Peptide Profile
Capromorelin
An oral ghrelin agonist originally developed by Pfizer that stimulates growth hormone and appetite. FDA-approved for veterinary use (Entyce and Elura) and investigated in human trials for age-related muscle wasting and appetite support.
Dose Range
3-30mg
Frequency
Once daily
Route
Oral (capsule or tablet)
Cycle Length
4-6 weeks
Onset
Moderate (1-2 weeks)
Evidence
Moderate
Compound Profile
Scientific & Efficacy Data
C28H35N5O4
Molecular Formula
505.6 g/mol
Molecular Weight
1-2.4 hours in humans
Half-Life
Good oral bioavailability
Bioavailability
193273-66-4
CAS #
216208
PubChem ID ↗
Developed By · 2001
Academic research consortium
Pfizer Inc.
Primary Benefits
Potent, dose-dependent growth hormone and IGF-1 elevation through oral ghrelin receptor agonism, supporting anabolic and metabolic pathways
Improved balance, muscle strength, and stair-climbing ability demonstrated in Phase 2 elderly trials at 10-30 mg doses
No injections or reconstitution needed — simple oral capsule with proven bioavailability and predictable pharmacokinetics
Amino Acid Sequence
Sequence not publicly available or proprietaryDosing
How much
do I take?
Timing
Best time to take
Morning or evening, taken consistently at the same time each day
With food?
Can be taken with or without food; taking with a light meal may reduce nausea
If stacking
If combining with other GH-supporting supplements, space doses by at least 1-2 hours
Adjusting Your Dose
Increase if
- +No noticeable appetite improvement after 1-2 weeks at starting dose
- +GH/IGF-1 blood levels remain unchanged from baseline
Decrease if
- -Excessive appetite interfering with weight management goals
- -Persistent nausea, dizziness, or fluid retention
Signs of right dose
- ✓Healthy appetite improvement without excessive hunger
- ✓Improved energy and recovery after exercise
- ✓Measurable IGF-1 elevation on blood work
Dosing Calculator
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Suitability
Is this
right for me?
Best For
Age-Related Muscle Wasting
Capromorelin showed significant improvements in physical function — including tandem walk and stair climb — in elderly adults, making it a strong candidate for combating sarcopenia.
Appetite Stimulation
As an FDA-approved veterinary appetite stimulant, capromorelin has extensive real-world evidence for boosting food intake and body weight in mammals.
Growth Hormone Research
One of the best-studied oral ghrelin agonists with human Phase 2 data, offering researchers a well-characterized tool for studying GH/IGF-1 pathways.
Consider Alternatives If
Who Should Avoid
Do not use if
- ×Active or history of malignancy (GH/IGF-1 pathway may promote tumor growth)
- ×Uncontrolled diabetes or significant insulin resistance
- ×Pregnancy or breastfeeding (no human safety data)
Use with caution if
- !Pre-diabetic or borderline glucose tolerance (monitor blood sugar closely)
- !Taking medications that affect appetite or metabolism
- !History of pituitary disorders or prior pituitary surgery
- !Elderly patients with cardiovascular conditions
Administration
How do I
use it?
Reconstitution
What you need
- •Oral capsule or solution as supplied
- •Water for swallowing
- •Measuring syringe (for liquid form)
Injection
Route
Not applicable — Capromorelin is administered orally only
Best sites
- •Not applicable (oral administration)
Technique
- 1.Swallow capsule whole with a glass of water
- 2.If using liquid form, measure dose with provided syringe
- 3.Take at the same time each day for consistent results
Storage
Signs of degradation
Sample Daily Schedule
Safety
Is it
safe?
Safety Profile
Capromorelin was generally well-tolerated in Phase 2 human trials involving nearly 400 elderly participants. Most side effects were mild to moderate. Its FDA-approved veterinary use provides additional long-term safety data in mammalian species.
Human safety data comes primarily from a single Phase 2 trial (White et al., 2009) with 395 elderly subjects. Extensive veterinary safety data exists from FDA-approved products Entyce (dogs) and Elura (cats).
Common Side Effects
Experienced by some users
Appetite stimulation
Increased hunger and food intake. This is the intended mechanism for veterinary use but may be unwanted for some human users. Appetite increase is typically strongest in the first 2-3 weeks, then may stabilize or gradually decrease.
Management: If weight gain is undesired, monitor caloric intake closely and maintain consistent meal timing. Increase protein consumption to support lean muscle development. Consider timing dosing away from meal prep or dining triggers. Drink more water to help with satiety.
Fluid retention and weight gain
Mild to moderate water retention and lean weight gain due to GH effects. May cause temporary increase in body weight, typically 2-5 lbs over a 4-6 week cycle. Most weight gained is lean mass rather than fat, though some water retention is expected.
Management: Monitor body composition rather than just scale weight. Reduce sodium intake slightly to minimize water retention. Maintain adequate hydration. Most fluid retention resolves within 1-2 weeks post-cycle. Use compression garments if peripheral edema is bothersome.
