GHRP-6
Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 6
An older ghrelin-mimetic secretagogue with strong GH release — and strong hunger.
Class
Ghrelin receptor (GHS-R) agonist / GH secretagogue
Half-life
~15–60 minutes
Evidence
Limited human data
Limited human data
Small open-label studies, case series, or trials in a narrow population. Directionally informative, not conclusive.
Overview
GHRP-6 is one of the original growth-hormone-releasing peptides, a ghrelin mimetic that triggers a pulse of GH from the pituitary. Compared with the more selective ipamorelin, it produces a strong GH release but also a strong increase in appetite and, at higher doses, some rise in cortisol and prolactin.
That appetite stimulation can be a feature (for people struggling to eat enough while building mass) or a nuisance. It is typically paired with a GHRH analogue like CJC-1295 for a synergistic pulse, and it shares the whole secretagogue class's caution around IGF-1 and glucose.
How it works
- Agonises the GHS-R1a ghrelin receptor, stimulating a pulse of endogenous GH.
- Strongly stimulates appetite via the ghrelin pathway.
- Less selective than ipamorelin — can modestly raise cortisol and prolactin at higher doses.
- Synergistic with GHRH analogues (CJC-1295) that act via the parallel pathway.
What the research shows
Researched effects
- Robust GH and downstream IGF-1 release
- Marked appetite stimulation
- Anecdotal recovery, sleep, and body-composition effects
Limitations & what it won't do
- Less selective than ipamorelin (appetite, cortisol, prolactin).
- No large controlled human body-composition trials.
- Not FDA approved.
Dosing protocols
These ranges reflect published trials and community protocols. They are reference information, not a prescription. Doses are per injection unless noted.
Standard secretagogue protocol
100 mcgFrequently combined 1:1 with CJC-1295. 100 mcg approximates the saturation dose per injection.
Reconstitution & measuring your dose
Handling
- Typical vial sizes
- 5 · 10 mg
- Suggested BAC water
- 2 mL
- Storage
- Lyophilised powder refrigerated at 2–8 °C, protected from light.
- After reconstitution
- Reconstituted: approximately 30 days refrigerated.
Why 2 mL? A 5 mg vial in 2 mL yields 2500 mcg/mL — 100 mcg lands on 4 units of a U-100 syringe.
Dose calculator
Draw to
2units
= 0.02 mL · 50 mcg per unit
Concentration
5000 mcg/mL
Doses per vial
100
Side effects
Common
- Marked hunger shortly after dosing
- Head rush / flushing
- Water retention
- Tingling
- Injection-site irritation
Serious / rare
- Reduced insulin sensitivity with prolonged use
- Theoretical tumour stimulation via IGF-1
- Elevated cortisol/prolactin at high doses
Contraindications & interactions
Do not use if you have
- Active cancer or current oncology treatment
Raises IGF-1; contraindicated during active malignancy.
- Pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive
No pregnancy safety data.
Use caution if you have
- Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance
GH pulses reduce insulin sensitivity — monitor glucose.
- Past cancer diagnosis (in remission)
IGF-1 elevation warrants oncology clearance.
- Carpal tunnel or nerve compression
Fluid retention can aggravate nerve compression.
Medication interactions
- monitorInsulin — GH opposes insulin; glucose may rise.
- cautionGrowth hormone (rhGH) — Redundant with exogenous rhGH.
- monitorCorticosteroids — Steroids blunt the GH response and worsen glucose.
What to monitor
- Fasting glucose and HbA1c
- IGF-1 if available
- Appetite and weight
Commonly combined with
References
- Bowers CY — History to the discovery of ghrelin and the GH-releasing peptides (GHRP-6)Methods Enzymol 2012;514:3-32
Research & educational information only — not medical advice.
You must be 18 or older to use this site. The peptides described are presented as research chemicals intended for research purposes only. Most are not approved by the FDA for human use. Dosing ranges reflect what has appeared in the scientific literature or community protocols and are not prescriptions. Nothing here replaces evaluation by a licensed physician who knows your full medical history.
Want to know if GHRP-6 fits your goals and history?
The assessment cross-checks your medical history and medications against this and every other compound before it recommends anything.
Start the assessment