GHRP-2
Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2
Also called GHRP-2, pralmorelin, KP-102
The stronger GH pulse, less of the hunger
GHRP-2 is the middle option in this family: a stronger growth hormone release than GHRP-6 with noticeably less of the hunger. It is used clinically in Japan as a diagnostic test, which is more official standing than most peptides here manage.
A second-generation hexapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist that produces a larger growth hormone pulse than GHRP-6 with noticeably less appetite stimulation. GHRP-2 is the workhorse GH secretagogue — more potent than GHRP-6, cleaner on hunger, but still capable of a mild prolactin and cortisol bump at higher doses.
- Half-life
- ~15–60 min
- Route
- Subcutaneous injection
- Typical dose
- 100–300 mcg 1–3x/day
- Availability
- Research-only
Studied in people, and well studied in animals
What people use GHRP-2 for
Reported uses, roughly in order of how often they are the reason someone goes looking. Whether it works for any of them is a separate question, answered under each one.
- A growth hormone pulse without the hunger
- The reason people pick it over GHRP-6. Appetite still rises, but far less, which makes it usable by people who are not trying to gain weight.
- Testing pituitary function
- Its approved use in Japan. A dose is given and growth hormone measured, to see whether the pituitary is capable of responding.
- Paired with a GHRH
- Standard practice. Combined with CJC-1295 or sermorelin because the two work through different receptors and the combined pulse is larger than either alone.
Mechanism of Action
How GHRP-2 works
GHRP-2 drives growth hormone release through the ghrelin/GHS-R1a pathway:
- Ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) activation — binds the growth hormone secretagogue receptor on pituitary somatotrophs and triggers a robust GH pulse, with greater potency than GHRP-6 at equivalent doses.
- Reduced appetite signal — still ghrelin-mimetic, but the hunger response is markedly milder than GHRP-6, making GHRP-2 the preferred choice for those who want GH without the food drive.
- Mild secondary hormones — can nudge prolactin, cortisol and ACTH upward at higher doses, though far less than GHRP-6. Dose control keeps these minimal.
- Synergy with GHRH peptides — increases pulse amplitude; pairs with CJC-1295, which extends pulse duration, for a combined output greater than either alone.
GHRP-2 dosage calculator
Opens at 100 mcg, from the doses reported for GHRP-2. Change any box to match your own vial. It works out where to pull the plunger to.
How much is in the vial?
Printed on the label, in milligrams
How much water did you add?
Bacteriostatic water, in millilitres
What dose are you taking?
The dose you already intend to use
Which syringe?
Barrel size, printed on the wrapper
Draw to
2 units
on a 0.5 mL insulin syringe (0.02 mL)
- Strength once mixed
- 5 mg/mL
- Doses in the vial
- 100
10 mg in 2 mL makes 5 mg/mL. A 100 mcg dose is 0.02 mL of that, which is 2 units.
Want a rounder number? Adding 10 mL instead would put this dose at exactly 10 units, which is easier to draw accurately.
This is arithmetic, not advice. It converts a dose you already have into a mark on a syringe. It does not tell you what dose to take, and GHRP-2 is not prescribed by us. Dosing belongs with a qualified clinician.
GHRP-2 side effects: what people reported
Cleaner than GHRP-6 and hexarelin, dirtier than ipamorelin. It still nudges cortisol and prolactin, just less.
What most people notice
- Increased appetite, milder than GHRP-6
- A head rush on injecting
- Tiredness
- Puffiness in the first weeks
- Injection-site redness
Worth keeping an eye on
- Some rise in cortisol and prolactin at higher doses
- Tingling hands from fluid retention
- Blood sugar drifting up, as with anything raising growth hormone
Source: Clinical diagnostic use plus reported experience. This is a summary of published findings, not a complete safety profile and not medical advice. GHRP-2 should only be considered with a qualified clinician who knows your history.
Your Genetics & GHRP-2
The genes involved in how GHRP-2 works
GHRP-2 works through the receptors these genes build, and the genes vary from person to person. Researchers have linked some of that variation to differences in how people respond. A DNA report tells you which versions you carry.
GHSR · ••
Variants in the growth hormone secretagogue receptor gene set receptor density and signaling efficiency. Lower GHSR expression means fewer targets for GHRP-2 and a blunted GH pulse.
GHR · ••
The GHR exon 3 deletion (d3-GHR) raises downstream GH sensitivity. d3 carriers convert each GHRP-2 pulse into more IGF-1, often reaching target effects at a lower dose.
GHRL · ••
The Leu72Met variant alters ghrelin levels and signaling. Because GHRP-2 shares the ghrelin receptor, this variant influences both the GH response and the residual appetite effect.
Somatostatin brakes GH release. Higher-tone variants can partially counter the GHRP-2 pulse, so dosing when somatostatin is naturally lower (evening) can improve response.
The dots after each gene are where your own result goes. Your report fills them in with the two letters you carry at that position.
