GHRP-6: what it is, what the studies show and where it stands
GHRP-6 is a synthetic six amino acid peptide (His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) that makes the pituitary release growth hormone.
At a glance
US Not approved
Canada Not authorized
Group Growth hormone
Sources 13
Checked 10 Oct 2026What is GHRP-6?
GHRP-6 is a synthetic six amino acid peptide (His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) that makes the pituitary release growth hormone. [5]
Other names: growth hormone-releasing peptide 6, growth hormone-releasing hexapeptide, GHRP6, GHRP, SK&F 110679, His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2.
How it has been given to people: injection or infusion into a vein in most human studies; nasal and oral doses have also been tested.
Looking for doses? GHRP-6 dosage chart and vial math
Is GHRP-6 approved in the US and Canada?
United States: No FDA-approved product. FDA lists GHRP-6 among bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding. [7]
Canada: No GHRP-6 product, current or cancelled, is in Health Canada's Drug Product Database, and Health Canada has listed GHRP 6 among unauthorized injectable peptide drugs sold online. [9]
Both were checked on 10 Oct 2026 against the regulators' own product databases.
Which approved products contain GHRP-6?
No approved medicine containing GHRP-6 was found in the US or Canada. Anything sold under this name is not a regulated product, so there is no label to check a dose against.
What human studies of GHRP-6 exist?
The 6 findings listed here: 6 from smaller or observational human studies.
In normal men a 30-minute infusion raised growth hormone in step with the dose, from 0.25 mcg/kg upward. [1]
In six healthy men, seven nasal doses eight hours apart raised IGF-I from 94.5 to 125.8 micrograms per litre, and the growth hormone response did not fade. [2]
In children with short stature a single oral dose of 300 mcg/kg produced a growth hormone response. [3]
In obese subjects 100 mcg into a vein released almost twice as much growth hormone as GHRH did. [4]
Blood levels were uneven in some volunteers: four of nine showed unexpected concentration spikes while the drug was being cleared. [5]
In a small open-label stroke trial, GHRP-6 at 3.5 mg or 5 mg twice a day for 7 days, given with epidermal growth factor, was judged safe by its authors. The effect of GHRP-6 alone cannot be separated out. [6]
What are the side effects of GHRP-6?
Reported in human studies or on a label:
- In six healthy men, a dose into a vein raised prolactin and cortisol slightly but significantly. [2]
- In the first study in 17 men the infusion was described as safe and well tolerated. [1]
- In the stroke trial, serious adverse events occurred in 3 of 10 and 2 of 10 treated patients against 9 of 16 on standard care. These were patients with acute stroke. [6]
- FDA says the limited data it has point to possible effects on cortisol and a rise in blood glucose from lower insulin sensitivity. [7]
What is the half-life of GHRP-6?
After a single dose into a vein in nine healthy men: distribution half-life about 7.6 minutes, elimination half-life about 2.5 hours. No human half-life after injection under the skin was found. [5]
How does GHRP-6 compare with others in its group?
These are the peptides filed under growth hormone. The last column says whether a randomized human trial is on record for each.
| Peptide | US | Canada | Half-life | Randomized human trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipamorelin | Not approved | Not authorized | Terminal half-life of about 2 hours after a 15-minute intravenous infusion in healthy men. No human figure after injection under the skin was found. | Yes |
| CJC-1295 without DAC | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| CJC-1295 with DAC | Not approved | Not authorized | Estimated at 5.8 to 8.1 days in healthy adults after injection under the skin. | Yes |
| Sermorelin | No longer sold | Not authorized | Disappearance half-time of about 4.3 minutes after a 90-minute intravenous infusion in 10 healthy men. No human half-life after injection under the skin was found in the abstracts read. | Yes |
| Tesamorelin | Approved for one use | No longer sold | About 8 minutes in healthy adults after one 1.4 mg dose of Egrifta SV under the skin. Other labels give other figures for other formulations and conditions (see also). | Yes |
| IGF-1 LR3 | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| GHRP-2 | Not approved | Not authorized | About 0.55 hours (33 minutes) for the slower phase after a single dose into a vein in 10 children. No human half-life after injection under the skin was found in the abstracts read. | Yes |
| GHRP-6 | Not approved | Not authorized | After a single dose into a vein in nine healthy men: distribution half-life about 7.6 minutes, elimination half-life about 2.5 hours. No human half-life after injection under the skin was found. | No |
| HGH | Approved, prescription | Authorized, prescription | About 3.8 hours after an injection under the skin in healthy subjects. The label says this long figure reflects slow absorption from the injection site. | Yes |
What could not be found
These were searched for and did not turn up. They are listed so a missing number is not mistaken for a hidden one.
