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№ 031

GHRP-2 / GHRP-6

Older GH secretagogues. GHRP-2 is the cleaner, GHRP-6 brings stronger appetite stimulation. Predecessors to Ipamorelin.

GH-axis
Evidence: Limited
Half-life
~15-30 minutes
Route
Subcutaneous
Cycle
8-12 weeks on, 4 weeks off
Schedule
1-3x daily
In plain English

GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 are older GH-axis peptides — the predecessors to Ipamorelin. They tell your body to release more growth hormone, but with rougher side effects (cortisol bumps for GHRP-2, big appetite spikes for GHRP-6). Most people now run Ipamorelin instead, but these are cheap and well-studied.

Status & legality
Natty?
Not natty
FDA
Not approved

Not FDA approved.

Compounding
Category 2

FDA flagged as significant safety risk; restricted from compounding pharmacies.

WADA
Banned (S2)
Prescribed

Not prescribed in conventional medicine.

Who it's for

  • →Users wanting older, well-characterized GH secretagogues
  • →GHRP-6 specifically: people in a bulk who want appetite stimulation
  • →GHRP-2: cleaner profile users who tolerate cortisol bumps

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    GH pulse and (with GHRP-6) appetite kick within hours of first dose.

  2. Week 4

    Cumulative recovery and sleep improvements. Bulkers see appetite-driven gains.

  3. Week 8

    IGF-1 measurably higher. Receptor desensitization starting — cycle off soon.

How it works (mechanism)

Hexapeptide GH secretagogues that activate the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). GHRP-2 has cleaner signaling than GHRP-6 but less appetite stimulation; GHRP-6 retains stronger ghrelin-mimetic effects on hunger.

Dosing protocol

100-300 mcg sub-q, 1-3x daily. Pre-bed and post-workout are the priority pulses.

Stacks well with

CJC-1295 (no DAC) — most users prefer Ipamorelin + CJC over GHRP-2/6 + CJC now
Standalone for budget GH-axis

Side effects

01GHRP-6: aggressive hunger 30-60 min post-dose
02GHRP-2: cortisol and prolactin bumps
03Head-rush at injection
04Receptor desensitization with chronic use

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Active malignancy
  • ⚠Pregnancy / nursing

Bloodwork to monitor

  • • IGF-1 baseline + week 8
  • • Prolactin if running >8 weeks (GHRP-2)

Common mistakes

  • • Treating them as Ipamorelin equivalents — they have meaningful side effect differences
  • • Eating within 30 min of injection (kills the GH pulse)
  • • Skipping cycle breaks

Educational only. User-specific dosing is between you and a qualified provider.

Frequently asked

What is GHRP-2 / GHRP-6?+
GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 are older GH-axis peptides — the predecessors to Ipamorelin. They tell your body to release more growth hormone, but with rougher side effects (cortisol bumps for GHRP-2, big appetite spikes for GHRP-6). Most people now run Ipamorelin instead, but these are cheap and well-studied.
Is GHRP-2 / GHRP-6 FDA approved?+
Not FDA approved.
Is GHRP-2 / GHRP-6 banned by WADA?+
GHRP-2 / GHRP-6 is on the WADA prohibited list under Banned (S2).
Are you still natty after taking GHRP-2 / GHRP-6?+
No. GHRP-2 / GHRP-6 is a performance-enhancing peptide and would disqualify a strict natty claim.
Do doctors prescribe GHRP-2 / GHRP-6?+
Not prescribed in conventional medicine.
What's the typical dose of GHRP-2 / GHRP-6?+
100-300 mcg sub-q, 1-3x daily. Pre-bed and post-workout are the priority pulses.
What are the side effects of GHRP-2 / GHRP-6?+
Common side effects include: GHRP-6: aggressive hunger 30-60 min post-dose; GHRP-2: cortisol and prolactin bumps; Head-rush at injection; Receptor desensitization with chronic use. Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until GHRP-2 / GHRP-6 starts working?+
GH pulse and (with GHRP-6) appetite kick within hours of first dose.

More in GH-axis

№ 021
HGH (Somatropin)

Recombinant human growth hormone — the protein itself, not a peptide that nudges your body to make more. Highest legal-risk compound in this catalog.

№ 011
MK-677 (Ibutamoren)

Oral ghrelin mimetic. Bumps GH and IGF-1 without injections. Strong appetite stimulation is the trade-off.

№ 006
Ipamorelin

Selective GH secretagogue. Bumps natural GH pulses without hitting cortisol or prolactin.

№ 007
CJC-1295 (no DAC)

GHRH analog. Pairs with Ipamorelin to amplify natural GH pulses. The 'no-DAC' version stays short-acting on purpose.