Approved outside US Performance and Recovery
GHRP-2
Also called Pralmorelin
A synthetic peptide that triggers growth hormone release and increases appetite. Small human studies show these short-term effects, not muscle, fat-loss or anti-aging benefits.
Overview
What it is
Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2, which acts on the ghrelin receptor. It is not HGH.
How it works
It mimics ghrelin, a hunger hormone that also stimulates growth hormone release from the pituitary.
What the research shows
GHRP-2 increased food intake in lean and obese adults. In a five-day study of healthy young men, the growth hormone response weakened with repeated use and IGF-1 did not rise as expected. An oral study in children with growth hormone deficiency used a different setting.
Studied for
- Growth hormone releasehuman
- Appetite and food intakehuman
- Diagnostic GH testingapproved in Japan
Safety and regulatory status
Safety and side effects
FDA flags immune reactions, impurities, and reports of increased insulin needs, infection, pancreatitis and deaths in critically ill study participants, without established causality. "Minimal side effects" claims are not supported.
Regulatory status
Approved in Japan (2004) as a diagnostic test. Not FDA approved; on FDA's compounding safety-risk list. Prohibited at all times by WADA.
Mixing and dosing reference
Reference information only. Read before using this section.
Reference information only. Not instructions. These mixing and dosing figures summarize published studies and third-party protocols so you can understand the research. They are not medical advice, not a recommendation that anyone use any substance, and not a treatment plan. They do not apply to Research Products, which are for laboratory research only and must never be used in humans or animals. Never self-administer any compound. Only a licensed healthcare professional who has evaluated you can decide whether a medication is appropriate and how it should be used.
GHRP-2 (5 mg Vial) Dosage Protocol
- Vial
- 5 mg GHRP-2
- Add diluent
- 3 mL
- Concentration
- 1.67 mg/mL
- 1 unit (U-100)
- 16.67 mcg in 0.01 mL
- Route
- Subcutaneous
- How often
- Once per day (subcutaneous); evening administration may align with nocturnal GH rhythms.
- Typical range
- 100–300 mcg once daily subcutaneously.
- Cycle length
- 8–16 weeks; some attenuation may occur in first 1–2 weeks but response stabilizes with continued dosing.
Standard / Gradual Approach
| Week | Daily Dose (mcg) | Units (per injection) (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | 100 mcg | 6 units (0.06 mL) |
| Weeks 3–4 | 150 mcg | 9 units (0.09 mL) |
| Weeks 5–8 | 200 mcg | 12 units (0.12 mL) |
| Weeks 9–12 | 200 mcg | 12 units (0.12 mL) |
| Weeks 13–16 | 200 mcg | 12 units (0.12 mL) |
How to mix
- Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe.
- Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid foaming.
- Gently swirl or roll until completely dissolved (do not shake).
- Label and refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F), protected from light.
Dosing details
- Start: 100 mcg daily (Weeks 1–2); this starting dose provides strong GH pulse while allowing tolerance assessment.
- Mid-level: 150 mcg daily (Weeks 3–4) to enhance GH response if well tolerated.
- Target: 200 mcg daily (Weeks 5–16) for maximal effect in most research scenarios; advanced researchers may optionally increase to 250–300 mcg.
- Frequency: Once per day (subcutaneous); evening administration may align with nocturnal GH rhythms.
- Cycle Length: 8–16 weeks; some attenuation may occur in first 1–2 weeks but response stabilizes with continued dosing.
Storage
- Lyophilized: Follow the exact product’s storage temperature and expiration instructions; keep the vial dry and protected from light.
- Reconstituted: Refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F); follow formulation-specific use-by and sterile-handling instructions. Do not assume aliquoting or freezing extends stability; avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
- Allow vials to reach room temperature before opening to reduce condensation uptake.
- Always protect from light and heat.
Administration technique
- Clean the vial rubber stopper and skin with alcohol swabs; allow to dry completely.
- Use a fine insulin syringe (typically 29–31 gauge, 0.5-inch needle).
- Pinch an inch of skin fat (abdomen, thigh, or outer upper arm); insert needle at 45° to 90° into subcutaneous tissue. (Use 90° angle if ample fatty tissue; 45° for leaner individuals to avoid intramuscular injection.)
- Do not aspirate for subcutaneous injections - aspiration is unnecessary and can cause needless tissue trauma.
- Inject slowly and steadily; wait a few seconds before withdrawing needle at same angle.
- Apply gentle pressure with swab if needed; do not massage or rub injection site.
- Rotate sites systematically to prevent irritation and lipodystrophy - space injections at least 1 inch apart.
Important notes
- Use new sterile insulin syringes for each injection; dispose in a sharps container.
- Rotate injection sites (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) to reduce local irritation and prevent lipodystrophy.
- Very frequent dosing (e.g., every 2 hours) can cause progressive attenuation due to acute tachyphylaxis; once-daily administration avoids this issue.
- Multiple daily injections (2–3×) have been explored but require strict adherence and may offer limited added benefit.
- Document daily dose and site rotation to maintain consistency.
Protocol source: PeptideDosages.com
Common questions
Does GHRP-2 make you hungry?
Yes, increased food intake is one of its clearest effects.
Does a GH rise prove it builds muscle?
No. Muscle and fat outcomes were not measured.
Is it approved anywhere?
Only as a diagnostic agent in Japan.
Found in these blends
Related in Performance and Recovery
Sources and further reading (6)
- Laferrère B, et al. GHRP-2 increases food intake in healthy men, 2005.
- Laferrère B, et al. Obese subjects respond to GHRP-2 on food intake, 2006.
- Nijland EA, et al. Five-day GHRP-2 treatment and IGF-1 in young men, 1998.
- FDA. Bulk drug substances with significant safety risks.
- WADA. 2026 Prohibited List, S2.
- Source summary: PeptideDosages.com research overview (rewritten for NVO).
Laboratory research material: GHRP-2 Research Use Only
Educational information only. This content summarizes published research for general education. It is not medical advice, not a recommendation to use any substance, and not an instruction for human or animal use. It does not describe any Research Product sold on this site.