Research Reference
GHRP-2
Ghrelin mimetic — potent, pulsatile GH release (clinically studied)
Research & educational purposes only. BioMaxFit does not sell, promote, or represent peptides in any way. We are strictly educational and recommend working with your doctor on anything health-related. The information below comes from published research and documents what has been studied, not what should be done. Many of these compounds are investigational and not approved by the FDA; possession or use outside an authorized clinical trial may be illegal in your jurisdiction. This is not medical advice.
GHRP-2 (pralmorelin, KP-102) is one of the most clinically studied growth hormone releasing peptides. Originally developed as a diagnostic tool for GH deficiency, it has become a reference compound for understanding how synthetic ghrelin mimetics drive pulsatile GH release.
GHRP-2 is not FDA-approved for therapeutic use. It is approved in Japan as pralmorelin for GH testing, which established effective dose ranges directly.
Most common community approach: 100–200 mcg per injection, 2–3 times daily on empty stomach, 5 days on / 2 days off, 8 weeks on / 8 weeks off.
Side Effects & Safety
- Cortisol elevation — transient ACTH/cortisol increase via HPA axis; dose-dependent, mild at 100–200 mcg
- Prolactin elevation — less than hexarelin, more than ipamorelin; returns to baseline within 2–3 hours
- Appetite stimulation — ghrelin mimetic effect, peaks 20–30 min post-injection; milder than GHRP-6
- Water retention — mild, GH-mediated sodium retention
- Response attenuation — a five-day study reported declining GH response with consecutive daily use (Raun et al., 1998); community sources use 5-on/2-off to manage this
- Injection site reactions — standard for SC peptides
Research Basis
Unlike many research peptides, GHRP-2 community doses closely align with published clinical research.
Diagnostic testing: 100 mcg (1 mcg/kg) is the standard dose for GH deficiency diagnosis, producing robust GH pulses in healthy individuals (PMID 17609397).
Research studies: 200 mcg (2–3 mcg/kg) used in studies examining GH secretory dynamics (PMID 18703567).
Plateau effect: Higher doses (300+ mcg) don't increase GH proportionally but do increase cortisol and prolactin side effects.
GH response data: Published studies report peak GH levels of 30–80 ng/mL at 100–200 mcg doses. Time to peak: 30–60 minutes, duration approximately 2–3 hours elevated. GHRH co-administration produces 3–10x greater response than either alone (Veldhuis et al., 2009, PMID 19240251).
Why doses align with research: GHRP-2 is approved in Japan as pralmorelin for GH testing, which established effective dose ranges directly.