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Hexarelin

Hexarelin (also called examorelin) is a lab-made peptide of six amino acids, closely related to GHRP-6 but with a methyl group added to one tryptophan. It acts on the ghrelin receptor and released more growth hormone than GHRH or GHRP-6 in human studies; it also raises cortisol and prolactin. It was studied mainly in the 1990s and 2000s and has not been approved as a medicine.

Not approved · research onlyWADA Prohibited at all times (S2, named as examorelin)Checked October 2026
Open the Hexarelin calculatorSources

Approval status

Not approved as a medicine; it has been used only in research studies. It is not on any of FDA's compounding nomination lists.45113

What it’s used or studied for

  • Human studies

    Testing pituitary growth hormone reserve: in 19 adults with possible pituitary disease, hexarelin results closely matched the standard insulin tolerance test for growth hormone.6

  • Human studies

    Heart function: a single intravenous dose briefly increased the heart's pumping in healthy men and in people with ischemic heart failure, but not in dilated cardiomyopathy.78

  • Human studies

    Growth in short children: a nasal spray used for up to 8 months raised IGF-1 and growth speed in 8 children, in a small study without a control group.2

Each label shows how strong the evidence is: an approved use, human studies, animal or lab studies only, or a popular claim with no published studies. Being studied is not the same as being proven safe or effective.

Side effects

Common

  • Short-lived rises in cortisol, ACTH and prolactin
  • Less deep (slow-wave) sleep

Studies were small and short and reported no serious adverse events. With 16 weeks of use in adults, its growth hormone effect weakened, then recovered after stopping.79410

Cautions

  • There are no long-term safety data.4

Sources

  1. PubChem: Examorelin (hexarelin) (CID 6918297)
  2. Laron Z et al. Intranasal administration of the GHRP hexarelin accelerates growth in short children (Clin Endocrinol, 1995)
  3. WADA 2026 Prohibited List
  4. Dominikowski A et al. Performance-enhancing peptides modulating the GH-IGF1 axis: clinical evidence vs self-administration (Front Endocrinol, 2026)
  5. FDA: Bulk drug substances nominated for use in compounding under section 503A (categories 1–3, updated May 14, 2026)
  6. Korbonits M et al. Hexarelin as a test of pituitary reserve in patients with pituitary disease (Clin Endocrinol, 1999)
  7. Bisi G et al. Acute cardiovascular and hormonal effects of GH and hexarelin in humans (J Endocrinol Invest, 1999)
  8. Imazio M et al. GH-independent cardiotropic activities of hexarelin in severe left ventricular dysfunction (Eur J Heart Fail, 2002)
  9. Frieboes RM et al. Hexarelin decreases slow-wave sleep and stimulates GH, ACTH, cortisol and prolactin during sleep (Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2004)
  10. Rahim A et al. Growth hormone status during long-term hexarelin therapy (J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1998)
  11. FDA: Bulk drug substances nominated for use in compounding under section 503B (categories 1–3, updated March 21, 2025)

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