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GHRP-6

Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6

Tier 4 · Preclinical Only
Class
Growth hormone secretagogue (GHRP)
Molecular target
GHS-R1a
Sequence / structure
His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2
Evidence tier
Tier 4 — Preclinical Only
Category
Growth Hormone Axis
Emergency card
Signs something is wrong

Puffiness and fluid retention in the hands and feet, joint aches, wrist tingling (carpal tunnel), and blood sugar creeping up over weeks — most pronounced with MK-677 and somatropin.

What to do now

These accumulate rather than strike suddenly — reassess and stop rather than pushing the dose up. Check glucose if you can.

When it is an emergency

A severe persistent headache with vision changes (possible raised intracranial pressure), or symptoms of very high blood sugar — extreme thirst, confusion, vomiting — warrant urgent care.

Any injection — every time

Allergic reaction: hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, wheezing or dizziness can escalate to anaphylaxis within minutes — call 911 immediately. Site infection: spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or fever is not wait-and-see; an abscess or cellulitis can need drainage or IV antibiotics. Unverified product: grey-market vials are frequently mislabelled or contaminated, so a reaction may be to endotoxin or the wrong contents, not the named compound.

This is not permission or instruction to use this compound. It is harm-reduction information for someone who has already decided to, so that a bad reaction is recognised and treated. When in doubt, get help — embarrassment is survivable.

Biology & mechanism

An early hexapeptide GHS-R1a agonist. Pronounced appetite stimulation via ghrelin-receptor signalling is characteristic and often dose-limiting. Also raises cortisol and prolactin.

What the research actually shows

Extensively used as a laboratory tool for probing the GH secretagogue pathway. Some investigation in cytoprotection contexts. No approved therapeutic indication.

Regulatory status

Not FDA-approved. Prohibited in sport (WADA S2).

Safety signals

Marked hunger, cortisol and prolactin elevation. Long-term human safety not characterised.

Clinical trial dosing — what the studies actually used

No human therapeutic dose established. Used as a laboratory GH-secretagogue probe.

Reported from clinical trials or FDA labelling as a matter of record. It is not a recommendation, and for unapproved compounds no dose has been shown safe or effective in humans.

We report study doses, not protocols

Above is what was administered in trials or on FDA labels, reported as fact. We do not convert it into a personal protocol, calculate a dose for your body weight, or tell you what to inject or how to reconstitute it — that decision belongs with a licensed physician. See our editorial policy.

References & further reading

Regulatory status changes. This page reflects our reading of public sources as of July 2026 and should be independently verified before it is relied upon.

Important notice Forge Bioenergy publishes scientific reference information only. Nothing on this site is medical advice, a therapeutic claim, or a recommendation to use any substance in humans. Many peptides described here are not approved by the FDA for any use, and several are approved only for narrow indications under prescription. We do not publish dosing, administration, or usage protocols. Consult a licensed physician before making any medical decision.