VialOwlLibrary / Growth hormone
Hexarelin
Also known as Examorelin
Human trials
Synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue acting on the ghrelin receptor. Studied in small human studies of growth hormone release; not approved as a medicine.
Not an approved medicine. Hexarelin is not an approved medicine for this use in Australia or the United States. This page summarises published research for information only. It is not a recommendation to use Hexarelin, and VialOwl does not sell or supply it.
Background
Synthetic hexapeptide in the growth hormone releasing peptide family, closely related to GHRP-6. First reported in human studies in 1994 by an Italian group at the University of Turin with Romano Deghenghi; never approved as a medicine.
How it is thought to work
Activates the ghrelin receptor to release growth hormone, with a stronger effect than GHRP-6. It also binds the CD36 receptor in heart tissue, which may explain direct effects on heart function seen in studies.
What is claimed, and the evidence
| Claim | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulating growth hormone release | Small human studies | Small studies in healthy volunteers showed strong growth hormone release by injection, nasal and oral routes; the effect partly fades with continued use. |
| Improving heart pumping function | Small human studies | A single dose raised ejection fraction during bypass surgery in a small study; other evidence is from rats. |
| Testing pituitary reserve | Small human studies | Studied in patients with pituitary disease in the 1990s. |
| Muscle gain, fat loss and injury recovery | No published evidence | Marketed online; no controlled trials for these uses. |
Side effects
| Effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raised cortisol, ACTH and prolactin | Common | Seen in healthy volunteers. |
| Reduced deep (slow wave) sleep | Frequency unknown | Shown in a sleep study of 7 healthy men. |
| Loss of effect with repeated use | Common | Growth hormone response fell by about 45% over 16 weeks of twice daily injections, recovering after a break. |
| Raised blood glucose, fluid retention, joint pain | Frequency unknown | Reported for GH secretagogues as a class. |
Warnings
- Not approved anywhere; human data are limited to small short studies from the 1990s and 2000s.
- Unapproved products bought online or from compounders may be contaminated, non sterile, underdosed, overdosed or contain a different substance; the TGA warns their labelling may be inaccurate and it has received reports of severe allergic reactions and hospitalisations.
Regulatory status
- Australia
- Not included on the ARTG (unapproved). Schedule 4 in the Poisons Standard (listed by name), with Appendix D clause 5 possession controls.
- United States
- Not FDA approved. No specific FDA compounding category entry found.
Sources
- PubMed: Growth hormone-releasing activity of hexarelin, a new synthetic hexapeptide, in man (1994)
- PubMed: Does desensitization to hexarelin occur?
- PubMed: Hexarelin decreases slow-wave sleep and stimulates GH, ACTH, cortisol and prolactin during sleep
- PubMed: Effects of acute hexarelin administration on cardiac performance during by-pass surgery
- PubMed: The cardiovascular action of hexarelin
- Poisons Standard June 2026 (Federal Register of Legislation)
Also in Growth hormone
From the VialOwl library, reviewed 26 September 2026. For education and general information. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use Hexarelin.