It should be noted right off the bat that GHRP-6 doses are often normally (and ideally) combined with doses of a GHRH analogue, such as Mod GRF 1-29 (CJC-1295 without DAC) due to the synergistic effects and compatibility between the two, as previously mentioned in this profile. With that being said, the proper GHRP-6 doses do not change whether or not it is utilized with a GHRH. If an effective GHRP-6 dose is 100mcg, for example, then 100mcg of GHRP-6 should be administered whether the user is utilizing it alone or with Mod GRF 1-29. The term/phrase “saturation dose” or “saturation doses” can be heard a lot when peptides are discussed. A saturation dose is defined as a dose that will completely (or near completely) saturate the peptide’s target receptors. In GHRP-6’s case, this means the Ghrelin receptors located on the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary.
From the examination of many studies, the saturation GHRP-6 doses have been determined to be 1mcg per kg of body weight, and an average dose of approximately 100mcg without concern for bodyweight[1] [2] [3] [4]. That is to say that a 100mcg saturation dose of GHRP-6 will fully saturate receptors, and that 200mcg will only provide 50% additional effectiveness, and a 300mcg dose will provide only 25% additional effectiveness, and so on and so forth. This is very much the case with almost all GHRPs and GHRH analogues, as it seems to be the nature of these peptides.
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One common concern when it comes to GHRP-6 doses (or the doses of any Ghrelin mimetic/GHRP) is the fact that it has been found to exhibit the ability to induce secretion of Cortisol and Prolactin. While many studies have indeed demonstrated this[5], they have also demonstrated that the Prolactin and Cortisol increases in most test subjects were not altered at all at GHRP-6 doses of 100mcg or less[6] [7]. GHRP-6 doses that are increased above 100mcg will exhibit increased Cortisol and Prolactin secretion, but minimally. As the dose is further increased, it stands to reason that the Cortisol and Prolactin secretions will increase as well.
GHRP-6 doses are measured in mcg (micrograms), and it is very important to make note of this distinction due to the fact that the common measurement of most other performance enhancing drugs is that of mg (milligrams). Synthetic Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is measured in iu (international units).
Medical GHRP-6 Doses
GHRP-6 is not currently yet approved for medical use and is still in the phase of clinical trials. As such, there exist no officially determined prescription medical doses currently available.
GHRP-6 Doses for Performance and Physique Enhancement
It is both impractical and impossible to categorize GHRP-6 doses into the typical three tiers of users (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) due to the inherent nature of the type of substance and hormone. The saturation doses of GHRP-6 should elicit significant increases in HGH levels in the body in a pulsatile manner that is adequate enough to ensure any performance and physique enhancing goals desired by any individual. The difference in which goals might be more attainable than others is the frequency of dosing. GHRP-6 exhibits a varying half-life of approximately 15 – 60 minutes after injection, and will stimulate a large pulse of HGH from the pituitary gland that will last several hours but is most intense and achieves its peak at approximately 30 minutes. Therefore, in order to simulate higher and steadier blood plasma levels of HGH, it is necessary to administer GHRP-6 doses multiple times daily (depending on the user’s goals).
As a result, a general guideline for the purpose of achieving performance and physique enhancement is that of 100mcg administered three times per day. Each injection should be spaced evenly apart in order to achieve substantial HGH levels throughout the day due to the short half-life of GHRP-6 as well as the pulsatile manner of the HGH release that it causes. For greater results that would include more pronounced muscle gain and fat loss, more frequent injections would be required above the three times per day protocol. More details concerning the specific administration timing will be described shortly.
GHRP-6 doses can be administered subcutaneously (SQ) or intramuscularly (IM). There is not much difference between the two, with intramuscular seemingly resulting in a slightly quicker release from the injection site. The majority of individuals prefer to administer it subcutaneously for varying reasons, however.
It is important to understand that GHRP-6 doses on its own provides considerable HGH release from the pituitary gland, but is nowhere near as effective as the potential HGH release resultant from GHRP-6 combined with a GHRH such as Mod GRF 1-29 (CJC-1295 without DAC). Studies have demonstrated that the combination of GHRP-6 and a GHRH analogue such as Mod GRF 1-29 will generate a 77% increase in HGH output compared to GHRP-6 administration alone[8]. Other studies have gone so far as to explicitly state that GHRP-6 requires GHRH in order to stimulate maximal HGH stimulation as evidenced by the fact that in test subjects, the inclusion of a GHRH can increase HGH output by an additional 81 – 95%[9].
In general summary of the synergistic effect of both: a GHRH analogue (such as Mod GRF 1-29) will serve to initiate and carry forward the pulse of HGH from the pituitary gland, while the GHRP (such as GHRP-6) will serve to amplify this pulse.
Female GHRP-6 Doses
GHRP-6 is not a sex-specific hormone and therefore carries no androgenic effects that would present any issues. Therefore, female GHRP-6 doses are the exact same for all individuals, regardless of gender.
Proper Administration and Timing of GHRP-6 Doses
GHRP-6 is normally always manufactured as lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder contained in vials in amounts of 5mg. Some companies might manufacture amounts greater or lesser than 5mg per vial, but the standard is generally 5mg/vial. The lyophilized powder contained within the vial will need to be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water in order for it to be injected. After reconstitution, the solution must then be refrigerated in storage. If left in hot environments or in room temperature environments for extended periods of time, the protein structure will degrade and become ineffective. For reconstitution, users will typically mix 3ml of bacteriostatic water with the powder gently. However, users can and do frequently reconstitute the powder with less (or more) water which will yield different concentrations of GHRP-6. For example, reconstitution of 5mg of powder with 3ml of water will yield GHRP-6 doses of 166mcg per 0.1ml (or 10iu on an insulin syringe).
