Hexarelin
His-D-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2
A ghrelin-mimetic GH secretagogue studied for growth hormone release and short-term heart effects.
Hexarelin (examorelin) is a synthetic six-amino-acid peptide in the growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) family. It prompts the pituitary gland to release the body's own growth hormone. In small human studies from the 1990s and 2000s, IV doses produced a strong GH pulse and a brief rise in heart pumping function. A 16-week trial in 12 healthy older adults found no change in IGF-1 or body composition. Heart-protection data come from animals; performance claims rest on user reports. As of October 2026, we found no approval for hexarelin as a drug anywhere, and WADA prohibits it at all times (S2.2.4).
Read the research profile for mechanisms, citations, and safety context before comparing vendors. View the Hexarelin research profile.
Key Benefits
Mechanism of Action
Hexarelin binds the ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a) in the hypothalamus and pituitary, mimicking ghrelin and triggering a pulse of growth hormone (GH). It isn't fully selective: in healthy young adults, IV hexarelin also raised prolactin and cortisol, much like GHRP-2. In rat hearts it binds a second receptor, CD36, which may explain heart effects that don't depend on GH. With twice-daily injections over 16 weeks, the GH response fell by about 45% and returned to baseline within 4 weeks of stopping.
Dosing Guidelines
Typical Dose
100-200 mcg
Frequency
1-3x daily
Duration
4-8 weeks
Note: These figures come from vendor and community guidance, not a trial, and we couldn't trace a primary source for them. Human studies used weight-based doses: 1.5 mcg/kg by subcutaneous injection twice daily for 16 weeks, or a single 2 mcg/kg IV dose. Users commonly report injecting on an empty stomach, 1-2 hours after a meal and 30 minutes before the next; in one study, a glucose drink blunted the GH response in lean men but not in men with obesity. A common community pattern is 4-8 weeks on, then 4 or more weeks off. Bedtime dosing is popular, but in one sleep study four 50 mcg doses at night reduced deep sleep and raised cortisol. As of October 2026, WADA prohibits hexarelin at all times (S2.2.4).
Research & Studies
What the human and animal studies on hexarelin show, alongside the protocols users report.
Read Full ResearchAcute hexarelin and cardiac performance in coronary artery disease (European Journal of Pharmacology, 2002)
In 24 men undergoing bypass surgery, one 2 mcg/kg IV dose raised ejection fraction and cardiac output for up to 90 minutes; GHRH and GH did not.
View PublicationGrowth hormone status during long-term hexarelin therapy (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1998)
Sixteen weeks of twice-daily injections partly and reversibly blunted the GH response in 12 healthy older adults; IGF-1 and body composition didn't change.
View PublicationHow the main GH-releasing peptides differ at the ghrelin receptor in selectivity and appetite effects.
Read Full ResearchPotential Side Effects
Reported side effects may include:
- - Cortisol and prolactin rise after a dose (human studies)
- - Partial, reversible loss of GH response with daily use (16-week trial)
- - Less deep sleep after bedtime doses (one small study)
- - Water retention or bloating (user reports)
- - Numbness or tingling in hands and feet (user reports)
- - Increased appetite (rat studies; no human data found)
- - Redness, itching or soreness at the injection site (user reports)
This information is for research purposes only. Always consult with a healthcare professional.
Popular Stacking Options
Hexarelin + CJC-1295 (No DAC)
A community pairing of a GHRP with a GHRH analog. Users combine the two because they act on different receptors and expect a larger GH pulse; no trial has tested hexarelin with CJC-1295 or Mod GRF 1-29.
Shop this stackHexarelin + Tesamorelin
A GHRH analog that is FDA-approved (as Egrifta) only to reduce abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Users pair it with GHRPs for the same GHRH-plus-GHRP reasoning; the combination with hexarelin hasn't been studied.
Shop this stackHexarelin + BPC-157
A community pairing aimed at injury recovery. BPC-157's repair data come mostly from rodents, with only three small uncontrolled human pilots, and hexarelin didn't raise IGF-1 in its 16-week human trial. The combination is untested.
Shop this stackFrequently Asked Questions
Is hexarelin more potent than other GHRPs?
It's one of the strongest GH releasers in its class in human studies, but not clearly the strongest. In 6 healthy young adults, IV hexarelin and GHRP-2 produced similar GH responses, both larger than GHRH. We found no head-to-head human study against ipamorelin. In the one long-term human trial, the strong GH pulse didn't translate into higher IGF-1 or changes in body composition.
What does 'desensitization' mean with Hexarelin?
It means the pituitary responds less to the same dose over time. In a 16-week trial in 12 healthy older adults on 1.5 mcg/kg twice daily, the GH response to a test dose was about a third lower by week 4 and about 45% lower by week 16. It returned to baseline 4 weeks after stopping, so the loss was partial and reversible. Users on bodybuilding forums describe tolerance at around 4 weeks and commonly cycle 4 weeks on and 4 weeks off; those cycle lengths come from community practice, not a trial.
Does Hexarelin raise cortisol and prolactin?
Yes, in human studies. In healthy young adults, IV hexarelin raised prolactin and cortisol about as much as GHRP-2 did, and its cortisol effect was similar to a CRH stimulation test. In a sleep study, four night-time doses of 50 mcg raised both hormones and reduced deep sleep. Ipamorelin is often described as the more selective option because it didn't raise cortisol in pigs; the two haven't been compared in people. Users link hexarelin to water retention and lethargy, but no study has tied those effects to the hormone rise.
Are the cardioprotective effects of Hexarelin real?
The human data show a short-lived effect on heart function, not protection. In 7 healthy men, one IV dose raised left ventricular ejection fraction from about 64% to 71% for up to 60 minutes; GH itself had no effect. In 24 men with coronary artery disease during bypass surgery, a 2 mcg/kg IV dose raised ejection fraction and cardiac output for up to 90 minutes. Protection of heart tissue after injury has been shown only in animal studies, where hexarelin binds a heart receptor called CD36. In one rat study, activating that receptor narrowed the coronary vessels. No human trial has tested whether hexarelin protects the heart over time.
More from this category
Compare nearby options in the same category before choosing a research product.
CJC-1295
A long-acting GHRH analogue studied in small 2006 human trials for raising growth hormone and IGF-1.
GHRP-2
A ghrelin-mimetic secretagogue studied for its strong effect on growth hormone release.
GHRP-6
A ghrelin mimetic studied for growth hormone release, with strong appetite effects reported by users.
Ipamorelin
A ghrelin-mimicking peptide studied for growth hormone release, with limited human data
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