- Any published human study of repeated injections under the skin, at 100 to 300 mcg or any other dose. One abstract says the peptide is active by that route in man [3], but no study reporting such a regimen was found.
- Human half-life after injection under the skin. The figures here are from a dose into a vein [5].
- A registered trial on ClinicalTrials.gov: an intervention search for GHRP-6 returned 0 studies on 2026-10-11 [13]. The stroke trial is in the Cuban registry.
- Any approved product in any country, and any FDA approval or Health Canada authorization, past or present [10], [11].
- Controlled data on body composition, muscle, fat loss or healing in people. None was found.
- A human trial of GHRP-6 given alone for more than a few doses. The 7-day stroke trial gave it together with epidermal growth factor [6].
- The Phase III stroke trial listed on PubMed in 2026 (PMID 42462342) was not read and is not cited.
GHRP-6 questions
Is GHRP-6 approved in the US?
No FDA-approved product. FDA lists GHRP-6 among bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding.
Is GHRP-6 authorized in Canada?
No GHRP-6 product, current or cancelled, is in Health Canada's Drug Product Database, and Health Canada has listed GHRP 6 among unauthorized injectable peptide drugs sold online.
What is the half-life of GHRP-6?
After a single dose into a vein in nine healthy men: distribution half-life about 7.6 minutes, elimination half-life about 2.5 hours. No human half-life after injection under the skin was found.
Has GHRP-6 been tested in a randomized human trial?
No randomized human trial was found. What exists is listed under the studies heading on this page.
Sources
Each one was opened on 10 Oct 2026 and matched to the line it supports.
- Ilson BE et al. Effect of a new synthetic hexapeptide to selectively stimulate growth hormone release in healthy human subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1989. PubMed 2543692.
- Hayashi S et al. Intranasal administration of His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-LysNH2 (growth hormone releasing peptide) increased plasma growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I levels in normal men. Endocrinol Jpn 1991. PubMed 1915110.
- Bellone J et al. Growth hormone-releasing effect of oral growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) administration in children with short stature. Eur J Endocrinol 1995. PubMed 7581965.
- Cordido F et al. Massive growth hormone (GH) discharge in obese subjects after the combined administration of GH-releasing hormone and GHRP-6: evidence for a marked somatotroph secretory capability in obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1993. PubMed 8473389.
- Cabrales A et al. Pharmacokinetic study of Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide 6 (GHRP-6) in nine male healthy volunteers. Eur J Pharm Sci 2013. PubMed 23099431.
- Hernandez-Bernal F et al. Combination therapy of Epidermal Growth Factor and Growth Hormone-Releasing Hexapeptide in acute ischemic stroke: a phase I/II non-blinded, randomized clinical trial. Front Neurol 2024. PubMed 38638315.
- Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (content current as of 04/22/2026) US Food and Drug Administration. fda.gov.
- Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act US Food and Drug Administration 2026-05-14. fda.gov.
- Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold by Canada Peptide may pose serious health risks Health Canada 2025-08-01. recalls-rappels.canada.ca.
- Health Canada Drug Product Database: active ingredient search for ghrp (0 records) Health Canada. health-products.canada.ca.
- Drugs@FDA via openFDA: active ingredient search for GHRP (no match) US Food and Drug Administration. api.fda.gov.
- The Prohibited List (2026 list as shown on the WADA website) World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org.
- ClinicalTrials.gov intervention search for GHRP-6 (0 studies) clinicaltrials.gov.
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