What are the side effects of GHK-Cu?
The most commonly reported GHK-Cu side effects are injection-site flush, mild metallic taste shortly after dose, rare: headache. Most are mild and tend to be dose dependent. It is generally avoided with wilson's disease or copper metabolism disorders. Human clinical evidence for GHK-Cu is limited, so this reflects reported and observed effects, not a complete safety profile.
Reported GHK-Cu side effects
- Injection-site flush
- Mild metallic taste shortly after dose
- Rare: headache
Who should avoid it
- Wilson's disease or copper metabolism disorders
- Active copper supplementation
Bloodwork worth tracking
- Serum copper if running long term sub-q
References
- GHK and DNA: resetting the human genome to health — Pickart L et al., BioMed Res Int, 2014
- GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration — Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A; BioMed Research International; 2015
- The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling — Pickart L; Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition; 2008
Pepdex is an editorial reference, not medical advice. Peptides vary in legal and approval status by country, many are research compounds without full human safety data. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting anything.
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Last updated 2026-06-06.