Overview
Hexarelin is a growth hormone-related peptide. Growth hormone releasing hexapeptide.
With a half-life of ~1 hours, Hexarelin requires daily administration in most observed protocols. Administered via SubQ injection, it has a bioavailability of approximately 95% via its primary route.
Half-life approximately 1 hour. Produces the strongest acute GH release among GHRPs. Subject to receptor desensitization with continuous use. Subcutaneous administration. One-compartment model.
Mechanism of Action
Hexarelin's pharmacological activity involves the following key pathways:
Ghrelin Receptor Agonism
Hexarelin acts as a growth hormone secretagogue by binding to the ghrelin (GHS-R1a) receptor, triggering GH release from the pituitary.
Synergy with GHRH
GH secretagogues like Hexarelin work synergistically with GHRH analogs — co-administration amplifies GH release beyond what either produces alone.
Dosing Protocols
The following protocols represent commonly observed dosing patterns. These are observational summaries, not recommendations.
Dose
100 mcg/day
Route
Subcutaneous
Frequency
2-3 times daily
Duration
4-12 weeks
Dose
200 mcg/day
Route
Subcutaneous
Frequency
2-3 times daily
Duration
4-12 weeks
Reconstitution Steps
Hexarelin is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder and requires reconstitution before use. Common vial sizes: 2 mg, 5 mg.
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1
Gather supplies
You will need the hexarelin vial, bacteriostatic water (BW), a sterile syringe for reconstitution, insulin syringes for dosing, and alcohol swabs.
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2
Clean both vial tops
Wipe the rubber stopper of both the hexarelin vial and the bacteriostatic water vial with separate alcohol swabs. Allow to air dry for 10 seconds.
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3
Draw bacteriostatic water
For a 2 mg vial, draw 2.0 mL of bacteriostatic water to yield 1,000 mcg/mL — each 0.1 mL (10 units) equals 100 mcg. For a 5 mg vial, draw 2.5 mL to yield 2,000 mcg/mL — each 0.1 mL (10 units) equals 200 mcg.
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4
Inject slowly down the vial wall
Angle the needle so the water flows along the inside wall of the hexarelin vial rather than directly onto the lyophilized powder. Slow injection prevents foaming and protects the peptide structure.
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5
Gently swirl to dissolve
Roll the vial gently between your palms until the powder is fully dissolved. Hexarelin dissolves readily as a white lyophilized solid and should produce a clear, colourless solution. Do not shake.
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6
Store correctly
Refrigerate the reconstituted vial at 2–8°C away from light. Hexarelin is stable for up to 30 days post-reconstitution with bacteriostatic water when stored refrigerated. Do not freeze the reconstituted solution.
Quick Reconstitution Math
2 mg vial + 2.0 mL BW = 1,000 mcg/mL. A 100 mcg dose = 0.10 mL (10 units on an insulin syringe). A 200 mcg dose = 0.20 mL (20 units). Use the Milligram reconstitution calculator for custom vial sizes.
Store lyophilized powder at room temperature or 2–8°C until reconstitution. After reconstitution with bacteriostatic water, refrigerate at 2–8°C and use within 30 days. Do not freeze reconstituted solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hexarelin and how does it work?
Hexarelin (examorelin) is a synthetic hexapeptide GH secretagogue that binds to the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) to trigger what is widely considered the most potent GH pulse of any GHRP. It also binds to the CD36 receptor in cardiac tissue, producing direct cardioprotective effects that are independent of GH release – a unique property not shared by other peptides in this class. Its high receptor affinity is the source of both its potency and its tendency toward faster desensitisation with continuous use.
Why does Hexarelin cause receptor desensitization?
Hexarelin's high affinity for the GHS-R1a receptor means it activates the receptor more aggressively than milder GHRPs like ipamorelin. With daily continuous administration, peak GH responses have been observed to decline significantly within 1–2 weeks, with a 50–75% reduction in efficacy reported over weeks to months of uninterrupted use. This desensitisation is partially reversible with a break period, which is why shorter cycles with mandatory off phases are the standard protocol approach.
How long should a Hexarelin cycle be?
Due to receptor desensitisation, most protocols observe cycles of 4–8 weeks followed by a 4–6 week break. Some protocols extend to 8–12 weeks with conservative dosing (100–150 mcg/injection) to slow the onset of tolerance. Continuous uninterrupted use is not commonly observed with hexarelin, unlike some other GH secretagogues, due to the well-documented blunting of GH response over time.
What makes Hexarelin different from GHRP-2 and GHRP-6?
Hexarelin produces the highest peak GH release per dose of the commonly used GHRPs – a distinction that comes with faster receptor downregulation compared to GHRP-2 or GHRP-6. Its unique binding to CD36 receptors in cardiac tissue also gives it cardioprotective properties that are independent of the GH axis. Appetite stimulation is moderate, less pronounced than GHRP-6, and cortisol/prolactin elevations are observed similarly to other non-selective GHRPs.
What are the reported cardiovascular effects of Hexarelin?
Research has observed that hexarelin binds to CD36 receptors in cardiac tissue, producing effects on left ventricular function that appear to be independent of GH or IGF-1 elevation. Studies in animal models have shown attenuation of LV dysfunction and remodelling in heart failure models. These cardiovascular observations are unique to hexarelin among the GHRP class and are an area of ongoing research interest.
Can Hexarelin be stacked with other peptides?
Hexarelin is most effectively stacked with a GHRH-class peptide such as CJC-1295 (no DAC) or sermorelin, as the two pathways are complementary and produce synergistically amplified GH output. Stacking hexarelin with other GHRPs (GHRP-2, GHRP-6, ipamorelin) is not commonly observed since they compete for the same receptor. MK-677 is sometimes used alongside hexarelin to provide sustained baseline GH elevation between pulse doses.