What does Hexarelin do?

Hexarelin is described as a synthetic six-amino-acid growth hormone-releasing peptide. The source associates it with pituitary growth hormone release and with separate cardiac-research activity involving heart tissue receptors. It is investigational and not FDA approved; the cardiac-protection evidence is reported mainly from animal work.

How does Hexarelin work?

The source describes two receptor pathways. At the pituitary, Hexarelin acts at GHS-R1a, the ghrelin receptor, which is tied to growth hormone release. In cardiac tissue and small blood vessels, the source links Hexarelin to CD36, with reported effects on coronary flow and ischemia-reperfusion injury that were observed even in growth-hormone-deficient animals.

Is Hexarelin FDA approved?

No. The source lists Hexarelin as Not FDA Approved and describes its status as investigational with clinical trials conducted.

What side effects are reported for Hexarelin?

Reported effects in the source include increased appetite, water retention, tingling or numbness, elevated cortisol and prolactin, flushing, headache, possible histamine release with caution for MCAS or histamine sensitivity, and receptor desensitization with continuous use. Individual risk cannot be determined from this profile.

What dose information was extracted for Hexarelin?

The source reports a community typical dose of 100-200 mcg 2-3x daily, a community range of 100-300 mcg per dose, and subcutaneous injection as the route. These are source-reported research or community values, not dosing instructions or medical advice.

Growth Hormone Clinical Trials - human trials under way

Hexarelin

Also known as: Examorelin, HEX

At a glance

PeptiGuide dataset · reviewed Aug 2026

What it is

Synthetic GHRP studied for growth hormone release and preclinical cardiac mechanisms

Status

Clinical Trials

Evidence level: human studies

Typical dose

100–200mcg

Subcutaneous injection

Researched for

GH release, cardiac protection, muscle growth

Trial progress

PrePreclinical
IPhase I
IIPhase II
IIIPhase III
IVPhase IV
FDAFDA approved

Preclinical - Emerging human evidence with important limitations

Use the tools

In plain language

Hexarelin is a synthetic six-amino-acid GHRP also known as Examorelin or HEX.
Source evidence links it to growth hormone release and to cardiac-protection research involving CD36.
Regulatory status is listed as Not FDA Approved and investigational with clinical trials conducted.
Extracted typical dose is 100-200 mcg 2-3x daily by injection, with community range 100-300 mcg per dose.
Researched areas include GH release, cardiac protection, and muscle growth.
The source describes human evidence for endocrine GH-release work, while cardiac claims are mostly animal data.

How it's thought to work

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; 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.

What the research shows

Where the research stands

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 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.

What it shows

✓ Human studies

Emerging human evidence with important limitations

△ Limitations

Study protocols describe research and are not dosing recommendations.

Bottom line: Investigational; clinical trials conducted Not FDA Approved

Typical dosing

CommunityCommunity dataset

100–200 mcg

2-3x daily

100 mcgfull range seen300 mcg

Community-reported row. Source notes stronger GH-release activity among GHRPs and greater desensitization; it also reports a 4 weeks on, 4 weeks off cycling pattern. Not medical advice.

Research dosing

Study-specific protocolsHuman trials under way - protocols are study-specific

Doses observed in studies

100-200 mcg per injection

Research Literature - Observed in studies

Study protocols describe research and are not dosing recommendations.

Duration: 4-8 weeks (desensitization occurs)
Administration: Subcutaneous injection

Timing & administration

Best time to take

Morning and before bed, fasted

2-3 times daily, always fasted

Food recommendation

Empty stomach

Why this timing?

The source links fasted timing with growth-hormone release and describes divided use as a way to align with multiple GH pulses across the day.

Possible side effects

Not everyone experiences these. Individual responses vary with dose, duration, and personal factors.

Increased appetite
Water retention
Tingling or numbness
Elevated cortisol and prolactin
Flushing
Headache
May trigger histamine release
Receptor desensitization with continuous use

Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity can vary by context, purity, route, and individual health factors.

Sources

PubMed ClinicalTrials.gov FDA.gov

Frequently asked questions

Sequence

H-His-D-Trp(2-Me)-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2

One open dataset

Every fact on this page - doses, side effects, references - comes from the same PeptiGuide dataset that powers the Tracker, Compare, and the Lab.

Browse the dataset

Save to my research list Get updates on Hexarelin

Educational resource, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before acting on anything here.

Community discussion

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Hexarelin

In plain languageIn plain language

How it's thought to workHow it's thought to work

What the research showsWhat the research shows

Typical dosing

Research dosing

Timing & administrationTiming & administration

Possible side effectsPossible side effects

SourcesSources

Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions