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Peptide profile

GHRP-2 and GHRP-6: FDA Status, Research and Uses

By Living+. Updated October 25, 2026.

Key takeaway

GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 are lab-made 6 amino acid peptides that trigger growth hormone release from the pituitary. Neither is FDA approved. They were studied in the 1980s and 1990s, mostly as growth hormone tests and in children of short stature. FDA lists both as compounding safety risks, and WADA bans both [1, 4, 6, 10].

At a glance

Where it stands

Checked

  • FDA approvedNoNo approved product
  • Pharmacy compounding (503A)Category 3Both GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 are in 503A category 3 (nominated without adequate support) on FDA's list updated May 14, 2026.
  • Outsourcing facilities (503B)Category 2Status differs by route: GHRP-6, and GHRP-2 for injectable and nasal routes, are in 503B category 2 (significant safety risks, added September 29, 2023); GHRP-2 for other routes is in 503B category 1 (under evaluation). List updated March 21, 2025.
  • WADA (sport)ProhibitedS2.2.4 GH-releasing peptides (GHRPs)
Same data as the Status Tracker. Checked against 7 sources

Key facts

Class
Growth hormone-releasing peptides (GHRPs), a type of growth hormone secretagogue [10, 6]
Length
6 amino acids each (hexapeptides) [4, 7]
Half-life
GHRP-2: about 0.55 hours after an IV dose (10 children). GHRP-6: no human half-life found in the sources reviewed [8]
Route in studies
IV in most human studies; intranasal GHRP-2 also tested in children [5, 6, 7]
First studied
1984 (GHRP-6, in lab and animal studies) [4]

How it works

GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 are small peptides of 6 amino acids that act on the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. GHRP-6 has the sequence His-DTrp-Ala-Trp-DPhe-Lys-NH2. In early animal studies it released growth hormone without releasing LH, FSH, TSH or prolactin [4].

These peptides do not act like growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). GHRP-2 shares no structural likeness with GHRH, but its effects on pituitary growth hormone release are similar in clinical studies [7]. In 18 healthy men, GHRP-6 and GHRH given together released more growth hormone than expected from each alone, which suggests they act through separate pathways [5].

GHRPs are less selective than some newer peptides. In healthy men, the highest tested dose of GHRP-6 roughly doubled prolactin and cortisol [5]. In pigs, both GHRP-6 and GHRP-2 raised ACTH and cortisol, while the related peptide ipamorelin did not [11].

GHRP-2 was the most studied of the pair in people. It raised growth hormone in children of short stature when given by IV or nasal spray [6]. It also reactivated growth hormone secretion in men with prolonged critical illness [9]. WADA lists GHRP-2 under the name pralmorelin [10].

What the research shows

5 human trials1 animal study

  1. 2002Human trial

    Van den Berghe et al., critical illness

    33 men with prolonged critical illness Randomized to 5 days of placebo, GHRP-2, GHRP-2 plus TRH, or GHRP-2 plus TRH and GnRH

    GHRP-2 infusion restarted GH secretion and brought IGF-1 to normal. Some metabolic changes were seen only with the combined hormones [9]

    Read the study
  2. 1998Human trial

    Pihoker et al., GHRP-2 phase 1 PK study

    10 prepubertal children Phase 1, single 1 mcg/kg IV dose

    GHRP-2 half-life was about 0.55 hours. GH rose in a predictable way [8]

    Read the study
  3. 1997Human trial

    Pihoker et al., intranasal GHRP-2 treatment

    Studied for growth

    15 children with short stature Single group, intranasal GHRP-2 for 6 months (6 children for 18 to 24 months)

    Height velocity rose from 3.7 to 6.1 cm/yr at 6 months. IGF-1 did not change [7]

    Read the study
  4. 1995Human trial

    Pihoker et al., GHRP-2 diagnostic study

    24 children of short stature Diagnostic comparison of IV and intranasal GHRP-2 with standard growth hormone tests

    GH responses to GHRP-2 and GHRH were similar in each child. All 15 children given intranasal GHRP-2 had a significant GH response [6]

    Read the study
  5. 1990Human trial

    Bowers et al., GHRP-6 in healthy men

    18 healthy men IV bolus doses of 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mcg/kg, alone and with GHRH, vs placebo

