/day oral, single dose before bed. No cycling required in trial data.
Ipamorelin dose: 200-300 mcg subQ 2-3x/day (or 1x at bedtime for minimal protocol). 12-week cycles with 4-week breaks.
Common stacks: Both pair with CJC-1295 (no DAC) for GHRH + ghrelin-receptor synergy. Stack drives larger total GH pulse.

Safety: different side effect profiles

Ipamorelin's clean profile (no cortisol/prolactin elevation, no appetite spike) makes it the better-tolerated option for most users; common complaints are limited to injection-site irritation and occasional flushing. MK-677's continuous receptor activation produces more side effects: increased appetite (sometimes substantial; users gain 5-15 lbs without diet control), water retention (1-3 kg over 4-6 weeks), elevated fasting glucose and HbA1c (especially relevant for pre-diabetic users), and occasional carpal tunnel symptoms from fluid retention. Neither has been associated with cancer risk in trial data despite extensive long-term use (Merck ran MK-677 in older adults for years).

Ipamorelin side effects: Injection-site irritation, occasional flushing. Clean profile: no cortisol/prolactin/appetite issues.
MK-677 side effects: Increased appetite, 1-3 kg water retention, elevated fasting glucose (monitor HbA1c), occasional carpal tunnel symptoms
Glucose risk on MK-677: Particularly relevant for users with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Get baseline + 12-week HbA1c if running MK-677 long-term.

Cost: MK-677 is cheaper

Research-use MK-677 runs ~$0.50-1.20 per 10 mg dose via tracked vendors. At 25 mg/day, that's ~$30-70/month: cheap. Research-use ipamorelin runs ~$0.20-0.50/mg. At 300 mcg 3x/day (900 mcg/day = 0.9 mg), that's ~$5-15/month for the peptide itself but you need injection supplies. MK-677 oral convenience is a real advantage: no syringes, no reconstitution, no fridge storage.

MK-677 cost: $0.50-1.20 per 10 mg → ~$30-70/month at 25 mg/day
Ipamorelin cost: $0.20-0.50/mg → ~$5-15/month at 900 mcg/day total (plus supplies)
Vendor prices: Both track on /compound/ipamorelin and /compound/mk-677

Who chooses which

Pick ipamorelin if you want physiological signal pattern, clean side-effect profile, and you don't mind subQ injections 1-3x/day. Pick MK-677 if you want maximum convenience (oral once daily), the strongest IGF-1 lift, and you can monitor your glucose to catch the fasting-glucose drift. Bulking-phase users often choose MK-677 for the appetite boost; cutting-phase users prefer ipamorelin to avoid the water retention. Older users (50+) targeting longevity markers tend to choose MK-677 for the larger sustained IGF-1 lift.

Choose ipamorelin if: Cutting phase, glucose-sensitive, want physiological pulsatile signal, comfortable with injections
Choose MK-677 if: Bulking phase, oral convenience priority, want max IGF-1 lift, willing to monitor HbA1c

Frequently asked

What's the difference between Ipamorelin and MK-677 (Ibutamoren)?

Ipamorelin is a growth hormone / igf-1 axis that ipamorelin acts as a selective agonist at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (ghs-r1a), the same receptor activated by endogenous ghrelin - the "hunger hormone" secreted…. MK-677 (Ibutamoren) is a growth hormone / igf-1 axis that mk-677 is a small-molecule full agonist at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (ghs-r1a) - the same receptor activated by endogenous ghrelin and the peptide ghs compounds…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (~2 hours (plasma) vs ~24 hours (oral)), and typical dose range.

Which has the longer half-life, Ipamorelin or MK-677 (Ibutamoren)?

Ipamorelin has a half-life of ~2 hours (plasma). MK-677 (Ibutamoren) has a half-life of ~24 hours (oral). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.

Which is cheaper, Ipamorelin or MK-677 (Ibutamoren)?

Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: Ipamorelin from $24.99, MK-677 (Ibutamoren) from $74.99. Prices are pulled from the vendor listings tracked on BHG and change frequently. See the compare tables on each compound page for the current set of offers.

Can you stack Ipamorelin and MK-677 (Ibutamoren)?

Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Ipamorelin and MK-677 (Ibutamoren) should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.

Which raises GH more, ipamorelin or MK-677?

MK-677 raises sustained GH and IGF-1 more. At 25 mg/day, MK-677 lifts IGF-1 by ~60-80% from baseline; ipamorelin at typical doses lifts it ~30-50%. But MK-677's elevation is continuous (24/7), while ipamorelin produces sharp pulses. Total integrated IGF-1 area-under-curve favors MK-677; pulsatile physiological pattern favors ipamorelin.

Can you cycle MK-677 with ipamorelin?

Some users alternate: MK-677 for 12 weeks → 4 week break → ipamorelin for 12 weeks → 4 week break → repeat. The rationale is rotating receptor stimulation patterns to prevent desensitization. No published comparative data on whether this beats running either alone, but it's common in the longevity-focused community.

Does MK-677 cause diabetes?

MK-677 elevates fasting glucose and HbA1c modestly in trials (typical lift: 0.1-0.3 HbA1c points at 25 mg/day over 12 weeks). It does not cause type 1 diabetes. In users with pre-existing pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome, the glucose drift can push them across diagnostic thresholds. Monitor HbA1c at baseline and 12 weeks if you're at risk.

Why is ipamorelin injected and MK-677 oral?

Ipamorelin is a peptide: peptides get destroyed in gastric acid, so oral doesn't work. MK-677 is a small-molecule non-peptide ghrelin mimetic specifically designed to survive the digestive tract. That's why MK-677 was developed in the first place: same receptor target as the GHRPs, but pill-form viable.

Can you stack ipamorelin and MK-677?

Technically possible: they hit the same receptor but ipamorelin's pulsatile pattern adds to MK-677's sustained baseline. Practically not recommended: you'd compound the side effects (appetite, water retention, glucose lift) without much additional IGF-1 lift since the receptor is already heavily activated by MK-677. Most users pick one. If you want stacking, ipamorelin + CJC-1295 (GHRH) is the canonical combo.

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Ipamorelin prices MK-677 (Ibutamoren) prices Compare all compounds

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Related comparisons

CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin Sermorelin vs Ipamorelin MK-677 vs CJC-1295 Hexarelin vs Ipamorelin IGF-1-LR3 vs Ipamorelin GHRP-2 vs Ipamorelin Tesamorelin vs CJC-1295 GHRP-2 vs GHRP-6

Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. We earn an affiliate commission on some outbound clicks, and every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.