MK-677 (ibutamoren)
An oral ghrelin mimetic taken once a day that raises GH and IGF-1 around the clock.
Investigational oral drug (not a peptide); not approved.
Used for
- GH and IGF-1 raise without injections
- Sleep depth, appetite, lean mass
How it works
Activates the ghrelin receptor for about a day per dose, so GH pulses get bigger and IGF-1 rises to young-adult levels.
What the research shows
- In a trial in healthy older adults, 25 mg daily for 12 months raised GH and IGF-1 and added about 1.1 kg of fat-free mass (vs a 0.5 kg loss on placebo).
- Fasting glucose rose and insulin sensitivity fell; strength and function did not change measurably (the trial was too small to tell).
Dosing
Dosing isn’t listed on the public site. In the app, each published option is shown with its source (a drug label, a clinical guideline, a trial or community reports) and can be turned into a protocol you review.
Work out the units to draw for your vial →Side effects
- Strong hunger
- Water retention, puffy hands, numbness
- Higher fasting glucose and insulin
- Lethargy
Cautions
- Raises GH and IGF-1. Avoid with active cancer or a history of it; can raise blood sugar. Check IGF-1 and fasting glucose on bloodwork.
- Watch fasting glucose and HbA1c; avoid with diabetes or heart failure.
- Prohibited in tested sports (WADA).
Storage
Unmixed powder: freezer or fridge, away from light.
Once mixed with bacteriostatic water: fridge; the common rule is to use it within 28 days.
There is no label or published stability data for this one, so treat these as habits, not limits.
More in Growth hormone
Reference only, not medical advice. Written for this app from the cited research. Doses marked community-reported are not from trials.