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Hexarelin vs GHRP-6 side-by-side

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HexarelinGHRP-6

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Property	Hexarelin	GHRP-6
Category	Growth Hormone	Growth Hormone
Also known as	Examorelin, HEX	Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 6, SKF-110679
FDA approved	No	No
Clinical status	Investigational; clinical trials conducted Pre Preclinical I Phase I II Phase II III Phase III IV Phase IV FDA FDA approved	Preclinical/investigational; source notes FDA Category 2 compounding restriction concerns Pre Preclinical I Phase I II Phase II III Phase III IV Phase IV FDA FDA approved
What to expect	GH release, cardiac protection, muscle growth	Appetite stimulation, muscle building, GH release
How it works	Hexarelin is reported to work through GHS-R1a and CD36. GHS-R1a, also known as the ghrelin receptor, is the pituitary-linked pathway associated with growth hormone release. CD36 is described in the source as a receptor present on cardiac muscle cells and small blood vessels; preclinical work links this pathway to coronary-flow changes and protection from ischemia-reperfusion injury. The source notes that cardiac effects were still seen in growth-hormone-deficient animals, suggesting the cardiac mechanism is not simply downstream of growth hormone release.	GHRP-6 is reported to act as an agonist at GHS-R1a, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor associated with ghrelin biology. The source links receptor activation in pituitary and hypothalamic pathways to growth hormone pulse release. It also notes that GHS-R1a involvement in NPY/AgRP appetite circuitry may contribute to GHRP-6's prominent hunger effect, and that higher doses may raise cortisol and prolactin.
Typical dosing	100-200 mcg 2-3x daily · 2-3x daily	100-300 mcg 2-3x daily · 2-3x daily · Subcutaneous injection
Research dosing	100-200 mcg per injection · 4-8 weeks (desensitization occurs) · Subcutaneous injection	100-300 mcg per injection · 8-12 weeks · Subcutaneous injection, reported as fasted
Typical duration	4-8 weeks (desensitization occurs)	8-12 weeks
Administration	Subcutaneous injection	Subcutaneous injection, reported with fasted timing
Timing	Morning and before bed, fasted Empty stomach	Reported timing: fasted morning use or before bed Source reports empty-stomach or fasted timing
Evidence level	Clinical Trials	Clinical Trials
Possible side effects	Increased appetite Water retention Tingling or numbness +5 more Elevated cortisol and prolactin Flushing Headache May trigger histamine release (Source advises caution with MCAS or histamine sensitivity.) Receptor desensitization with continuous use (Source notes desensitization and fading GH response with continued use.)	Significant hunger increase (Source describes this as especially pronounced among GHRPs.) Water retention (Reported by source; severity not quantified.) Elevated cortisol levels (Source notes this concern, particularly at higher doses.) +6 more Elevated prolactin levels (Source notes this concern, particularly at higher doses.) Flushing (Reported by source; severity not quantified.) Nausea (Reported by source; severity not quantified.) Headache (Reported by source; severity not quantified.) Possible histamine release (Source advises caution for MCAS or histamine sensitivity, but does not quantify risk.) Limited long-term safety data (Source indicates long-term safety evidence is limited.)
Research summary	The source separates Hexarelin's evidence into endocrine and cardiovascular areas. It describes older human endocrine research as supporting growth hormone release. For cardiac protection, the source points mainly to preclinical evidence: a 2002 Circulation Research mechanism paper identifying CD36 as a cardiac receptor for growth hormone-releasing peptides, rodent studies reporting improved left ventricular function and cardiomyocyte protection during ischemia-reperfusion injury, and one 2017 finding involving interleukin-1 signaling. It also cites 2014 and 2017 reviews discussing the cardioprotective hypothesis. The same source cautions that large modern human trials have not shown Hexarelin treats or prevents heart disease, and it notes rapid tolerance with continued exposure as the GH response fades.	The supplied source describes GHRP-6 as a research tool studied in humans, mainly for laboratory or diagnostic investigation of growth hormone release rather than as a validated therapeutic intervention. It notes early research showing growth hormone release, and connects investigation of this peptide class to the later identification of ghrelin. A cited 2013 pharmacokinetic study in nine healthy men is summarized as finding very low oral bioavailability and an elimination half-life of about 2.5 hours. The source states that popular fitness-related outcome claims such as muscle gain, fat loss, and healing lack controlled human outcome-trial support, and it reiterates that GHRP-6 is not FDA or EMA approved.
References	Peptibase peptides Peptibase peptides +2 more Peptibase peptides Peptibase peptides	Source Source +1 more Source
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Educational use only. This information is aggregated from public research and community reports. It is not medical advice, and dosing details are descriptive, not recommendations. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Property

