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Hexarelin

Examorelin, HEX

A synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue that stimulates GH release by acting on the ghrelin receptor in the pituitary and hypothalamus.

Quick Stats
Studies 233
Trials 61
Formula C47H58N12O6
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Utility 3
pubmed 1999

Six-week treatment with hexarelin in young dogs: evaluation of the GH responsiveness to acute hexarelin or GHRH administration, and of the orexigenic effect of hexarelin.

Rigamonti. A E AE; Cella. S G SG; Marazzi. N N; Müller. E E EE

In a 6‑week study on young dogs, giving hexarelin twice daily first boosted growth‑hormone (GH) spikes, especially at week 3, but the boost faded by week 6. The body’s response to a separate GH‑releasing hormone stayed steady, and the appetite‑stimulating effect of hexarelin disappeared mid‑study then came back later, hinting at different brain receptors.

Utility 3
pubmed 2002

Leptin regulates GH gene expression and secretion and nitric oxide production in pig pituitary cells.

Baratta. M M; Saleri. R R; Mainardi. G L GL; Valle. D D; Giustina. A A; Tamanini. C C

In pig pituitary cells, leptin directly raises growth‑hormone (GH) release, and the GH‑releasing peptide hexarelin (10 nM) boosts GH gene activity after a day. When used together, leptin and hexarelin work better than alone, and nitric‑oxide may help this effect. The work is done in vitro, so it hints at how these compounds could interact in the body but isn’t a proven human protocol.

Utility 3
pubmed 1997

Effect of long-term administration of Hexarelin on the somatotrophic axis in aged rats.

Cattaneo. L L; Luoni. M M; Settembrini. B B; Müller. E E EE; Cocchi. D D

In older rats, giving the peptide hexarelin every day for up to two months kept the growth‑hormone (GH) system working better, leading to bigger GH spikes after a single dose, and it lowered a brain hormone (somatostatin) that normally blocks GH. However, it didn’t raise the downstream hormone IGF‑1, and the study was done in rats, not people.

Utility 3
pubmed 1998

Lack of effect of hexarelin on TRH-induced TSH response in normal adult man.

Arosio. M M; Casati. G G; Biella. O O; Porretti. S S; Imbimbo. B P BP; Faglia. G G

Hexarelin reliably raises growth hormone levels but doesn’t change thyroid‑stimulating hormone (TSH) either on its own or when combined with TRH, meaning it likely doesn’t interfere with the thyroid axis. It does cause a small increase in prolactin, which may be worth watching.

Utility 3
pubmed Sep 1, 1999

Growth hormone-independent cardioprotective effects of hexarelin in the rat.

Locatelli. V V; Rossoni. G G; Schweiger. F F; Torsello. A A; De Gennaro Colonna. V V; Bernareggi. M...

In rats without growth hormone, a 7‑day injection of the peptide hexarelin protected the heart from damage caused by a brief loss of blood flow and showed benefits similar to giving growth hormone, but it worked through a different heart‑specific receptor.

Utility 3
pubmed 2001

Biologic activities of growth hormone secretagogues in humans.

Ghigo. E E; Arvat. E E; Giordano. R R; Broglio. F F; Gianotti. L L; Maccario. M M; Bisi. G G; Grazia...

Growth hormone secretagogues like hexarelin can reliably raise GH levels in people, but the boost gets smaller as you age and is stronger when estrogen levels are high (e.g., during puberty). They also slightly raise prolactin and can trigger ACTH/cortisol spikes in certain conditions, and they affect sleep, appetite, and heart function.

Utility 3
pubmed Sep 1, 1999

Hexarelin as a test of pituitary reserve in patients with pituitary disease.

Korbonits. M M; Kaltsas. G G; Perry. L A LA; Grossman. A B AB; Monson. J P JP; Besser. G M GM; Train...

Hexarelin, a peptide that makes the pituitary release growth hormone, gave a much bigger GH spike than the traditional insulin‑induced test and matched well with IGF‑1 levels, meaning it can flag people who are GH‑deficient. However, it didn’t reliably show how the adrenal glands (cortisol) are working, so it isn’t useful for that purpose.