Which variants do you carry?
Upload your DNA data, or get tested through our partner, to find out.
Commonly combined with
What GHRP-2 is most often paired with, and why:
CJC-1295
GH Synergy StackModerate EvidenceCJC-1295 (Modified GRF 1-29)
A copy of the brain signal that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone, rewritten so the enzyme that normally destroys it in minutes cannot. Before you read any dose, check which version you have: with DAC it keeps growth hormone up for days, without DAC it produces a short pulse, and nearly every blend sold with ipamorelin contains the second one.
4
Gene variants
30+
Studies
Ipamorelin
selective alternativeModerate EvidenceIpamorelin Acetate
Presses the same switch your stomach uses to say it is empty, the one that also triggers a growth hormone release, but largely without the hunger. Its selling point is what it does not do: older peptides in its family also pushed up cortisol and prolactin, and this one mostly stops at growth hormone. It is almost always sold blended with CJC-1295.
4
Gene variants
40+
Studies
BPC-157
Recovery StackModerate EvidenceBody Protection Compound 157
BPC-157 is the peptide people reach for when something will not heal. Tendons, ligaments, a gut that has been irritated by painkillers, an injury that has stalled. It is a short chain of amino acids copied from part of a protein your stomach already makes, and the animal research on it is unusually consistent for this category: across a lot of separate rat studies, injured tissue healed faster than it did without it. The gap is that this has largely not been repeated in people, and it is not an approved medicine, so nobody is checking what is in the vial you buy.
3
Gene variants
19+
Studies
Sourcing & access
Where to buy GHRP-2
GHRP-2 is sold as a research compound, not a licensed medicine, so quality and legal status vary widely by country and vendor. If you're sourcing it, treat independent purity testing as non-negotiable.
- Insist on a recent third-party Certificate of Analysis (COA) for the exact batch — labs like Janoshik verify purity and identity.
- Check the legal status where you live before ordering — it differs from country to country.
- Reconstitute correctly with bacteriostatic water and start at a conservative dose.
GHRP-2
The stronger GH pulse, less of the hunger
$19.95at Swiss Chems
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Before you buy: see whether your DNA actually responds to GHRP-2, and at what dose. Analyze my DNA — $99 →
Educational information only, not medical advice. Some outbound links are affiliate links (disclosed, at no extra cost to you). Most peptides are not FDA-approved — consult a qualified professional and check your local laws before purchasing.
Worth knowing before you consider GHRP-2
Interactions and situations where there is a specific reason to be careful. Where the honest answer is that nobody has studied something, it says so and says what that leaves open.
- Take it away from food
- A meal, particularly one with fat, blunts the growth hormone response. Most protocols leave a gap either side for this reason.
- It is not the clean one
- It is cleaner than its siblings, which is not the same thing. If cortisol and prolactin matter to you, ipamorelin is the compound designed to leave them alone.
Last updated
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between GHRP-2 and GHRP-6?
Both are ghrelin-mimetic GH secretagogues, but GHRP-2 produces a stronger GH pulse with much less appetite stimulation, while GHRP-6 causes pronounced hunger. GHRP-2 is generally chosen for GH and body composition without the food drive; GHRP-6 is chosen when increased appetite is actually wanted.
Is GHRP-2 better paired with CJC-1295?
Yes. GHRP-2 increases the amplitude of each GH pulse while CJC-1295 extends its duration. Combined, they work through two receptor pathways (ghrelin and GHRH) for a synergistic GH release that's greater than either peptide alone.
Does genetics affect GHRP-2 response?
Yes. GHSR variants determine receptor availability, the GHR d3 polymorphism sets downstream GH sensitivity, GHRL Leu72Met shapes the ghrelin response, and somatostatin variants influence how strongly the pulse is suppressed. A genetic peptide report profiles these for dose optimization.
Learn more about GHRP-2
17 guides mention GHRP-2→peptide guides
In depthGHRP-2 Dosage Protocol: Why Pharma Abandoned It and What That Means for Your Cycle
12 min read
how it works
How Long Does It Actually Take for GH Receptors to Reset After a Peptide Cycle? (Week by Week)
12 min read
safety
The Truth About Peptide Cycling: When to Pause and When to Push
11 min read
peptide guides
MK-677 Long-Term Results: What 2 Years of Trials Actually Show
13 min read
how it works
Ipamorelin Before Bed: How Your Circadian Genes Determine Whether It Improves Your Sleep
12 min read
genetics
Ipamorelin Not Working? The GHSR Gene Variant That Explains Every Non-Responder Case
11 min read
Your next move
Two ways forward with GHRP-2.
Not sure it's for you?
How does GHRP-2 relate to your genes?
Your report scores GHRP-2 against your receptor, pharmacogene and pathway variants and shows the genetic markers relevant to it, with commonly cited dosing information to review with a clinician.
Analyze my DNA — $99Already decided?
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