Deroga
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What is Ibutamoren? (aka M-677, although Ibutamoren is the clinical name)
MK-677 is a growth hormone secretagogue. It works by mimicking the hunger hormone ghrelin, activating ghrelin (GHS-R1a) receptors in the brain and pituitary to boost pulsatile GH and IGF-1 release, which then feeds back on sleep-regulating centers/REM sleep.
As mentioned before, MK-677 is a selective, orally active agonist at the GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a), the same receptor activated by endogenous ghrelin in the hypothalamus and pituitary. GHS-R1a activation leads to an increase in hypothalamic GHRH signaling and a reduction in somatostatin tone. Together, this stimulates somatotrophs in the pituitary to secrete GH in pulses. The liver and peripheral tissues respond to these repeated GH pulses with higher IGF-1 production.
Does this shit even work?
Short answer. Yes, and it is honestly underrated asf + a good way for new greycels to get into pharma without needing to inject shit into their bodies (which most will do incorrectly).
In calorie-restricted healthy adults, a single oral dose of MK-677 produced a peak GH concentration of 55.9 ± 31.7 micrograms/L on day 1 and 22.6 ± 9.3 micrograms/L after one week of daily dosing, still well above placebo. In that same study, mean IGF-1 fell with calorie restriction but then rose during MK-677 treatment to 264 ± 31 ng/mL versus 188 ± 19 ng/mL with placebo (P < 0.01), effectively reversing diet-induced IGF-1 decline and overshooting baseline.
In another JCEM study, MK-677 treatment in adults led to a 36% average increase in serum IGF-1 compared with placebo, along with a positive nitrogen balance.
I wouldn’t recommend being a pussy and taking 12.5mg, as it probably won’t have much effect. Take 25 mg/day, as this is what most clinical studies use and what is most reviewed in terms of the effects it produces.
You should do this 1–2 hours before bed, as we want to match and maximize your body’s natural nighttime GH and sleep rhythms. This also limits side effects such as daytime lethargy and hunger.
As we know, MK mimics ghrelin, which triggers a large GH pulse and a sustained IGF-1 rise. These hormones are naturally highest at night, especially during the first few sleep cycles, so a nighttime dose makes sense. Data also show that MK is absorbed rapidly when taken orally (reaching peak blood levels in 1–2 hours), so taking MK 1–2 hours before sleep is ideal.
As an added benefit, taking it in the evening before sleep aligns the GH-boosting window with your strongest natural GH pulses instead of shifting them into the middle of the daytime, when they can cause lethargy and unusual or excessive hunger.
Sleep studies that observed improvements in slow-wave and REM sleep used bedtime/evening dosing (e.g., 25 mg nightly for 7–14 days) and reported approximately 50% more deep stage IV sleep and over 20% more REM in young adults.
To align this with sleep optimization, you should avoid eating any food 3 hours before sleep (to prevent insulin from blunting GH). Take the MK-677, then go to bed about 1.5 hours later (for example, I go to bed at 9:30 PM (ik lmfao) so taking MK at 8:00 PM is optimal for me).
The most imperative issue to address with MK is its effect on gluconeogenesis and insulin sensitivity, meaning elevated blood glucose levels.
MK mimics ghrelin → increases GH/IGF-1 → increases gluconeogenesis in the liver → induces insulin resistance → reduces the body’s ability to regulate and control glucose (which can become elevated).
How do we address this? I often see people recommending berberine (even I used to, so shout out to @Zagro for helping me learn the downsides of it).
The best options are ALA and chromium picolinate, while worse options include berberine, metformin-related approaches, jaundice-related approaches, etc.
ALA (alpha-lipoic acid) = beneficial because it enhances insulin sensitivity, reduces MK-677–induced glucose spikes, and protects against oxidative stress without reducing IGF-1. Dosing = 300–600 mg daily, split into morning and night doses with meals (taken during an MK-677 cycle of 12.5 or 25 mg).
Chromium picolinate = beneficial because it improves glucose uptake via GLUT4, counters MK-induced insulin resistance, and causes minimal IGF-1 change. Dosing = 200 mcg split AM/PM with meals during the MK cycle.
Berberine = not recommended, as it lowers glucose via AMPK but downregulates IGF-1R in muscle (i.e., about a 16% IGF-1 drop). Berberine is also an AR degrader.
Metformin and jaundice-related compounds are also not ideal for regulating glucose in this context.
Other considerations include bloating (water retention), which can be managed with dandelion root, other simple protocols, and generally maintaining good health.
I would recommend pairing simple supplements such as taurine, theanine, glycine, and magnesium for sleep, along with zinc (15 mg daily) for immune health.
In short: take MK-677 at 25 mg daily (12.5 is fine ig) → dose 1–2 hours before bed to align with natural nighttime GH and reduce daytime lethargy/hunger → avoid eating 3 hours before sleep — for glucose control (since MK can raise blood sugar) → take ALA 300–600 mg/day split AM/PM with meals or chromium picolinate (my choice) 200 mcg/day split AM/PM with meals → avoid berberine, metformin-related compounds, and jaundice-related approaches — for support → add magnesium, glycine, theanine, or taurine if needed for sleep → take zinc 15 mg daily for immune health → use dandelion root if needed for water retention/bloating
This is pretty surface-level and doesn’t cover in MK in a lot of depth but this should be enough for you bhais and also I’m tired af so rep me pls
MK-677 is a growth hormone secretagogue. It works by mimicking the hunger hormone ghrelin, activating ghrelin (GHS-R1a) receptors in the brain and pituitary to boost pulsatile GH and IGF-1 release, which then feeds back on sleep-regulating centers/REM sleep.