Utility 3
pubmed 1998

Growth hormone responses to growth hormone-releasing hormone and hexarelin in fed and fasted dogs: effect of somatostatin infusion or pretreatment with pirenzepine.

Rigamonti. A E AE; Marazzi. N N; Cella. S G SG; Cattaneo. L L; Müller. E E EE

In dogs, not humans, fasting makes the body release more growth hormone when given GHRH and a bit more when given the peptide hexarelin. Blocking somatostatin (a hormone that normally suppresses growth hormone) only works in fed animals, and only a high dose can slightly dampen hexarelin’s effect. A drug that blocks certain brain receptors (pirenzepine) reduces the hormone boost from both GHRH and hexarelin, especially when fed, but has little impact when fasted or when the two are combined.

Utility 3
pubmed 1997

Hepatic extraction of hexarelin, a new peptidic GH secretagogue, in the isolated perfused rat liver.

Roumi. M M; Marleau. S S; Boghen. M M; Nilsson. M M; Du Souich. P P; Ong. H H

The study shows that hexarelin, a peptide that boosts growth hormone, is only partly taken up by the liver (about 20%) and sticks to blood proteins quite a lot (around 65‑80%). This means the liver doesn’t clear it quickly, and the peptide stays in the bloodstream longer, at least in rats and in lab tests with human blood.

Utility 3
pubmed 1997

Adrenocorticotropin- and cortisol-releasing effect of hexarelin, a synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide, in normal subjects and patients with Cushing's syndrome.

Ghigo. E E; Arvat. E E; Ramunni. J J; Colao. A A; Gianotti. L L; Deghenghi. R R; Lombardi. G G; Cama...

Hexarelin, a growth‑hormone‑releasing peptide, not only boosts GH but also spikes ACTH and cortisol. In healthy people the rise is similar to that caused by CRH, but in patients with pituitary‑driven Cushing’s it’s dramatically larger, while it does nothing in adrenal‑ or ectopic‑ACTH Cushing’s. This shows hexarelin can strongly activate the stress‑hormone axis, especially when the pituitary is over‑active.

Utility 3
pubmed Oct 29, 1999

Identification and characterization of a new growth hormone-releasing peptide receptor in the heart.

Bodart. V V; Bouchard. J F JF; McNicoll. N N; Escher. E E; Carrière. P P; Ghigo. E E; Sejlitz....

Hexarelin, a peptide that boosts growth hormone, also tightens the blood vessels in the heart of rats by acting on a newly found heart‑specific receptor. This effect uses calcium channels and protein kinase C, not the usual prostaglandin pathways, and other similar GH‑releasing drugs don’t cause it. While it may help protect the heart after a lack of blood flow, the vasoconstriction could be a safety concern for people using hexarelin for performance or longevity.

Utility 3
pubmed 1997

The GH-releasing effect of Hexarelin, a synthetic hexapeptide, in newborns is lower than in young adults.

Bartolotta. E E; Bellone. J J; Aimaretti. G G; Arvat. E E; Benso. L L; Deghenghi. R R; Camanni. F F;...

Hexarelin, a synthetic peptide, can raise growth hormone (GH) levels in adults, but it works less well in newborns. In kids and adults, it actually triggers more GH than the natural hormone GHRH, while newborns respond better to GHRH than to hexarelin. This shows the peptide’s effect changes with age and isn’t just causing the body to release its own GHRH.

Utility 3
pubmed Sep 1, 1999

Corticotropin-releasing effect of hexarelin, a peptidyl GH secretagogue, in normal subjects pretreated with metyrapone or RU-486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and in patients with Addison's disease.

Arvat. E E; Ramunni. J J; Maccagno. B B; Giordano. R R; Broglio. F F; Deghenghi. R R; Boscaro. M M;...

Hexarelin, a peptide that boosts growth hormone, also makes the body release ACTH and cortisol. This effect gets much stronger when cortisol levels are low (like after taking metyrapone or in Addison's disease), but blocking the glucocorticoid receptor doesn’t change it. For people experimenting with hexarelin, it means the drug can significantly stir up the adrenal stress axis, especially if your cortisol is already low.

Utility 3
pubmed 1997

Hexarelin is a stronger GH-releasing peptide than GHRH in normal cycling women but not in anorexia nervosa.