    Mean peak GH was 68.7 mcg/L at 1.0 mcg/kg vs 1.2 on placebo. GHRP-6 and GHRH together had a synergistic effect [5]

    Read the study
  6. 1984Animal study

    Bowers et al., GHRP-6 discovery

    Rat pituitary cells; rats, monkeys, lambs and calves Lab and animal tests

    GHRP-6 released GH in a dose-related way without releasing LH, FSH, TSH or prolactin [4]

    Read the study

Doses used in studies

In healthy men, GHRP-6 was given as a single IV bolus of 0.1, 0.3 or 1.0 mcg/kg [5].

In children, GHRP-2 was tested as a single 1 mcg/kg IV dose and as intranasal doses of 5 to 20 mcg/kg [6, 8]. In the treatment study, children used intranasal GHRP-2 at 5 to 15 mcg/kg twice a day for 3 months, then three times a day [7]. In critically ill men, GHRP-2 was infused at 1 mcg/kg per hour for 5 days [9].

Dosing is set by a licensed provider.

Side effects and safety

FDA lists both peptides on its compounding safety risks page. For GHRP-2, FDA cites a risk of immune reactions and reports of serious adverse events, including a higher insulin need to control blood sugar, deaths of critically ill study subjects, infection and pancreatitis, though causality was not established [1].

For GHRP-6, FDA cites a risk of immune reactions and limited safety data showing possible effects on cortisol and a rise in blood sugar from lower insulin sensitivity [1].

In the 1990 study in healthy men, no adverse clinical effects or lab abnormalities were seen with GHRP-6 [5]. Intranasal GHRP-2 was well tolerated in children [7]. In critically ill men, blood lactate and white blood cell counts rose by day 5 on GHRP-2 alone [9].

Common questions

Are GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 FDA approved?

No. A 1995 study called GHRP-2 an investigational drug [6], and FDA's 503B list does not mark either as a component of an FDA-approved drug [3].

Can pharmacies compound GHRP-2 or GHRP-6?

Both are in 503A category 3, meaning they were nominated without adequate support [2]. For outsourcing facilities, GHRP-6 and injectable or nasal GHRP-2 are in 503B category 2 for safety risks [3, 1].

What is the difference between GHRP-2 and GHRP-6?

Both are 6 amino acid peptides [4, 7]. GHRP-2 is also called pralmorelin [10]. FDA notes GHRP-2 contains a non-natural amino acid, and its 503B status depends on the route [1, 3].

Is GHRP-6 banned in sports?

Yes. The WADA 2026 Prohibited List names GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 under S2.2.4, banned in and out of competition [10].

Do GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 raise cortisol?

They can. The top tested dose of GHRP-6 roughly doubled cortisol in healthy men [5], and both raised cortisol in pigs [11].

Do GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 affect blood sugar?

FDA cites a higher insulin need with GHRP-2 and a rise in blood sugar with GHRP-6 among its safety concerns [1].

Were GHRPs tested in children?

Yes. GHRP-2 was studied in children of short stature as a growth hormone test and as a nasal spray for 6 months or more [6, 7].

How is GHRP-6 different from ipamorelin?

In pig studies, GHRP-6 raised ACTH and cortisol while ipamorelin did not, at similar growth hormone release [11].

Sources

  1. FDA: Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks
  2. FDA: Bulk drug substances nominated under section 503A (categories, updated May 14, 2026)
  3. FDA: Bulk drug substances nominated under section 503B (categories, updated March 21, 2025)
  4. Bowers et al. 1984, Endocrinology (PubMed)
  5. Bowers et al. 1990, J Clin Endocrinol Metab (PubMed)
  6. Pihoker et al. 1995, J Clin Endocrinol Metab (PubMed)
  7. Pihoker et al. 1997, J Endocrinol (PubMed)
  8. Pihoker et al. 1998, J Clin Endocrinol Metab (PubMed)
  9. Van den Berghe et al. 2002, Clin Endocrinol (PubMed)
  10. WADA: 2026 Prohibited List
  11. Raun et al. 1998, Eur J Endocrinol (PubMed)

Updated October 25, 2026. Educational information, not medical advice.