MK-677 / ibutamoren
What it’s used for
MK-677 (ibutamoren) is an oral, non-peptide compound that activates the ghrelin receptor to raise growth hormone and IGF-1. People take it for body composition, sleep and recovery. It has been tested in human trials, including a 65-person study in older adults, but higher hormone levels haven't been shown to improve function or lifespan.
- Higher GH & IGF-1 Small human studies Raised growth hormone and IGF-1 in human trials, including older adults taking 25 mg daily.
- Lean mass Small human studies Human studies found lean-mass and nitrogen-balance changes; better strength hasn't been shown.
- Bone markers Small human studies Bone-turnover markers changed in human studies; it hasn't been shown to prevent fractures.
- Sleep Community reports Taken at night for sleep; sleep effects are still being researched.
- Recovery & energy Community reports Used for energy and recovery; the bigger appetite can work against weight-loss goals.
What to expect
- Weeks 1–4
Changes in sleep and appetite
- Weeks 4–12
Body-composition changes reported; results vary
Side effects & safety
Side effects
- Higher fasting blood sugar, seen in a short trial in older adults
- Lower insulin sensitivity
- Water retention and swelling
- Increased appetite
- Sluggishness or low energy
Stop and get help if
- Shortness of breath or chest pain
- Marked swelling
- Signs of high blood sugar
- Abnormal liver test results
- Severe fatigue
Which symptoms mean call 911 or see a doctor
What regulators say
- No FDA-approved product; it remains investigational.
Why most peptides aren’t FDA-approved What’s really in “research use only” vials
Avoid or check first if
- Heart disease or heart failure — needs careful medical review
- Diabetes — it can raise blood sugar
- Cancer — needs careful medical review
- Using insulin — blood sugar may become harder to control
- Trying to lose weight — the appetite boost can work against it
In sport
Banned at all times. Named in S2.2.4 as a growth hormone secretagogue, an example on the list since 2024.
Which peptides are banned in sport
How much people take
For every goal: Oral
- Body composition & anti-aging Once daily · bedtime, empty stomach) or Oral (clinical study standard 25 mg
- Sleep quality improvement Once nightly · 30 min before bed 25 mg
- Conservative start Once daily · assess tolerance first 12.5 mg
Similar doses appear in 5 other sources
How to store it
How many units do I draw?
Room temp Cool, dry place; follow the product's instructions
Ready to use
The oral form doesn’t need mixing.
Combining it with others
AI assessment Based on how each compound works, not on studies of the combination. How we assess
Don’t combine 4
- Ipamorelin Both act on the ghrelin receptor. Taking them together adds hunger, water retention and side effects, not results.
- GHRP-6 Both act on the ghrelin receptor. Taking them together adds hunger, water retention and side effects, not results.
- Hexarelin Both act on the ghrelin receptor. Taking them together adds hunger, water retention and side effects, not results.
- CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin This protocol already combines a GHRH analog with ipamorelin; adding it doubles one of them.
Use caution 13
- Diabetes medicines MK-677 raises blood sugar, working against them.
- CJC-1295 (no DAC) Different receptors, so growth-hormone effects add up. Watch for water retention and higher blood sugar.
- CJC-1295 with DAC Different receptors, so growth-hormone effects add up. Watch for water retention and higher blood sugar.
- Sermorelin Different receptors, so growth-hormone effects add up. Watch for water retention and higher blood sugar.
- Tesamorelin Different receptors, so growth-hormone effects add up. Watch for water retention and higher blood sugar.
- HGH With real growth hormone this adds little and raises water retention and blood sugar.
- IGF-1 LR3 Both raise IGF-1 activity. Low blood sugar and side effects add up.
- Semaglutide MK-677 raises hunger and blood sugar, working against the GLP-1 drug.
- Tirzepatide MK-677 raises hunger and blood sugar, working against the GLP-1 drug.
- Retatrutide MK-677 raises hunger and blood sugar, working against the GLP-1 drug.
- Survodutide MK-677 raises hunger and blood sugar, working against the GLP-1 drug.
- Mazdutide MK-677 raises hunger and blood sugar, working against the GLP-1 drug.
- Orforglipron MK-677 raises hunger and blood sugar, working against the GLP-1 drug.
Can be combined 7
What the research says
Few human studies
- Higher GH and IGF-1 don't by themselves show better function, strength or longer life.
- Purity and contents of research-market products can't be confirmed.
- One source uses fasting glucose over 100 mg/dL as a stop point; that isn't a universal threshold.
- Interactions with other medicines and compounds haven't been studied.
What studies found
- Body-composition research is not longevity proof The 65-participant study tested oral MK-677 in older adults. Changes in GH, IGF-1 or body mass cannot establish longer life or healthy performance benefits.
- Biomarker response did not improve Alzheimer outcomes MK-677 increased IGF-1 but did not slow Alzheimer disease progression in a randomized trial.
Half-life and molecule details haven’t been verified for this compound.
Sources
Sources 20
How this page was made
How it may work: Sustained GHS-R1a activation affects GH secretion, appetite and glucose physiology.
Other names: MK-677
Preparation in studies: No universal bacteriostatic-water volume or validated preparation method is established for this entry.
Source's glucose>100 mg/dL stop threshold is not a universal emergency threshold. Interaction categories do not establish safety.
Research last checked: Oct 12, 2026 (a targeted search, not a full review).
Community doses, how long people take it, timing and storage are compiled with AI from public peptide guides, clinics and forums, cross-checked against other sources where we could, and rewritten in plain language. “Combining it with others” is an AI assessment of how the compounds work. Study notes are written from each paper’s abstract where one exists. How we source
Original source guide