Comparison
GHK-Cu vs Ipamorelin
Side-by-side of GHK-Cu and Ipamorelin. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu peptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper) is a topical copper peptide. Trials show fine-line and wound-healing gains; injectable longevity claims rem.
Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin peptide benefits: selective ghrelin-receptor GHRP, 200 to 300 mcg dosage, GH pulse without cortisol or prolactin rise, CJC-1295 stack vs sermorelin.
Effects at a glance
GHK-Cu
- •Endogenous tripeptide that binds copper(II); plasma levels decline ~60% from age 20 to 60
- •Topical RCTs show improvement in skin firmness, fine lines, and barrier function over 12 weeks
- •Wound-healing models report accelerated re-epithelialization in diabetic and aged skin
- •Pickart gene-expression analyses show reset of >4000 genes toward a younger expression profile in cell culture
- •Anecdotal subcutaneous longevity protocols use 1 to 3 mg daily; no human longevity RCTs exist
- •Hair-growth claims rest on small open-label trials and topical scalp formulations
Ipamorelin
- •Pentapeptide GHS-R1a agonist with the cleanest selectivity profile in the GHRP class
- •Minimal cortisol and prolactin elevation at standard doses (substantially less than GHRP-2 or hexarelin)
- •~2 hour plasma half-life, longest of the synthetic GHRPs
- •Largest human safety database (~600 participants in Helsinn's postoperative ileus phase 2)
- •Standard pairing for CJC-1295 no-DAC at 200 to 300 mcg subcutaneously 2 to 3 times daily
- •Banned by WADA under S2; never reached registration despite phase 2b development
Side-by-side
| Attribute | GHK-Cu | Ipamorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | Copper Peptide, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper, GHK | NNC 26-0161, Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 2 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 2 | 0.2 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | 2-3x daily |
| Routes | topical, subcutaneous | subcutaneous, intravenous |
| Onset (hr) | 24 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | 168 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 340.85 | 711.86 |
| Molecular formula | C14H24N6O4 (GHK alone); C14H22CuN6O4 with Cu(II) | C38H49N9O5 |
| Mechanism | Tripeptide that chelates Cu(II) and delivers it to copper-dependent enzymes (lysyl oxidase, superoxide dismutase). Modulates expression of >4000 genes toward a younger profile in fibroblast culture, including upregulation of decorin and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. | Selective GHS-R1a agonist that stimulates pulsatile GH release with minimal cortisol or prolactin co-activation. Suppresses hypothalamic somatostatin and stimulates pituitary somatotrophs. |
| Legal status | Topical cosmetics legal in most jurisdictions; injectable form not FDA approved for any indication; research-use-only grey market | Not FDA approved; advanced through phase 2b in postoperative ileus before discontinuation; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | allowed | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Topical OTC (cosmetic); injectable not FDA approved; research-chemical status | Not scheduled (research chemical) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; topical use likely low-risk; injectable not recommended | Insufficient data; not recommended |
| CAS | 49557-75-7 | 170851-70-4 |
| PubChem CID | 73587 | 11338566 |
| Wikidata | Q3104638 | Q1666741 |
Safety profile
GHK-Cu
Common side effects
- mild erythema at topical site
- transient itch
- blue-green discoloration of injection site (copper)
- rare contact dermatitis
Contraindications
- copper allergy
- Wilson disease
- open wound near injection site (caution)
- pregnancy (no data)
Interactions
- topical retinoids: additive irritation; alternate days or apply at different times(minor)
- topical vitamin C (ascorbic acid): ascorbate reduces Cu(II) to Cu(I), which can destabilize the GHK-Cu complex; separate by 30 minutes(minor)
Ipamorelin
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- vivid dreams
- transient mild head pressure
- occasional headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- history of pituitary tumor
- uncontrolled diabetes
Interactions
- CJC-1295: synergistic GH release via parallel GHRH and ghrelin pathways; standard pairing(minor)
- sermorelin: additive GH release; functionally similar pairing to CJC-1295 with shorter GHRH half-life(minor)
- insulin: sustained GH can blunt insulin sensitivity over weeks(moderate)
- corticosteroids: blunt GH response; reduce expected efficacy(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
GHK-Cu comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 4 catalogued goals, research-only / gray-market sourcing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. Ipamorelin is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is skin health, pick GHK-Cu.
- → If your priority is wound healing, pick GHK-Cu.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick Ipamorelin.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick Ipamorelin.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (GHK-Cu ~0.5 hr vs Ipamorelin ~2 hr). Ipamorelin reaches steady state faster; GHK-Cu is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: GHK-Cu. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Ipamorelin only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between GHK-Cu and Ipamorelin?
GHK-Cu and Ipamorelin differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, GHK-Cu or Ipamorelin?
GHK-Cu half-life is 0.5 hours; Ipamorelin half-life is 2 hours.
Can you stack GHK-Cu with Ipamorelin?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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