An oral compound that raises the body's own growth hormone and a related growth signal toward youthful levels and modestly increased lean mass in older adults. It has not been shown to improve strength, function, or lifespan, and brings higher blood sugar, fluid retention, strong appetite, a heart-failure safety flag, and an unapproved, often adulterated supply. (Full Review)

Protocol

Standard trial dose

25 mg orally once daily

Dose used in pivotal older-adult and hip-fracture trials

Best time of day

Morning dosing

Often shifted to morning to reduce night-time appetite and sleep disruption

Dosing frequency

Once-daily single dose

~24-hour half-life maintains elevated IGF-1; splitting unnecessary

Time to effect

IGF-1 rise

Within days

IGF-1 rises within days of starting

Lean mass change

6–12 months

Body-composition changes take months, measured over 6–12 months in trials

Benefits

Medium: Increased IGF-1 and growth hormone levels; increased lean body mass

Low: Increased appetite and reversal of catabolism; increased bone remodeling and bone mineral density; modest reduction in LDL cholesterol

Speculative: Improved sleep quality; neuroprotection and cognitive support; enhanced tissue repair and recovery

Contraindications

Active or prior cancer

Congestive heart failure (NYHA Class III–IV) or recent cardiac events

Uncontrolled hypertension

Poorly controlled diabetes

Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals

Children and adolescents outside a clinical trial

Key Interactions

Antidiabetic drugs (metformin, sulfonylureas such as glipizide, insulin)

Other growth-hormone secretagogues or growth hormone (sermorelin, tesamorelin, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, recombinant GH)

Corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone)

Drugs that prolong the QT interval / cardiac medications

OTC agents that raise blood sugar or cause fluid retention (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, decongestants like pseudoephedrine)

Supplements with additive effects (appetite stimulants, ghrelin-mimetic or IGF-1-raising supplements)

Risk & Side Effects

High: Decreased insulin sensitivity and increased blood glucose; fluid retention and edema; increased appetite

Medium: Cardiovascular risk and congestive heart failure signal; elevated cortisol and prolactin

Low: Liver injury (transaminitis); gynecomastia and hormonal disruption from adulterated products

Speculative: Theoretical cancer-promotion risk from sustained IGF-1 elevation; unknown long-term effects

Monitoring

Marker	Target	Why
Fasting glucose	75–86 mg/dL	Detects ibutamoren's glucose-raising effect early
HbA1c	< 5.4%	Tracks longer-term glycemic impact
Fasting insulin	2–5 µIU/mL	Captures loss of insulin sensitivity before glucose rises
IGF-1	Mid-normal for age/sex; avoid exceeding young-adult upper range	Confirms the intended effect without overshooting
ALT / AST	ALT < 25 U/L (men), < 20 U/L (women)	Screens for the rare liver injury reported in a case study
Blood pressure	< 120/80 mmHg	Tracks fluid-retention-related pressure rise tied to the cardiac signal
Lipid panel (including LDL cholesterol)	LDL context-dependent; track trend	Detects the modest LDL change and overall cardiometabolic shift

Cadence: Baseline before first dose, then ~4–6 weeks after starting, then every 3 months (blood pressure and weight more frequently if fluid retention appears)

Qualitative Assessment

Appetite intensity and whether it is disrupting eating patterns or sleep
Sleep quality and night-time waking
Presence of ankle or lower-limb swelling, puffiness, or rapid weight gain
Energy, recovery, and any joint or muscle aching
Mood and libido (relevant to possible prolactin elevation)

Ibutamoren for Health & Longevity

Protocol

Benefits

Risk & Side Effects

Monitoring

Qualitative Assessment