Hexarelin is the most potent GHRP studied in humans — but its strength comes with a catch: receptor desensitization. For a full breakdown of hexarelin's benefits and how it compares to other GHRPs, see our hexarelin deep dive. This is not medical advice.
Research-context information only.Hexarelin is a research peptide. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from published research and self-reported community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.
Hexarelin Dosing Table
Match your vial size below — reconstitution and dose math update automatically.
Reconstitute: add 2 mL of bacteriostatic water to the 5 mg vial. Resulting concentration: 2.5 mg/mL.
Dose
Syringe units
mL volume
Schedule
100 mcg
4 units
0.04 mL
Daily SubQ (4-week cycles)Tachyphylaxis-prone
200 mcg
8 units
0.08 mL
2x/day SubQ (4-week cycles)Standard
100 mcg4 units · 0.04 mL
Daily SubQ (4-week cycles)
Tachyphylaxis-prone
200 mcg8 units · 0.08 mL
2x/day SubQ (4-week cycles)
Standard
Math assumes U-100 insulin syringes (1 mL = 100 units). Verify your syringe matches before injecting. Round half-units to the nearest visible mark.
Reconstitute: add 1 mL of bacteriostatic water to the 2 mg vial. Resulting concentration: 2 mg/mL.
Dose
Syringe units
mL volume
Schedule
100 mcg
5 units
0.05 mL
Daily SubQStarter
200 mcg
10 units
0.1 mL
2x/day SubQ
100 mcg5 units · 0.05 mL
Daily SubQ
Starter
200 mcg10 units · 0.1 mL
2x/day SubQ
Math assumes U-100 insulin syringes (1 mL = 100 units). Verify your syringe matches before injecting. Round half-units to the nearest visible mark.
Quick Reference: Community Protocol
Parameter
Detail
Dose
100 mcg per injection
Route
Subcutaneous (SubQ)
Timing
Empty stomach, 30 min before food
Frequency
2-3x daily
Cycle
4-8 weeks on, 4+ weeks off
Vial size
5 mg
Reconstitution
2 mL BAC water (2,500 mcg/mL)
Draw amount
4 units on insulin syringe
Storage
Refrigerate, use within 28 days
Hexarelin has no standardized clinical dosing protocol — this is a community protocol based on research literature and anecdotal reports.
Cycling Details
Among all GHRPs, hexarelin shows the most pronounced GHSR-1a receptor downregulation with chronic use. The GH response progressively weakens even while the dose stays the same.
Option 1 — Fixed On/Off: 4 weeks on, 4 weeks off, repeat. Simple and effective.
Option 2 — GHRP Rotation: 4 weeks hexarelin, then 4-8 weeks ipamorelin or GHRP-2, then return. Maintains GH secretagogue use year-round while allowing GHSR-1a recovery.
Option 3 — Weekend Breaks: 5 days on / 2 days off each week. May slow desensitization but won't prevent it over multi-month use.
Desensitization is temporary — available receptor data and community protocols describe GHSR-1a sensitivity returning to baseline after a 4+ week washout.
Enhanced Protocol (Community)
For experienced users seeking maximum single-pulse GH amplitude:
Dose: 200 mcg per injection
Frequency: 2x daily (AM + PM)
Cycle: 4 weeks on / 4 weeks off (strict)
Published receptor research and community-reported experience describe dose-dependent acceleration of desensitization, with prolactin and cortisol spillover at higher doses. Most experienced users cap at 200 mcg per injection and keep cycles shorter.
Routes of Administration
Subcutaneous (SubQ): Community protocols describe injection into the lower abdomen or love handles. Volume is small (0.04–0.08 mL); 29–31 gauge insulin syringes are standard. Documented protocols describe dosing on an empty stomach — at least 2 hours after eating, 30 minutes before food.
Commonly cited timing windows: Morning (fasted), post-workout (30+ min after eating), and before bed (2+ hours after dinner), aligned to natural GH pulse timing per documented community practice.
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Math: 5,000 mcg / 2 mL = 2,500 mcg/mL. 100 mcg / 2,500 = 0.04 mL = 4 units. Community protocols describe gentle swirling, refrigerated storage, and use within 28 days.
For step-by-step reconstitution instructions, see the BPC-157 reconstitution guide — same technique applies to all lyophilized peptides.