As mentioned before, MK-677 is a selective, orally active agonist at the GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a), the same receptor activated by endogenous ghrelin in the hypothalamus and pituitary. GHS-R1a activation leads to an increase in hypothalamic GHRH signaling and a reduction in somatostatin tone. Together, this stimulates somatotrophs in the pituitary to secrete GH in pulses. The liver and peripheral tissues respond to these repeated GH pulses with higher IGF-1 production.
Does this shit even work?
Short answer. Yes, and it is honestly underrated asf + a good way for new greycels to get into pharma without needing to inject shit into their bodies (which most will do incorrectly).
In calorie-restricted healthy adults, a single oral dose of MK-677 produced a peak GH concentration of 55.9 ± 31.7 micrograms/L on day 1 and 22.6 ± 9.3 micrograms/L after one week of daily dosing, still well above placebo. In that same study, mean IGF-1 fell with calorie restriction but then rose during MK-677 treatment to 264 ± 31 ng/mL versus 188 ± 19 ng/mL with placebo (P < 0.01), effectively reversing diet-induced IGF-1 decline and overshooting baseline.
In another JCEM study, MK-677 treatment in adults led to a 36% average increase in serum IGF-1 compared with placebo, along with a positive nitrogen balance.
I wouldn’t recommend being a pussy and taking 12.5mg, as it probably won’t have much effect. Take 25 mg/day, as this is what most clinical studies use and what is most reviewed in terms of the effects it produces.
You should do this 1–2 hours before bed, as we want to match and maximize your body’s natural nighttime GH and sleep rhythms. This also limits side effects such as daytime lethargy and hunger.
As we know, MK mimics ghrelin, which triggers a large GH pulse and a sustained IGF-1 rise. These hormones are naturally highest at night, especially during the first few sleep cycles, so a nighttime dose makes sense. Data also show that MK is absorbed rapidly when taken orally (reaching peak blood levels in 1–2 hours), so taking MK 1–2 hours before sleep is ideal.
As an added benefit, taking it in the evening before sleep aligns the GH-boosting window with your strongest natural GH pulses instead of shifting them into the middle of the daytime, when they can cause lethargy and unusual or excessive hunger.
Sleep studies that observed improvements in slow-wave and REM sleep used bedtime/evening dosing (e.g., 25 mg nightly for 7–14 days) and reported approximately 50% more deep stage IV sleep and over 20% more REM in young adults.
To align this with sleep optimization, you should avoid eating any food 3 hours before sleep (to prevent insulin from blunting GH). Take the MK-677, then go to bed about 1.5 hours later (for example, I go to bed at 9:30 PM (ik lmfao) so taking MK at 8:00 PM is optimal for me).
The most imperative issue to address with MK is its effect on gluconeogenesis and insulin sensitivity, meaning elevated blood glucose levels.
MK mimics ghrelin → increases GH/IGF-1 → increases gluconeogenesis in the liver → induces insulin resistance → reduces the body’s ability to regulate and control glucose (which can become elevated).
How do we address this? I often see people recommending berberine (even I used to, so shout out to @Zagro for helping me learn the downsides of it).
The best options are ALA and chromium picolinate, while worse options include berberine, metformin-related approaches, jaundice-related approaches, etc.
ALA (alpha-lipoic acid) = beneficial because it enhances insulin sensitivity, reduces MK-677–induced glucose spikes, and protects against oxidative stress without reducing IGF-1. Dosing = 300–600 mg daily, split into morning and night doses with meals (taken during an MK-677 cycle of 12.5 or 25 mg).
Chromium picolinate = beneficial because it improves glucose uptake via GLUT4, counters MK-induced insulin resistance, and causes minimal IGF-1 change. Dosing = 200 mcg split AM/PM with meals during the MK cycle.
Berberine = not recommended, as it lowers glucose via AMPK but downregulates IGF-1R in muscle (i.e., about a 16% IGF-1 drop). Berberine is also an AR degrader.
Metformin and jaundice-related compounds are also not ideal for regulating glucose in this context.
Other considerations include bloating (water retention), which can be managed with dandelion root, other simple protocols, and generally maintaining good health.
I would recommend pairing simple supplements such as taurine, theanine, glycine, and magnesium for sleep, along with zinc (15 mg daily) for immune health.
In short: take MK-677 at 25 mg daily (12.5 is fine ig) → dose 1–2 hours before bed to align with natural nighttime GH and reduce daytime lethargy/hunger → avoid eating 3 hours before sleep — for glucose control (since MK can raise blood sugar) → take ALA 300–600 mg/day split AM/PM with meals or chromium picolinate (my choice) 200 mcg/day split AM/PM with meals → avoid berberine, metformin-related compounds, and jaundice-related approaches — for support → add magnesium, glycine, theanine, or taurine if needed for sleep → take zinc 15 mg daily for immune health → use dandelion root if needed for water retention/bloating
This is pretty surface-level and doesn’t cover in MK in a lot of depth but this should be enough for you bhais and also I’m tired af so rep me pls