Giusti. M M; Foppiani. L L; Ponzani. P P; Cuttica. C M CM; Falivene. M R MR; Valenti. S S

Hexarelin, a synthetic peptide, triggers a bigger growth‑hormone spike than the usual GHRH peptide in healthy women, but it doesn’t add extra benefit in women recovering from anorexia where GH is already high. It also raises prolactin in healthy women and causes a short‑term cortisol rise in patients. The study used IV doses in a very small group, so while it hints hexarelin could be a stronger GH‑boosting tool for normal people, practical dosing and safety still need more research.

Utility 3
pubmed 1999

The effects of dose, nutrition, and age on hexarelin-induced anterior pituitary hormone secretion in adult patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Jenkins. R C RC; El Nahas. A M AM; Wilkie. M E ME; Brown. C B CB; Jones. J J; Ghigo. E E; Ross. R J...

Hexarelin given by IV at about 2 µg per kg quickly raises growth‑hormone levels in both healthy people and kidney‑dialysis patients, with a slightly bigger effect in younger or malnourished subjects, but the boost fades with age and the study only looked at short‑term effects.

Utility 3
pubmed 1996

Somatotrope responsiveness to Hexarelin, a synthetic hexapeptide, is refractory to the inhibitory effect of glucose in obesity.

Grottoli. S S; Maccario. M M; Procopio. M M; Oleandri. S E SE; Arvat. E E; Gianotti. L L; Deghenghi....

Hexarelin can trigger a noticeable growth hormone surge in both lean and obese men, though the boost is smaller in obese individuals. In lean people, a sugary drink before taking hexarelin cuts the hormone rise, but this glucose‑blocking effect isn’t seen in obesity. Overall, hexarelin works better than the natural hormone‑releasing factor GHRH at the doses tested.

Utility 3
pubmed 1997

Growth hormone release by the novel GH releasing peptide hexarelin in patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia.

Tolis. G G; Karydis. I I; Markousis. V V; Karagiorga. M M; Mesimeris. T T; Lenaerts. V V; Deghenghi....

Hexarelin, a short peptide, caused a much bigger spike in growth hormone than the standard GHRH drug when given to 18 beta‑thalassemia patients, even when taken by mouth. This suggests it’s a powerful GH‑boosting agent, but the study was tiny, only in a specific disease group, and didn’t look at long‑term safety.

Utility 3
pubmed 1997

Effects of histaminergic antagonists on the GH-releasing activity of GHRH or hexarelin, a synthetic hexapeptide, in man.

Arvat. E E; Maccagno. B B; Ramunni. J J; Gianotti. L L; Di Vito. L L; Deghenghi. R R; Camanni. F F;...

Hexarelin gives a bigger growth‑hormone boost than the natural hormone‑releasing factor GHRH, and this effect isn’t changed by typical H1‑antihistamines. However, the common antihistamine diphenhydramine does dampen the GH rise, probably because of its anticholinergic action, not because it blocks histamine. Hexarelin also lifts prolactin, ACTH and cortisol, and these side‑hormone spikes aren’t affected by the antihistamines.

Utility 3
pubmed 1996

Influence of beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists on the GH-releasing effect of Hexarelin in man.

Arvat. E E; Gianotti. L L; Ramunni. J J; DiVito. L L; Deghenghi. R R; Camanni. F F; Ghigo. E E

Hexarelin gives a big jump in growth hormone, and this effect isn’t boosted by a beta‑blocker (atenolol) but is cut down if you take a beta‑agonist (salbutamol). So the GH boost from hexarelin is mostly independent of beta‑adrenergic activity, but it can be dampened by drugs that activate beta receptors.

Utility 3
pubmed 1996

Desensitization from long-term intranasal treatment with hexarelin does not interfere with the biological effects of this growth hormone-releasing peptide in short children.

Klinger. B B; Silbergeld. A A; Deghenghi. R R; Frenkel. J J; Laron. Z Z

A study gave short kids a nasal peptide called hexarelin every day for up to 10 months. Over time their bodies got used to it and released less growth hormone when given a dose, but they still grew taller faster than before. After stopping the peptide, the hormone response started to come back.