Comparison
BPC-157 vs Hexarelin
Side-by-side of BPC-157 and Hexarelin. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
BPC-157
BPC-157 peptide profile: pentadecapeptide body protection compound 157. Preclinical data on tendon, gut healing, recovery. No human RCTs as of 2026.
Hexarelin
Hexarelin peptide is a ghrelin-receptor hexapeptide. Largest acute GH pulse in the GHRP class, highest cortisol and prolactin lift, CD36 cardioprotective sign.
Effects at a glance
BPC-157
- •Preclinical models show accelerated tendon-to-bone and ligament healing after surgical or chemical injury
- •Rodent studies report mucosal protection and faster recovery from NSAID-induced and colitis-induced gut damage
- •Anecdotal human protocols use 250 to 500 mcg twice daily subcutaneously near the injury site
- •No completed phase II or III human RCTs as of 2026, so efficacy and long-term safety remain unestablished
- •Banned by WADA since 2022 under the S0 non-approved substances category for competitive athletes
- •Theoretical angiogenic concern means avoidance is prudent in active malignancy until human data exists
Hexarelin
- •Synthetic hexapeptide GHS-R1a agonist; produces the largest acute GH pulse of the synthetic GHRP class
- •Independent CD36 signaling produces cardioprotective effects in rodent ischemia models, GH-independent
- •Pronounced tachyphylaxis: GH response attenuates over 2 to 4 weeks of daily dosing
- •More cortisol and prolactin elevation than GHRP-2 or ipamorelin
- •Anecdotal protocols use 100 to 200 mcg subcutaneously 1 to 2 times daily for 2 to 4 week pulses
- •Banned by WADA under S2; advanced through phase 2 trials but never reached registration
Side-by-side
| Attribute | BPC-157 | Hexarelin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | Body Protection Compound-157, Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 | Examorelin, EP-23905, His-D-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 1 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.25 | 0.1 |
| Dosing frequency | daily (anecdotal protocols) | 1-2x daily |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral | subcutaneous, intranasal, intravenous |
| Onset (hr) | - | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | - | 0.5 |
| Molecular weight | - | 887.04 |
| Molecular formula | C62H98N16O22 | C47H58N12O6 |
| Mechanism | Proposed upregulation of VEGFR2 and nitric oxide pathways, modulation of growth-hormone receptor expression, and stabilization of gut-brain axis signaling. Mechanism remains largely preclinical. | Hexapeptide agonist of GHS-R1a producing acute GH release with cortisol and prolactin co-elevation. Independent CD36 binding produces GH-independent cardioprotective signaling in preclinical models. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA (2022) | Not FDA approved; advanced through phase 2 trials in EU but never registered; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | banned | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Not scheduled (research chemical) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data | Insufficient data; not recommended |
| CAS | 137525-51-0 | 140703-51-1 |
| PubChem CID | 9941957 | 3037387 |
| Wikidata | Q4835418 | Q5743550 |
Safety profile
BPC-157
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- nausea
- headache (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy (theoretical angiogenic concern)
- no established safety profile in humans
Hexarelin
Common side effects
- water retention
- vivid dreams
- head pressure or flushing
- transient lethargy
- tingling at injection site
- moderate hunger
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- history of pituitary tumor
- uncontrolled diabetes
- prolactin-sensitive states
Interactions
- CJC-1295: synergistic GH release; accelerates tachyphylaxis if used continuously(minor)
- sermorelin: additive GH release via parallel GHRH and ghrelin pathways(minor)
- insulin: sustained GH can blunt insulin sensitivity over weeks(moderate)
- corticosteroids: amplify cortisol load; blunt GH response(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Hexarelin comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, research-only / gray-market sourcing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. BPC-157 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is gut barrier and microbiome health, pick BPC-157.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick Hexarelin.
- → If your priority is cardiac function, pick Hexarelin.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, BPC-157 is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: Hexarelin. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for BPC-157 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between BPC-157 and Hexarelin?
BPC-157 and Hexarelin differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, BPC-157 or Hexarelin?
BPC-157 half-life is 4 hours; Hexarelin half-life is 1 hours.
Can you stack BPC-157 with Hexarelin?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper