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Comparison

MK-677 (Ibutamoren) vs Ipamorelin

MK-677 vs Ipamorelin: oral vs injectable GH-axis support, with side effect and tolerance trade-offs.

№ 011
MK-677 (Ibutamoren)
GH-axisEvidence: Moderate

MK-677 is the only oral GH-axis compound that actually works. It tricks your body into thinking it's hungry, which signals more GH release. Big appetite increase is the trade-off — great in a bulk, awful in a cut.

Onset
65
Documentation
75
Side intensity
100
Popularity
80
№ 006
Ipamorelin
GH-axisEvidence: Limited

Ipamorelin gently nudges your body to release more of its own growth hormone — without the side-effect baggage of injecting actual HGH. People run it for sleep, recovery, and slow body-comp shifts. Tiny doses, multiple times a day.

Onset
65
Documentation
75
Side intensity
64
Popularity
75
Side-by-side
Field
Left
Right
Category
GH-axis
GH-axis
Half-life
~24 hours
~2 hours
Route
Oral
Subcutaneous
Schedule
Once daily
1-3x daily
Cycle length
8-12 weeks on, 4 weeks off
8-12 weeks on, 4 weeks off
Dose
10-25 mg orally, once daily, taken before bed.
100-300 mcg sub-q, 1-3x daily. Pre-bed dose is the most important pulse.
FDA
Not FDA approved. Reached Phase 2 trials, never approved.
Not FDA approved.
WADA
Banned (S2)
Banned (S2)
Natty?
Not natty
Not natty
Prescribed
Not prescribed in conventional medicine. Sometimes offered by anti-aging clinics off-label.
Some anti-aging and longevity clinics prescribe via compounding pharmacies, off-label.
Top side effects
Aggressive appetite stimulation; Water retention / bloat; Numb/tingling hands (carpal-tunnel-like)
Head-rush at injection; Mild hunger pulse 30 min post-dose; Tingling in hands rarely

Which one should you pick?

Pick MK-677 (Ibutamoren) if users who want gh benefits but won't inject or people in a bulking / mass-gain phase.

Pick Ipamorelin if users wanting gh benefits without the bloat / sides of hgh or sleep / recovery focused stacks.

Note: these two are commonly stacked together rather than chosen between. See the entries for the canonical protocol.

Full entry
№ 011 MK-677 (Ibutamoren) →
Full entry
№ 006 Ipamorelin →