GHRP-6

GHRP-6 is a lab-made chain of six amino acids ^{[9] [17]}. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. It makes the pituitary gland release growth hormone ^[17]. That is a gland at the base of the brain. Most of its effect needs a hormone the body already makes, called growth hormone-releasing hormone ^[10].

Doctors have studied GHRP-6 as a test for growth hormone shortage in adults ^[12]. Labs have also tested it for heart and gut injury in rats ^{[13] [14] [16]}. Today GHRP-6 is sold online as a research compound for body shape and sports ^[19].

GHRP-6 is on Category 2, FDA's list of substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding ^[1]. That is FDA's view while it keeps reviewing, not a final rule, and it gives no compounder a legal route to make GHRP-6 ^{[5] [6]}. GHRP-6 is also in no FDA-approved drug ^[6]. Checked 25 October 2026.

FDA keeps lists for two kinds of compounders. A pharmacy is covered by section 503A of the law. An outsourcing facility is covered by section 503B ^{[3] [5]}. On FDA's outsourcing list of 21 March 2025, GHRP-6 is in Category 2 in every form ^[4]. FDA added it on 29 September 2023 ^[1]. FDA says it would consider acting against an outsourcing facility that makes drugs from a Category 2 substance ^[5].

On FDA's pharmacy list of 14 May 2026, GHRP-6 is in Category 3 ^[2]. That category holds substances nominated without enough support for FDA to review them ^{[2] [3]}. FDA has told pharmacies that drugs made from GHRP-6 do not meet the rules for pharmacy compounding ^{[6] [7]}.

GHRP-6 was studied as a test for growth hormone shortage ^[12]. It is sold to build muscle and change body shape ^[19]. A law firm and a pharmacy magazine expected it to stay restricted after a February 2026 federal announcement on peptides ^{[8] [20]}.

The evidence grade is limited-human: small studies in people show GHRP-6 raises growth hormone, but none tested the uses it is sold for ^{[10] [11] [12] [19]}.

In nine healthy men, GHRP-6 given into a vein stayed in the blood for hours ^[9]. Four of them had odd spikes of GHRP-6 as the body removed it ^[9]. In nine other healthy men, a drug that blocks growth hormone-releasing hormone stopped most of the growth hormone rise from GHRP-6 ^[10]. In 16 healthy adults, the steroid dexamethasone made that rise larger ^[11]. In 20 adult patients, a GHRP-6 test picked out those short of growth hormone as well as a standard test did ^[12]. The only problem seen in that study was flushing ^[12].

In rats given the cancer drug doxorubicin, GHRP-6 protected the heart and other organs ^[13]. In rats with a model of a heart attack, it reduced scarring and helped the heart pump ^[14]. In rats under stress, it prevented stomach damage ^[16]. In a model of organ failure, it reduced liver and gut damage, and the study summary does not name the species ^[15]. In human pituitary tumor cells grown in a lab, it raised growth hormone release ^[17]. These are animal and lab results, not results in people.

A rise in growth hormone on a test is a lab marker. It does not show more muscle or faster recovery ^[19]. A 2026 review says the benefits for sports and body shape are uncertain ^[19].

There is no legal route to GHRP-6 in the US today ^{[1] [4]}. No approved drug contains it, and drugs made from it do not meet the rules for pharmacy compounding ^[6]. Every form is in Category 2 on FDA's outsourcing list, so no outsourcing facility has a route either ^{[4] [5]}.

Any open trial would appear in the trials block below, with the date the official registry was last checked.

Two ways of getting GHRP-6 show up in the records ^{[6] [19]}. The first is pharmacies that make it although the law does not allow it. FDA has sent warning letters to pharmacies that made drugs from GHRP-6 ^{[6] [7]}. One pharmacy told FDA it had dropped GHRP-6 from its products ^[7].

The second is online sellers that market it as a research compound. A 2026 review says what these products hold, and how strong they are, is uncertain ^[19]. Doping labs have found a changed form, Gly-GHRP-6, in growth products sold outside legal channels ^[18]. Under federal law, a new drug may not be sold across state lines without FDA approval ^[6]. GHRP-6 is in no approved drug ^[6].

FDA warns that compounded GHRP-6 may set off the immune system and may affect cortisol and blood sugar ^[1].