Affiliate disclosure: vendor links in this article are affiliate links — The Peptide Catalog may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no additional cost to you.
Where These Numbers Come From
Clinical hexarelin studies help contextualize community doses — though most were single-dose pharmacokinetic designs, not long-term protocols.
Bowers et al. (1991) used doses of 1 mcg/kg IV in early GHRP characterization studies, establishing hexarelin's potent GH-releasing activity (PMID 2004615). Ghigo et al. (1994) tested subcutaneous, intranasal, and oral routes at 20 mcg/kg — far above typical community doses — confirming SubQ as the most reliable route (PMID 8126144).
Arvat et al. (2001) compared hexarelin to ghrelin at 1 mcg/kg IV, confirming hexarelin's superior GH pulse amplitude (PMID 11238504). Locatelli et al. (1999) confirmed GH-independent cardiac effects via CD36 receptors (PMID 10465272).
Community doses of 100-200 mcg per injection are significantly lower than most clinical study doses, which were designed for acute pharmacological characterization rather than sustained use.
Cortisol elevation — dose-dependent at 150-200+ mcg, unlike ipamorelin
Prolactin increase — can cause water retention or mood changes at sustained high doses
Water retention/puffiness — particularly face and hands
Carpal tunnel symptoms — indicates significant GH elevation; community sources commonly describe reducing dose or pausing the cycle when these symptoms persist
Desensitization — diminishing effects despite consistent dosing means time to cycle off, not increase dose
Flushing/tingling — mild, typically fades within minutes
mg to Units Conversion
On a standard 100-unit insulin syringe, each "unit" equals 0.01 mL (so 100 units = 1 mL). Once hexarelin is reconstituted, the conversion from a target dose to syringe units depends on the chosen dilution.
The two reconstitution ratios most often described in community protocols are below.
Reconstitution A: 5 mg vial + 2 mL BAC water (2.5 mg/mL) — the standard dilution from the Quick Reference above.
Dose (mcg)
Volume (mL)
Units (insulin syringe)
50 mcg
0.02 mL
2 units
100 mcg
0.04 mL
4 units
150 mcg
0.06 mL
6 units
200 mcg
0.08 mL
8 units
Reconstitution B: 5 mg vial + 5 mL BAC water (1 mg/mL) — more BAC water for larger, easier-to-measure draws.
Dose (mcg)
Volume (mL)
Units (insulin syringe)
50 mcg
0.05 mL
5 units
100 mcg
0.1 mL
10 units
150 mcg
0.15 mL
15 units
200 mcg
0.2 mL
20 units
These conversions reflect the dilutions documented in community reconstitution protocols. They report how the math is described, not a recommended dosing schedule.
Core Supplies for This Protocol
The essentials for running any reconstituted injectable: cold storage, accurate syringes, alcohol prep pads, and metabolic tracking.
How is a 5mg hexarelin vial reconstituted in documented protocols?
Protocols describe adding 2 mL of bacteriostatic water to the 5 mg vial for a concentration of 2,500 mcg/mL. A standard 100 mcg dose equals 4 units on a U-100 insulin syringe. Reconstituted vials are typically refrigerated and used within 28 days.
How long do community protocols run hexarelin before desensitization?
Most community protocols cap continuous use at 4-8 weeks. GHSR-1a receptor downregulation is the primary concern — GH response diminishes progressively with daily use beyond this window. Documented protocols describe a washout of at least 4 weeks or rotation to another GHRP.
When do documented protocols inject hexarelin?
Documented protocols describe dosing on an empty stomach — at least 2 hours after eating and 30 minutes before food. The three most commonly cited windows are morning upon waking, immediately post-workout, and before bed, to align with natural GH pulse timing.
What stacking protocols are documented for hexarelin and CJC-1295?
Combining hexarelin with CJC-1295 (no DAC) or another GHRH analog is the documented gold-standard GH stack. The GHRP initiates the pulse while the GHRH amplifies it, producing significantly higher GH output than either alone.
What's the difference between hexarelin and ipamorelin for dosing?
Hexarelin produces stronger GH pulses at lower doses but desensitizes faster and raises cortisol/prolactin at higher doses. Ipamorelin is milder but can be run longer without desensitization. Many protocols rotate between the two.
This article is for educational and research purposes only. It is not medical advice. Hexarelin is a research compound — consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
