Growth Hormone
GHRP-2 is a research-use product carried by vendors we track, grouped under Growth Hormone. For research use only; an editorial review is pending.
GHRP-2 is offered by one or more vendors we track. We have not yet written a detailed editorial summary for this compound. The offerings below reflect what vendors currently carry. For research use only — verify dosing, handling, and safety against primary sources.
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Best $/mg
Evidence level
Preclinical only
A second-generation growth hormone secretagogue and ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist. Stimulates pulsatile GH release from the pituitary with strong appetite-stimulating side effects.
Mechanism
Mechanism not yet documented.
Researched benefits
Pulsatile GH release
GHRP-2 binds GHS-R1a on pituitary somatotrophs and triggers a sharp, short-lived GH pulse that mimics physiologic ghrelin signaling. Effective in both healthy adults and GH-deficient patients across multiple controlled studies.
Synergy with GHRH analogs
Combined with a GHRH peptide (CJC-1295, sermorelin, tesamorelin), GHRP-2 produces a multiplicative rather than additive GH spike. This is the basis for the canonical GHRP + GHRH stacking protocol.
Appetite stimulation
Strongest appetite stimulant among the common GH-releasing peptides. Useful clinically for cachexia and undesired in body-composition contexts. Effect is centrally mediated via hypothalamic ghrelin pathways.
Risks & cautions
Cortisol and prolactin elevation
GHRP-2 raises cortisol and prolactin more than GHRP-6, ipamorelin, or hexarelin. Chronic dosing can produce noticeable side effects from cortisol elevation (sleep disruption, central adiposity).
Insulin resistance with chronic use
Sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation reduces insulin sensitivity. Fasting glucose and HbA1c can drift upward with months-long protocols.
Appetite-driven weight gain
The hunger drive can override conscious eating goals, particularly at higher doses or evening dosing.
Receptor desensitization
GHS-R1a downregulates with continuous high-dose exposure. Pulsatile dosing and cycling are standard practice for this reason.
Dosing
100–300 mcg subcutaneously, 1–3 times daily, typically 20 minutes before meals or before bed. Cycled 8–12 weeks with breaks.
Vial sizes
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Half-life
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Route
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Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water. GH pulse peaks 15–30 minutes post-injection. Pre-sleep dose aligns with natural overnight GH peak. Take on an empty stomach — even small amounts of glucose or fat blunt the GH response.
Contraindications
In depth
GHRP-2 (KP-102, pralmorelin) is a synthetic hexapeptide developed by Cyril Bowers' group in the 1990s as a second-generation refinement of GHRP-6. It was investigated as a diagnostic agent for GH deficiency and as a potential treatment for cachexia and GH insufficiency in elderly patients. It is approved as a diagnostic reagent in Japan; it is not approved as a therapeutic in the US or EU.
It belongs to the ghrelin mimetic family alongside GHRP-6, hexarelin, ipamorelin, and the small-molecule MK-677 (ibutamoren). Among these it is notable for strong potency and equally strong appetite stimulation.
GHRP-2 is a ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist. Activation of this receptor on pituitary somatotrophs:
The synergy with GHRH analogs is real and reproducible: blocking somatostatin (GHRP) while simultaneously stimulating GHRH receptors produces a GH pulse 5–10× higher than either alone.
Well-characterized for short-term GH-releasing efficacy:
There are no long-term outcome trials on body composition, longevity, or disease-specific endpoints.
Extensive in rats, dogs, and pigs. The dose-response is well-characterized and consistent across species. Long-term rat studies showed sustained IGF-1 elevation without obvious tumor or organ toxicity, but these were not lifetime-duration.
GHRP-2 is almost always used in combination:
Avoid stacking with anything that raises cortisol independently (yohimbine at high doses, sleep restriction, severe caloric deficit) — the additive HPA load is unfavorable.
References