As with any GHRP or GHRH, administration of GHRP-6 doses should be done no sooner than 2 hours following the last meal containing carbohydrates or fats, and no sooner than 30 minutes prior to the next consumption of carbohydrates or fats. As evidenced by studies referenced in the introduction of this profile, the consumption of fats and carbohydrates will significantly blunt (but not eliminate) HGH release. HGH pulses will generally reach their peak by about 30 minutes following injection, after which it is then acceptable to consume a meal containing carbohydrates and fats.
As previously explained, multiple GHRP-6 doses are required throughout the day due to the pulsatile nature of the HGH release, and the administration of these doses are typically administered on average 3 times daily spaced evenly apart. More administrations are acceptable for greater effects on physique and performance, but it is advised that approximately 3 hours in between each injection is ensured so as to allow the pituitary gland to restore its storage of HGH. The most common protocol is as follows:
100mcg immediately upon waking up
100mcg immediately following the end of a workout
100mcg immediately before bed
It has been previously explained that some individuals will elect to administer GHRP-6 doses twice daily, and some more than three times daily. Twice daily administration of at least 100mcg (typically upon awaking and before sleeping) will yield anti-aging and general health benefits. 3 times daily administration should yield general health benefits, fat loss, and muscle gain. 4 times daily or greater administration should provide more pronounced muscle gains and fat loss.
Finally, studies have determined that GHRP-6 administered alone stimulated an HGH release of 40 ng/ml in test subjects[10]. The same study determined that when combined with a GHRH (such as Mod GRF 1-29), the resultant HGH release was determined to be 130 ng/ml.
Expectations and Results from GHRP-6 Doses
Results and expectations from an HGH secretagogue such as GHRP-6 should be all of the same effects that any other form of Human Growth Hormone would provide. This includes fat loss, muscle mass increases, strength gains, healing and repair of joints and connective tissue, and a plethora of other benefits and changes. An important note to make is that the effects from any HGH application, whether it be an endogenous release from a GHRH or synthetic HGH administration, will all occur rather steadily over a longer period of use. Dramatic results within weeks are never to be expected, but with proper nutrition and training, dramatic performance and physique changes should occur steadily over the course of several months of application. For more information on HGH specific results and expectations, please see the Human Growth Hormone profile.
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GHRP-6 References:
[1] Blockade of the growth hormone (GH) receptor unmasks rapid GH-releasing peptide-6-mediated tissue-specific insulin resistance. Peñalva A, Carballo A, Pombo M, Casanueva FF, Dieguez C. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993 Jan;76(1):168-71.
[2] Blocked growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP-6)-induced GH secretion and absence of the synergic action of GHRP-6 plus GH-releasing hormone in patients with hypothalamopituitary disconnection: evidence that GHRP-6 main action is exerted at the hypothalamic level. V Popovic, S Damjanovic, D Micic, M Djurovic, C Dieguez, and F F Casanueva. JCEM 1995 80: 942-7; doi:10.1210/jc.80.3.942.
[3] Growth Hormone (GH) Response to GH-Releasing Peptide-6 in Type 1 Diabetic Patients with Exaggerated GH-Releasing Hormone-Stimulated GH Secretion. Pablo F. Catalina, Federico Mallo, M. Amelia Andrade, Ricardo V. García-Mayor, and Carlos Diéguez. JCEM 1998 83: 3663-3667; doi:10.1210/jc.83.10.3663.
[4] Massive growth hormone (GH) discharge in obese subjects after the combined administration of GH-releasing hormone and GHRP-6: evidence for a marked somatotroph secretory capability in obesity. F Cordido, A Peñalva, C Dieguez, and F F Casanueva. JCEM 1993 76: 819-23; doi:10.1210/jc.76.4.819.
[5] Pathophysiology of the neuroregulation of growth hormone secretion in experimental animals and the human. Giustina A, Veldhuis JD. 1998 Endocr Rev. 19:717–797.
[6] Human Fetal Pituitary Expresses Functional Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide Receptors. Ilan Shimon, Xinmin Yan, and Shlomo Melmed. JCEM 1998 83: 174-178; doi:10.1210/jc.83.1.174.
[7] The Impact of Cranial Irradiation on GH Responsiveness to GHRH Plus GH-Releasing Peptide-6. Vera Popovic, Sandra Pekic, Ivana Golubicic, Mira Doknic, Carlos Dieguez and Felipe F. Casanueva. JCEM 2002 87: 2095-2099; doi:10.1210/jc.87.5.2095.
[8] Effect of growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone (GHRH), atropine, pyridostigmine, or hypoglycemia on GHRP-6-induced GH secretion in man. Peñalva A, Carballo A, Pombo M, Casanueva FF, Dieguez C. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993 Jan;76(1):168-71.
[9] Growth Hormone (GH)-Releasing Peptide-6 Requires Endogenous Hypothalamic GH-Releasing Hormone for Maximal GH Stimulation. Naushira Pandya, Roberta DeMott-Friberg, Cyril Y. Bowers, Ariel L. Barkan and Craig A. Jaffe. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism April 1, 1998 vol. 83 no. 4 1186-1189.
[10] Inhibition of growth hormone release after the combined administration of GHRH and GHRP-6 in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. Leal-Cerro A, Pumar A, Garcia-Garcia E, Dieguez C, Casanueva FF. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1994 Nov;41(5):649-54.
