Hexarelin: dosage in studies
Not a recommendation, not treatment guidance. This page shows only what published human studies used, with sources. This site does not say how much anyone should use of any substance. Fimea warns against using injectable peptides bought online: Fimea warning.
Hexarelin has no marketing authorisation, it is on Fimea's medicines list, and WADA bans it at all times (S2) [7, 8]regulator.
In 1990s studies, hexarelin was mostly given once into a vein, in micrograms per kilogram of body weight, to measure the hormone response [1, 2, 4]A [3, 5]B.
Longer use has been studied in short children: 60 µg/kg as a nasal spray three times a day for up to 8-10 months [9, 10]B. In older adults it was given under the skin twice a day for 16 weeks; the dose was not reported [6]E, not peer-reviewed.
Doses used in studies
| Study | Participants | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Source and level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massoud 1996 (randomised) | Healthy adult men | 0-1.0 µg/kg into a vein; also GHRH 1.0 µg/kg alone or together with hexarelin 0.125 µg/kg | Single doses | On separate study days | [1]A |
| Arvat 1997 (randomised) | 6 healthy men aged 24-30 | 0.25, 0.5 and 2.0 µg/kg into a vein, alone or with pyridostigmine (120 mg by mouth) or GHRH (1.0 µg/kg) | Single doses | 120 minutes of follow-up | [2]A |
| Loche 1995 | 15 children and 4 adults with growth hormone deficiency; 45 short children as controls | 2 µg/kg into a vein | Single dose | One test | [3]B |
| Ciccarelli 1996 (randomised order, placebo) | 8 patients with acromegaly, 6 with excess prolactin secretion and 14 healthy people | 2 µg/kg into a vein | Single dose | 2 hours of follow-up | [4]A |
| Arosio 1998 (placebo comparison) | 7 healthy adults aged 24-29 | 1 µg/kg into a vein, alone or with TRH | Single dose | Three study days | [5]B |
| Rahim 1998 (no control group) | 12 healthy older people | Under the skin; dose not reported | Twice a day | 16 weeks, repeat dose after a 4-week break | [6]E, not peer-reviewed |
| Laron 1995 (no control group) | 8 prepubertal short children aged 4-11.6 years | 60 µg/kg as a nasal spray | Three times a day | Up to 8 months | [9]B |
| Klinger 1996 (no control group) | 7 prepubertal short children, mean age 7.6 years | 60 µg/kg as a nasal spray | Three times a day | 6-10 months, follow-up 3 months after stopping | [10]B |
Evidence levels: regulator = a regulator's assessment or decision, not research evidence · A = randomised human trial or meta-analysis · B = observational human study or case series · C = animal study · D = cell or laboratory study · E = not peer-reviewed
Units: µg = microgram, written mcg in the calculator. A milligram (mg) is a thousand times larger.
Notes
The growth hormone response levelled off at 1.0 µg/kg into a vein, and half the maximum response came at 0.48 µg/kg. The matching figure for prolactin was lower, 0.39 µg/kg [1]A.
The single doses into a vein were test stimuli in hormone studies, not treatment doses [1, 2]A.
What points the other way or is uncertain
Given twice a day for 16 weeks, the growth hormone response fell from 19.1 at baseline to 10.5 (µg·h/l). After a four-week break the response returned to baseline [6]E, not peer-reviewed. In children on the nasal spray, the growth hormone response to a test dose halved within seven days and partly recovered three months after treatment stopped [10]B.
Cortisol rose by about 40 per cent at 0.5 µg/kg, and prolactin by up to 180 per cent [1]A.
- Hexarelin: the full substance page
- Hexarelin: why no calculator preset
- Are peptides legal in Finland?
- All dose pages and calculators
Read the research yourself: sources
- Massoud AF, Hindmarsh PC, Brook CG. Hexarelin-induced growth hormone, cortisol, and prolactin release: a dose-response study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1996;81:4338-4341. PMID 8954038
- Arvat E, Di Vito L, Ramunni J, et al. Low hexarelin dose and pyridostigmine have additive effect and potentiate to the same extent the GHRH-induced GH response in man. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1997;47:495-500. PMID 9404449
- Loche S, Cambiaso P, Merola B, et al. The effect of hexarelin on growth hormone (GH) secretion in patients with GH deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1995;80:2692-2696. PMID 7673411
- Ciccarelli E, Grottoli S, Razzore P, et al. Hexarelin, a synthetic growth hormone releasing peptide, stimulates prolactin secretion in acromegalic but not in hyperprolactinaemic patients. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1996;44:67-71. PMID 8706295
- Arosio M, Casati G, Biella O, et al. Lack of effect of hexarelin on TRH-induced TSH response in normal adult man. J Endocrinol Invest. 1998;21:239-244. PMID 9624598
- Rahim A, Shalet SM. Does desensitization to hexarelin occur? Growth Horm IGF Res. 1998;8 Suppl B:141-143. Short report in a supplement issue; peer review could not be confirmed. PMID 10990150 not peer-reviewed
- Finland. Lääkeluettelo (Fimea medicines list), 230/2025, annex 1 A ("Heksareliini") and annex 1 ("Eksamoreliini"). Finlex
- World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026 Prohibited List, section S2.2.4: "examorelin (hexarelin)". WADA
- Laron Z, Frenkel J, Deghenghi R, et al. Intranasal administration of the GHRP hexarelin accelerates growth in short children. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1995;43:631-635. PMID 8548949
- Klinger B, Silbergeld A, Deghenghi R, et al. Desensitization from long-term intranasal treatment with hexarelin does not interfere with the biological effects of this growth hormone-releasing peptide in short children. Eur J Endocrinol. 1996;134:716-719. PMID 8766941
Doses are from the abstracts of the sources, read 14 Oct 2026. Source 6 is a short report in a supplement issue (level E).
Content is general information about research, not medical advice. If you have symptoms, contact a healthcare professional.