GHRP-2
Also known as: GHRP2, Pralmorelin
Ghrelin mimetic that triggers a growth hormone pulse — stronger on GH than GHRP-6 and far less hunger, but it raises prolactin and cortisol alongside.
Substance family
Growth hormone itself and the peptides that prompt the body to release it. Effects build over months rather than weeks, and reduced insulin sensitivity is what limits duration.
Effects on
Which outcomes this substance acts on — descriptive, not a recommendation.
Strain profile
Where this substance is most likely to hit — a rough orientation, individually dependent on dose, duration and predisposition.
This substance causes
Dosing & protocols by goal
Rough orientation ranges as reported in harm-reduction literature — not an individual treatment plan. Doses are individual and open-ended; frequency depends on the ester or half-life.
Growth hormone pulse
AncillaryDose
100 mcg per administration
Frequency
1–3× / day, fasted
Cycle length
Cyclical, weeks to months
The saturating dose is around 100 mcg — beyond that the GH response barely rises while prolactinprolactinA pituitary hormone that, when elevated, causes low libido, erectile problems and breast tissue growth. and cortisol keep climbing. More is worse here, not just wasteful.
Combined with a GHRH analogue
AncillaryDose
100 mcg alongside CJC-1295 or sermorelin
Frequency
1–2× / day
Cycle length
Cyclical
The two mechanisms are synergistic rather than additive — a GHRH analogue raises the pulse height, a secretagogue triggers the pulse.
Side effect & countermeasure
Typical problems and what you can do to reduce harm — at a glance. Does not replace medical monitoring.
Problem
Prolactin symptoms — nipple sensitivity, lost libido
Countermeasure
Dose-dependent and one of the reasons the saturating dose matters. Lower the dose first; test prolactinprolactinA pituitary hormone that, when elevated, causes low libido, erectile problems and breast tissue growth. before reaching for a dopamine agonist.
Problem
Blood glucose creeping up
Countermeasure
Everything that raises growth hormone does this. Fasting glucose and HbA1c periodically, carbohydrates timed around training, and breaks rather than continuous use.
Problem
Water retention, numb hands in the morning
Countermeasure
Classic sign of too much GH activity. Reduce the dose — this is the body reporting an amount it does not want.
Overview
GHRP-2 makes the pituitary release a pulse of growth hormone. It works through the ghrelin receptor, which is also why the whole class has an effect on appetite — though GHRP-2 much less so than GHRP-6.
Among the secretagogues it sits in a useful middle: stronger GH release than GHRP-6, less hunger, and less of the prolactin and cortisol rise than the older compounds — but not none.
Mechanism of Action
Growth hormone is released in pulses, controlled by two opposing signals. GHRP-2 acts on the ghrelin receptor to trigger a pulse and simultaneously suppresses somatostatin, the brake.
That is a different mechanism than GHRH analogues like sermorelin or CJC-1295, which increase the size of a pulse. Because they act on different levers, the combination produces more than either alone — which is why they are almost always used together.
The saturating dose
Around 100 mcg produces close to the maximum GH response. Above that, the GH curve flattens while prolactin and cortisol keep rising.
This makes overdosing actively counterproductive rather than merely wasteful. Someone taking 300 mcg gets marginally more growth hormone and meaningfully more of the two hormones they did not want.
Timing
Food, particularly carbohydrate and fat, blunts the GH response. Fasted administration — on waking, or a couple of hours after a meal, or before bed — is the difference between a full pulse and a fraction of one.
Bedtime dosing overlaps with the body's own largest nightly pulse, which is why it is the most common single time.
Side Effects & Risks
- Rising blood glucose and falling insulin sensitivity over time
- Prolactin and cortisol elevation, dose-dependent
- Water retention, puffy hands, carpal tunnel symptoms
- Tiredness after administration
- Injection site reactions
Blood Work & Monitoring
- IGF-1 — the practical proxy for GH exposure over time
- Fasting glucose and HbA1c — the limiting factor for this whole class
- Prolactin — if nipple or libido symptoms appear
- Thyroid panel during longer use
Harm-Reduction Notes
- 100 mcg is a ceiling, not a starting point to build from
- Fasted, or the pulse is largely wasted
- Cycle it. Continuous use is where the glucose problem develops, and it builds slowly enough to be missed
- Research chemical status means purity and actual content are assumptions, not facts
- Prohibited in tested sport at all times
Legal status by region
Regulation differs considerably between jurisdictions and changes over time. This is a rough orientation, not legal advice — check the rules that apply where you are.
| Region | Regulatory status |
|---|---|
| United States | Not approved, research chemical |
| EU / UK | Not approved as a medicine |
| Canada / Australia | Restricted |
| Parts of Asia, Latin America & Middle East | Availability varies |
| Competitive sport | ProhibitedGrowth hormone secretagogues are prohibited at all times. |