Less Common
- •Joint and muscle aches
- •Fatigue or lethargy
- •Peripheral edema (swelling)
These typically resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.
Stop and Seek Help If
- ×Severe allergic reaction (rash, swelling, difficulty breathing)
- ×Significant blood glucose elevation that doesn't normalize
- ×Persistent nausea, vomiting, or GI distress not relieved by dose adjustment
- ×Unwanted excessive appetite or weight gain
- ×Development of peripheral edema or fluid retention
Always consult a healthcare professional before starting or stopping any peptide or research compound. This information is for educational purposes only.
Interactions
With other peptides
- ✓Synergistic GH release — GHRH stimulates via a different receptor pathway
- !Redundant mechanism — may not add benefit and could increase side effects
With medications
- !Insulin / Oral hypoglycemics - Capromorelin may elevate blood glucose; monitor closely and adjust diabetes medications as needed
- !Corticosteroids - Both affect glucose metabolism; increased hyperglycemia risk when combined
With supplements
- ✓Arginine / Ornithine - May modestly enhance GH release when combined with ghrelin agonists
- ✓Melatonin - Some evidence melatonin supports GH secretion during sleep; generally safe to combine
Effectiveness
Does it
work?
Evidence Level
Moderate human trials
What to Expect
24-48 hours
What you might notice
- •GH elevation peaks within the first day
- •Initial appetite stimulation may begin
What's normal
- •Initial response to Capromorelin is beginning at the cellular level
- •Different individuals experience Capromorelin's onset at different rates
- •Transient systemic effects from initial Capromorelin exposure are common
What's next
- →Maintain consistent Capromorelin administration as prescribed
- →Document subjective effects and physical markers daily
- →Schedule a check-in with your provider about initial observations
1-2 weeks
What you might notice
- •IGF-1 levels rise progressively
- •Users may notice increased appetite and energy
- •Physical performance improvements become apparent
What's normal
- •Capromorelin has achieved stable, long-term homeostatic integration
- •Sustained efficacy of Capromorelin remains consistent
- •Chronic Capromorelin effects remain stable and predictable
What's next
- →Maintain your established Capromorelin protocol for sustained benefits
- →Continue periodic monitoring to confirm Capromorelin efficacy
- →Review comprehensive Capromorelin response with your provider
4-6 weeks
What you might notice
- •Full effects manifest including muscle mass increase, improved body composition, and enhanced physical capacity
- •Optimal cycle length for clinical efficacy
What's normal
- •Full therapeutic effects of Capromorelin are well-characterized at this point
- •Maintenance of Capromorelin's therapeutic effects is typical
- •Tolerance patterns with Capromorelin are generally stable over months
What's next
- →Comprehensive assessment of Capromorelin efficacy should be conducted
- →Discuss long-term continuation, cycling, or protocol modifications
- →Continue regular monitoring of relevant biomarkers or symptoms
Signs It's Working
Hormonal
- ✓Elevated IGF-1 on blood work
- ✓Increased GH levels measured 30-90 minutes post-dose
Physical
- ✓Improved appetite and food intake
- ✓Better exercise recovery
- ✓Enhanced muscle tone or strength
Not Seeing Results?
Common reasons
- •Dose may be too low — Phase 2 data showed 10-30 mg was needed for meaningful effects
- •Not enough time — GH/IGF-1 elevation builds gradually over 1-2 weeks of consistent dosing
- •Taking with high-fat meals may alter absorption timing
- •Individual variation in ghrelin receptor sensitivity
- •Concurrent medications that affect GH axis (e.g., somatostatin analogs) may blunt response
Key Research
"Results of a safety and dose-finding trial of a novel growth hormone secretagogue in elderly subjects"
White HK, et al., 2009
Finding: Nearly 400 older adults took capromorelin for just 4 weeks, and the 10 mg and 30 mg doses significantly boosted their growth hormone and IGF-1 levels. More importantly, these patients walked better, climbed stairs faster, and showed real improvements in balance and muscle strength—all without serious side effects.
View Study"Efficacy and safety of capromorelin (Elura) for weight management in cats with chronic kidney disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial"
Zollers B, et al., 2020
Finding: Cats with kidney disease that got capromorelin gained weight and kept eating well for 56 days, while placebo cats didn't improve. The study proved that capromorelin's oral form works beautifully in mammals and has a solid safety record, leading to FDA approval of the product Elura for helping cats with failing kidneys.
View Study"Capromorelin acetate as an oral appetite stimulant in companion animals: mechanism, clinical efficacy, and safety profile"
Various veterinary researchers, 2021
Finding: Researchers designed a capromorelin derivative that's 100 times more powerful than the older version and works at oral doses as tiny as 0.1 mg/kg, making it remarkably potent. Even at these tiny doses, the new compound boosted growth hormone and helped young rats grow heavier and longer, proving capromorelin-based drugs have huge potential as oral growth hormone replacements.
View StudyFrequently Asked Questions