Hexarelin

GHRP-6

Category

Growth Hormone

Also known as

Examorelin, HEX

Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 6, SKF-110679

FDA approved

Clinical status

Investigational; clinical trials conducted

Pre
Preclinical
I
Phase I
II
Phase II
III
Phase III
IV
Phase IV
FDA
FDA approved

Preclinical/investigational; source notes FDA Category 2 compounding restriction concerns

Pre
Preclinical
I
Phase I
II
Phase II
III
Phase III
IV
Phase IV
FDA
FDA approved

What to expect

GH release, cardiac protection, muscle growth

Appetite stimulation, muscle building, GH release

How it works

Hexarelin is reported to work through GHS-R1a and CD36. GHS-R1a, also known as the ghrelin receptor, is the pituitary-linked pathway associated with growth hormone release. CD36 is described in the source as a receptor present on cardiac muscle cells and small blood vessels; preclinical work links this pathway to coronary-flow changes and protection from ischemia-reperfusion injury. The source notes that cardiac effects were still seen in growth-hormone-deficient animals, suggesting the cardiac mechanism is not simply downstream of growth hormone release.

GHRP-6 is reported to act as an agonist at GHS-R1a, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor associated with ghrelin biology. The source links receptor activation in pituitary and hypothalamic pathways to growth hormone pulse release. It also notes that GHS-R1a involvement in NPY/AgRP appetite circuitry may contribute to GHRP-6's prominent hunger effect, and that higher doses may raise cortisol and prolactin.

Typical dosing

100-200 mcg 2-3x daily · 2-3x daily

100-300 mcg 2-3x daily · 2-3x daily · Subcutaneous injection

Research dosing

100-200 mcg per injection · 4-8 weeks (desensitization occurs) · Subcutaneous injection

100-300 mcg per injection · 8-12 weeks · Subcutaneous injection, reported as fasted

Typical duration

4-8 weeks (desensitization occurs)

8-12 weeks

Administration

Subcutaneous injection

Subcutaneous injection, reported with fasted timing

Timing

Morning and before bed, fasted

Empty stomach

Reported timing: fasted morning use or before bed

Source reports empty-stomach or fasted timing

Evidence level

Clinical Trials

Possible side effects

Increased appetite
Water retention
Tingling or numbness

+5 more

Elevated cortisol and prolactin
Flushing
Headache
May trigger histamine release (Source advises caution with MCAS or histamine sensitivity.)
Receptor desensitization with continuous use (Source notes desensitization and fading GH response with continued use.)

Significant hunger increase (Source describes this as especially pronounced among GHRPs.)
Water retention (Reported by source; severity not quantified.)
Elevated cortisol levels (Source notes this concern, particularly at higher doses.)

+6 more

Elevated prolactin levels (Source notes this concern, particularly at higher doses.)
Flushing (Reported by source; severity not quantified.)
Nausea (Reported by source; severity not quantified.)
Headache (Reported by source; severity not quantified.)
Possible histamine release (Source advises caution for MCAS or histamine sensitivity, but does not quantify risk.)
Limited long-term safety data (Source indicates long-term safety evidence is limited.)

Research summary

The source separates Hexarelin's evidence into endocrine and cardiovascular areas. It describes older human endocrine research as supporting growth hormone release. For cardiac protection, the source points mainly to preclinical evidence: a 2002 Circulation Research mechanism paper identifying CD36 as a cardiac receptor for growth hormone-releasing peptides, rodent studies reporting improved left ventricular function and cardiomyocyte protection during ischemia-reperfusion injury, and one 2017 finding involving interleukin-1 signaling. It also cites 2014 and 2017 reviews discussing the cardioprotective hypothesis. The same source cautions that large modern human trials have not shown Hexarelin treats or prevents heart disease, and it notes rapid tolerance with continued exposure as the GH response fades.

The supplied source describes GHRP-6 as a research tool studied in humans, mainly for laboratory or diagnostic investigation of growth hormone release rather than as a validated therapeutic intervention. It notes early research showing growth hormone release, and connects investigation of this peptide class to the later identification of ghrelin. A cited 2013 pharmacokinetic study in nine healthy men is summarized as finding very low oral bioavailability and an elimination half-life of about 2.5 hours. The source states that popular fitness-related outcome claims such as muscle gain, fat loss, and healing lack controlled human outcome-trial support, and it reiterates that GHRP-6 is not FDA or EMA approved.

References

Peptibase peptides Peptibase peptides

+2 more

Peptibase peptides Peptibase peptides

Source Source

+1 more

Source

Full profile

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